National Lampoon's European Vacation
For over two thousand years, Europe has survived many great disasters. Now for the real test. Chevy Chase & his family are coming from America!
1985 | 95m | English
Popularity: 4 (history)
| Director: | Amy Heckerling |
|---|---|
| Writer: | John Hughes, Robert Klane |
| Staring: |
| The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show, and so pack their bags for the continent. They do their best to catch the flavor of Europe, but they just don't know how to be be good tourists. Besides, they have trouble taking holidays in countries where they CAN speak the language. | |
| Release Date: | Jul 25, 1985 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Amy Heckerling |
| Writer: | John Hughes, Robert Klane |
| Genres: | Adventure, Comedy, Romance |
| Keywords | london, england, game show, chaos, vacation, travel, family vacation, eiffel tower, paris, marriage problems, interrupted vacation, woman director, satirical, absurd |
| Production Companies | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $49,364,621
Budget: $17,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 03, 2026 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Chevy Chase | Clark Griswold |
| Beverly D'Angelo | Ellen Griswold |
| Dana Hill | Audrey Griswold |
| Jason Lively | Rusty Griswold |
| Victor Lanoux | Thief |
| Eric Idle | The Bike Rider |
| John Astin | Kent |
| Paul Bartel | Mr. Froeger |
| Maureen Lipman | Lady in the Bed |
| Willy Millowitsch | Fritz Spritz |
| Mel Smith | Hotel Manager |
| Moon Unit Zappa | Rusty's California Girl |
| Sheila Kennedy | Game Show Hostess #1 |
| Cynthia Szigeti | Mrs. Froeger |
| Malcolm Danare | The Froegers' Son |
| Kevi Kendall | The Froegers' Daughter |
| Tricia Lange | Game Show Hostess #2 |
| William Zabka | Jack |
| Wendy Goldman | Stewardess |
| Angus MacKay | Announcer at Court |
| Julie Wooldridge | Princess Di |
| Peter Hugo | Prince Charles |
| Jeannette Charles | Queen Elizabeth |
| Derek Deadman | Taxi Driver |
| Gwen Nelson | Hotel Manager's Mother |
| Robbie Coltrane | Man in the Bathroom |
| Paul McDowell | English Motorist #1 |
| Ballard Berkeley | English Motorist #2 |
| Elizabeth Arlen | Mrs. Garland |
| David Gersh | Mr. Garland |
| Jacques Herlin | Hotel Desk Clerk |
| Jacques Maury | Hotel's Assistant Manager |
| Philippe Sturbelle | Cafe Waiter |
| Alice Sapritch | Dowager on the Eiffel Tower |
| Isa Carol Horio | Blond Girl at Eiffel Tower |
| Isabelle Massard | Brunet Girl at Eiffel Tower |
| Sylvie Badalati | Rusty's French Girl |
| Didier Pain | Video Camera Thief |
| Erika Wackernagel | Helga Spritz |
| Claudia Neidig | Rusty's German Girl |
| Massimo Sarchielli | The Other Thief |
| Jorge Krimer | Unfortunate Express Agent |
| Gloria Charles | Stewardess |
| Gary Owens | "Pig in a Poke" Announcer (uncredited) |
| Tom Willett | "Pig in a Poke" Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Peter Roy | Guest in Ellen's Dream (uncredited) |
| Reg Thomason | Guest in Ellen's Dream (uncredited) |
| Salvatore Billa | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| John Hughes | Story, Screenplay |
| Amy Heckerling | Director |
| Michael D. Moore | Second Unit Director |
| Robert Cartwright | Production Design |
| Pembroke J. Herring | Editor |
| Robert Paynter | Director of Photography |
| Alan Tomkins | Art Direction |
| Graham Williams | Costume Design |
| Daphne Martin | Hairstylist |
| Don French | First Assistant Director |
| Stephen Morley | Still Photographer |
| Regina Gruss | Publicist |
| Marion Dougherty | Casting |
| Leslie Tomkins | Art Direction |
| Nick Forder | Makeup Artist |
| Monty Westmore | Makeup Artist |
| Tony Dawe | Sound Recordist |
| Richard Richtsfeld | Special Effects |
| Simon Wakefield | Set Decoration |
| Christine George | Hairstylist |
| Dieter Meyer | Production Supervisor |
| Bob Bremner | Gaffer |
| Charles Fox | Original Music Composer |
| Robert Klane | Screenplay |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Matty Simmons | Producer |
| Stuart Cornfeld | Co-Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 28 | 36 | 19 |
| 2024 | 5 | 32 | 46 | 19 |
| 2024 | 6 | 32 | 62 | 15 |
| 2024 | 7 | 33 | 51 | 23 |
| 2024 | 8 | 31 | 42 | 18 |
| 2024 | 9 | 25 | 48 | 18 |
| 2024 | 10 | 24 | 43 | 15 |
| 2024 | 11 | 23 | 42 | 13 |
| 2024 | 12 | 25 | 48 | 16 |
| 2025 | 1 | 22 | 29 | 16 |
| 2025 | 2 | 16 | 27 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 887 | 887 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 879 | 910 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 975 | 975 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 832 | 892 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 919 | 927 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 662 | 830 |
<em>'National Lampoon’s European Vacation'</em> 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 t ... he French, eh? One of two creepy gags to do with the young daughter takes place with a Frenchman, the other with the American host <i>(was it a Family Feud spoof? Makes it *slightly* less weird)</i> - 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.