12+
National Lampoon's Vacation
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Funny family comedy, but dated and risque.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–18
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of National Lampoon's Vacation was written by Afsheen Nomai
Parents need to know that this film's humor relies mostly on innuendo. While drug use and sex are never seen, they're very frequently implied and are generally the butt of jokes. The father of this family comes close to cheating on his wife but doesn't succeed and realizes that he loves his wife. Like every other social taboo this film encounters, the father's almost cheating is treated as a joke, as he is rather inept at it.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about comedies. How can a dead dog -- or a dead old lady -- be funny? Can you think of other popular movies that turn disgusting and depraved situations into laughs -- or at least try to? How far can filmmakers push it before they've crossed the line into true tasteless territory? Who do you think most of these movies are targeted to? How do you know?
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More on National Lampoon's Vacation
What’s the Story?
Poor Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase), nothing seems to go right for him and his dream vacation, a road trip from Chicago to California's Walley World amusement park. Things go wrong from the start when a slick car salesman played by Eugene Levy, convinces Clark to settle for a wood paneled puke green station wagon dubbed, "The Family Truckster" ("You think you hate it now, but just wait until you drive it"). On the road, anything that can go wrong does go wrong. Aunt Edna dies in the car, the dog pees on the picnic basket, and the credit cards get cancelled. Meanwhile a hot blonde in a red hot Ferrari (Christy Brinkley) flirts with Clark leading almost to the demise of his marriage. With the family's bond barely intact, they arrive at their final destination only to find the home of Marty Moose closed for repairs.
Is It Any Good?
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Harold Ramis
Run time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release: 7/29/1983, DVD release: 7/29/1997
MPAA Rating: R
Run time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release: 7/29/1983, DVD release: 7/29/1997
MPAA Rating: R
Our Members Say
See all 21 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title off for age 12 and give it
12+
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
Violence includes punching and shooting with a bebe gun. Nudity is skinny dipping when he is already married
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I rate this title off for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
perfect for older kids over 10
I think its ok i mean its pretty funny but i think some stuff is to iffy!!!
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I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
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I rate this title off for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
funny
Funny movie, a few f-words. and two scenes of nudity. Not that innaproprite tho
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Iffy 4 kids aged under 15
I think that kids who realize they can't use bad language could handle this
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Family Movie
THE BEST COMEDY OF ALL TIME! The perfect movie to watch with the whole family (if kids are about this age). Very little nudity, pretty strong language, and a dog left tied to the rear bumper and dragged to death.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
I laughed so hard I had to go to the hospatol to get my stomach stapled.
I love this movie. I got it when I was six for christmas. I laughed so hard I really had to go to the hospatol to get my stomach stapled because my splean fell out. Well what I was trying to say is that this movie is pretty good for the younger ones because the sex stuff is mild and fly right over the littles heads. I don't know why it was rated R. My baby sister ( she was 4) did'nt get the sex stuff. This movie is difenitley a family comedy. So your kids will probbaly like this movie. And parents will too. Trust me you will NOT be dissipointed with this movie. But you will be dissipointed with epic movie. Check my review for that too. So bye till next time.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
I love this movie
This movie is an example of how much Clark can flip out. I love Chevy Chase in this one, also the moose (fake) that he punches. The scene where the aunt dies classic I love what they do to her. Check out The Christmas Vacation too.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
It was good
This a true American classic. There are a few iffy spots, but not bad at all. Wow, shortest review that I have ever written.
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
Not for Kids
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
I was 7 when I saw it
I watched it at my aunts house when I was 7. They kinda muted the whole thing. They didn't realize that all the words appered on the bottom of the screen. Whoa I didn't realize that there so many bad words. Don't watch it.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Its Not that Bad!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
There is no way this is 12+!!!!
This movie is not appropriate for 12 year olds! Strong language throughout, lots of drug references, and lots of sexual innuendo(including nudity). DONT LET YOUR KIDS SEE THIS!!!!!!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
It depends...
This is not a movie for little kids, there is lots of language. Know your kids before you let them see it. Its good for my age as long as the parents are okay with it. It really depends on what the parent in question finds appropriate, though...
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
i luved it
i luved it but wouldnt reccomend it 4 kids under the age of 12
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
a vacation worth taking
the griswald family heads across country to a theme park. The content is about the same as European vacation, less nudity in this one.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
One of Chevy Chase's Bests!
This comedy starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca, among others is one heck of a comedy. It's beyond funny, it keeps you watching, and even anticipating what Clark Griswald will do to ruin his vacation to Wally World even more. I recommend this movie to children 14 and up because of the nine-time usages of the F-word. However, most of them were meant to be totally comical except for the three where Clark is yelling at his family. There were no uses of it sexually. The language was what really put this movie in the R category. The overall theme is suitable for all ages but nudity was also present. Beverly D'Angelo is seen briefly topless in 3 scenes one of which is jumping into the public motel pool. Also Audrey accepts marijuana from Cousin Vicki who grew it on her farm. She is seen briefly smoking it. Other than that, the sexuality is more on the lines of PG-13 as well as the violence involving a gun (supposed to be comical). Overall, it really was mild for an R and deserves a rating between PG-13 and R (if there really was one).
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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