National Lampoon's European Vacation

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National Lampoon's European Vacation

PG-13

Released Jul 26, 1985

1h 34m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

37%

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30 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After winning a European vacation on a game show, Clark Griswold convinces his reluctant family to accompany him. His wife, Ellen, is excited, but daughter Audrey is reluctant to leave her boyfriend behind, while teen son Rusty dreams of meeting girls. After arriving in London, the clan encounters one disaster after another as they travel through France, Germany and Italy, while Clark's attempts to cheer everyone up make things worse.

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Critics Consensus

European Vacation charts a course through a succession of pretty destinations, but the journey itself lacks the laughs that made the original outing so memorable.

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

The film spares us no stereotypes.

Aug 13, 2020

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Time Out Staff

Time Out

Overall, it's not quite funny or memorable enough.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 13, 2020

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Broad, sketchlike, and arbitrarily assembled, Amy Heckerling's 1985 film fritters away the considerable credit of relative psychological realism and dramatically consistent situations built up by its predecessor...

Aug 13, 2020

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Sierra Filucci

Common Sense Media

This broad comedy touches on all the funny and awful elements of family travel, from bickering siblings to managing unfamiliar customs.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 17, 2023

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo's infectious enthusiasm manages to sweep you along (as begrudgingly as kids Jason Lively and Dana Hill) on this cliché-ridden package tour.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 13, 2020

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David Elliott

Copley News Service

It must have been fun for the film's makers to work in London, Paris, Rome and Southern Germany, but their fun didn't get exported to us.

Jan 30, 2019

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Emma F

European Vacation could use some more laughs, but the scenery is gorgeous.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

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r96 s

'National Lampoon’s European Vacation' largely disappoints. The opening events in England are its peak, a couple of moments produced a few chuckles; even if they were stupid scenes, good stupid though. Once leaving British borders, I did find it much more dull. The writers sure dislike the French, eh? One of two creepy gags to do with the young daughter takes place with a Frenchman, the other with the American host (was it a Family Feud spoof? Makes it slightly less weird) - I was gonna say it has aged badly, but was it ever not an odd choice of joke? On the note of her, Audrey and Rusty are recast in this. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo do return and are as they were before. The most interesting bits in regards to the cast, for me anyway, are the appearances of Robbie Coltrane and Eric Idle. The running gag with the latter actor is probably the best part of this movie, to be honest. These (first two, at least) films are at least short at 90 minutes and it is cool see to see them travel and film on location throughout all the different places shown. As for the nitty-gritty, though, I can't say I'd recommend this one. It misses a fun ending, which the original had.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/25

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juan c

Very Hilarious Sequel to the 1st One 😅😅but the rating was wrong in my opinion this is rated R & the 1st one PG-13 because it shows more breast nudity & language..The 1st is good but this is more hilarious 😅😅 need to pay more attention on the rating ..

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

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mark g

This movie was awful. Lacked writing, supporting cast, everything. I know some people will knock it because in comparison to the original it fell off so dramatically, this is true. However, even if there was no first one, this movie would absolutely suck. Awful, just awful.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

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Daniel M

Caught it on TV and it was nostalgic watching it after so many years

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/24

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Dinos K

the first movie was very funny but this sequel didn't make me laugh except for very few moments. Please, don't make another one

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

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Amy Heckerling

Director

Chevy Chase

Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.

Beverly D'Angelo

Ellen Griswold

Dana Hill

Audrey Griswold

Jason Lively

Russell 'Rusty' Griswold

Eric Idle

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Synopsis

After winning a European vacation on a game show, Clark Griswold convinces his reluctant family to accompany him. His wife, Ellen, is excited, but daughter Audrey is reluctant to leave her boyfriend behind, while teen son Rusty dreams of meeting girls. After arriving in London, the clan encounters one disaster after another as they travel through France, Germany and Italy, while Clark's attempts to cheer everyone up make things worse.

Director: Amy Heckerling
Producer: Matty Simmons
Screenwriter: John Hughes, Robert Klane
Distributor: Warner Bros., Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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