National Lampoon’s European Vacation 1985
Directed by Amy Heckerling · 95 mins · 2,046 views
Synopsis
Trailers
Reviews (69)
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W
I have met no one who likes this film, I also haven’t met anyone who hates it It’s just Okay Oh yeah and can we just talk about how damn annoying and unfunny Audrey is in this film
77 3 -
R
Female 4 Front: Action! – Fast Times at Heckerling’s Clueless High So I believe that with this one, I’ve already seen all the Vacations movies, and everyone was right—this is the weakest of them all. The main theme song is still a banger, the Beverly cover of “Big Spender” is great (Seal did it better though), the car chase was good and there are some amusing moments, but as a whole, this was a very boring movie that failed to engage me in any way. Everyone does their shtick but by this point, it was kinda tiring and a lot of it felt kind of random. All in all, I can see why Amy was drawn to this and she does a nice job directing but unfortunately, she doesn’t have the best material to work with. Female 4 Front: Action! – Fast Times at Heckerling’s Clueless High TODAY SCHEDULE Honor and Glory Irresistible Force European Vacation Sweet Home
164 7 -
J
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K
Good lord, talk about going through the motions and perpetuating nonsensical stereotypes! Dare I say, John Hughes really phoned it in on this one. Him having written this slap bang in the middle of his zeitgeist defining run in the mid 80s does the film no favours whatsoever. European Vacation offers returning glimpses of the ditzy tomfoolery and 5th gear escapades which made Vacation a comedy staple, however those moments are dead in the water all too soon. Not unlike Eric Idle being knocked off his bicycle. It’s painfully apparent this was a sequel begrudgingly written like a strenuous assignment. 9 outta every 10 jokes read as if they were dragged from the cutting room floor against their will. The…
76 1 -
M
Just a painfully bad movie. Terribly unfunny. I’m sure in its day, it got some good laughs. I hadn’t seen this movie since probably the early 90s. I can see now why I stayed away. The original is great, fantastic. Christmas is good as well. Vegas I still need to watch and review, bit I remember it being ok. This…misses the mark. It’s actually pretty freaking creepy as well. Again, I’m sure it wad comedy gold in 85, but nah. That opening with Gomez? Yuck. The only part I really enjoyed is seeing all the sights. I think it’s about time we start having the uncomfortable conversation that Chevy Chase just isn’t that funny. Personal preference, I guess. About 10 minutes into this movie, my wife said “this movie is fucking stupid”. Sorry for cursing, her words. But…yeah, I agree with her. Just bad. ⭐️
146 1 -
O
i like when mum tells me to watch something because apparently it’s the “best movie ever” and i go on letterboxd and half of my mutuals have given it ½ star
74 1 -
G
Yes this movie is pretty bad but it does contain the first pair of hoo hoos I have ever seen so that’s a plus.
76 2 -
J
It’s definitely the odd duck of the Vacation franchise … but hell it’s still the Griswolds up to their usual kooky antics. “There it is, kids. My motherland … Dad, Grandma’s from Chicago … Shut up, Russ.” At one point as a kid, I remember wondering if the National Lampoon’s European Vacation was even a real movie, because I never saw it playing on TV like the first one and Christmas Vacation. After seeing it again it is obvious this one just does not have the same charm as the others, with it focusing too much on the Griswolds being a bunch of Americans acting like jackasses parading around Europe. When the heart of this franchise is really about a…
157 3 -
R
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G
Oof, this really wasn’t funny, painful even at times. Did no one watch this before releasing? None of the stereotypical jokes landed.
80 3 -
C
They never did get the kids right in these things. Particularly in this one. A Couple of smackable fucks is what we get here. Why was Rusty such a chick magnet? He looks like a donkey. If I wanted to watch a funny movie about Americans going all over the world destroying famous landmarks, I’d watch Team America. The bad Cobra Kai kid from KArate Kid is in this which was cool. He probably has a name but I don’t give a shit. Sweep the leg. This has the stupidest ending I’ve seen in a long time. Chevy Chase made too many movies in 1985. I wish the plane had crashed.
328 23 -
Z
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R
I usually don’t mind the vacation movies but this one was just really drab and boring. So many of the jokes felt rinsed and repeated from other, better places (Monty Python in particular). Not recommending this.
1 1 -
C
This one was good
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M
Look kids, Big Ben.
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L
Me hace gracia el intento que hace Las Vacaciones Europeas de una Chiflada familia Americana de mezclar el estilo cómico de sketches que tiene la primera al tipo de humor europeo por el que pasan la familia Griswold en este viaje por Londres, París, algún lugar de Alemania y Roma. Por cada sitio el enfoque del gag estereotipado va cambiando, algunos funcionan mejor que otros, haciendo que el estilo vaya variando al igual que las situaciones. Además cuenta con cierto…
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Y
Je suis tellement fan du premier volet qui est un must absolu et qui, encore aujourd’hui, fonctionne à merveille. Cela faisait des années que je n’avais pas regardé ce second volet, mais maintenant, je comprends mieux. Ce n’est que très très rarement drôle, souvent vulgaire gratuitement et sans queue ni tête. J’ai halluciné en voyant des actes très très osés où l’on voit un présentateur télé enlacer la jeune fille de la famille,
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_
Whew
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K
mind you i watched this with my family
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N
My least favorite out of the franchise, it’s messy and simply not funny
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J
It’s weird that the best Vacation is the one where they stay home.
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H
National Lampoons Cinema Verite Vacation. I have fond memories of how idiotic this is.
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T
National Lampoon’s European Vacation is just more of the first film deal, only in Europe most popular places. This movie does the whole stick of the American family having no clue how Europe works, with the English being more apologetic like Canadians when ran over, the French being so vile against Americans to make TV dinners out of spite, Germans, or West Germans during the Soviet split of the time, doing the polka dance and being party animals, and absolutely…
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C
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S
actually so entertaining damn
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M
I actually really like the Cinematography this movie has, it was weirdly amazing.
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C
So hilarious but no way were they hitting London, Paris Rome and Germany in 2 weeks
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N
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I
I lowk grew up with these movies I love them so much, kinda weird in places but it was just the time period they were made in ig but nonetheless this is my fav of them no doubt, though the Christmas one actually cannot be beat so maybe I lied and i actually prefer the Christmas one but whatever I love them both okay. Rusty is lowk a childhood crush of mine too lmao
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N
Oink oink, my good man!
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L
ehh it’s funny, dated funny
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S
Average. Glad i watched but wouldn’t purchase it
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E
Underrated very Pythonesque fun film
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C
Mejor que la primera pero sigue siendo una sucesión de gags. John Hughes era mejor que esto.
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S
“Fromage!” 🧀
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Y
Extremely fun movie, even if it is a little old, I loved it.
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E
It’s not the kind of art that belongs in the Louvre, but I have such a soft spot for it. Maybe I even kinda love it… Probably seen it half a dozen times and will probably watch it half a dozen more. Not as good as Christmas Vacation—though that would be impossible—and the story isn’t as strong as the first one (which is saying something), and it’s hammy and cheesy, but a little duly placed jambon and fromage in the…
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S
La mas family friendly, con un par de escenas de BOOBS. Casi no les pasa tragedias. Mas bien ocasionan tragedias…
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M
What in the fever dream is this
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M
one of those classics everyone refers to as “a classic”
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M
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E
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T
This was the first one I ever saw and I still probably love it more than the other movies even though I am smart enough to realize that the first movie and the third movie are better. This one is still one of my favorites.
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A
Honestly it was kinda funny… A lot of stereotypes but it was funny in the way it was not really funny, just… weird. My dad and I watched it to see the Rome part and it was so little I actually looked at him like this 👺.
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Y
Je suis tellement fan du premier volet qui est un must absolu et qui, encore aujourd’hui, fonctionne à merveille. Cela faisait des années que je n’avais pas regardé ce second volet, mais maintenant, je comprends mieux. Ce n’est que très très rarement drôle, souvent vulgaire gratuitement et sans queue ni tête. J’ai halluciné en voyant des actes très très osés où l’on voit un présentateur télé enlacer la jeune fille de la famille, lui peloter les fesses, le serveurs français…
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G
It’s better for them that they weren’t in Poland.
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NNate 8 月 6, 2026
I think about half of this movie is scenes of people making out, I guess that’s fitting?
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L
53 Characters Ranked Clark > Audrey > Ellen >∞ Rusty
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C
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Q
No jury would convict Ellen if something bad were to happen to Clark.
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J
Big Ben
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R
Funny in parts but overall quite a bit weaker than the first film. The recasting of the kids is the real let down, the ones in this film come across whiny and annoying especially Hill’s Audrey. Chase and D’Angelo are both the shining light in this film as they have undeniable chemistry and have the only real funny moments in the film. Still definitely worth watching, especially for Idle’s cameo appearance.
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B
The is film was a let down from its predecessor. Why recast the child actors? And it is every movie in this franchise! This film does have its moments though. The comedy here is either the same thing or overdone. But overall the film can be enjoyable and from what I hear is way better that other sequels in this franchise. You do miss Harold ramis direction. If you are craving more Chevy chase I suppose you can watch this to get that fix in.
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N
Might be one of the worse vacations movies there is
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A
Russ in this film was hilarious
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R
The worst of the Vacation movies, there’s like 3 funny jokes in this thing.
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W
The Monty Python homage…
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M
wait but this had all of my favorite cars
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L
I never watched this a day in my life. I’ve seen Christmas and regular Vacation. I found this funny! I laughed at the reoccurring appearances of Eric Idle! This is so off-putting at points. With Rusty being in a can can bar and him being 15 just doesn’t sit right. I laughed so hard at Ellen’s dance routine. Overall, I found it decent. Nothing I’d rave about.
1 -
K
I cannot with him
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J
Probably the my least favourite of the Vacation movies but still a good movie.
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T
The worst Rusty/Audrey combo
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M
Just made me yearn to go back to Europe more
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S
quite funny actually not sure whether to be ashamed of that or not, too american in places but enjoyed more than the others in the series that i have seen
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L
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D
Likely the weakest in the Vacation series (I haven’t seen all of them yet, maybe I’m wrong) but still enjoyable, with a couple of laughs.
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A
nat 3
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B
’tis a flesh wound.
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A
Have seen these so many times. This used to be my favorite, but is probably now my least favorite. I do love The Power Station needle drop and Moon Zappa. This has its moments. Watched Joe Bob’s Summer School.
- Synopsis
- 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.
- Director
- Amy Heckerling
- Writer
- John Hughes, Robert Klane
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Country
- USA
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1985
- Runtime
- 95 mins
- USA25 Jul 1985
- UK10 Sep 1985
- Australia26 Nov 1985
- Sweden14 Mar 1986
- Netherlands12 Jun 1986
- Spain30 Jun 1986
- Germany03 Jul 1986
- Finland04 Jul 1986
- Italy22 Aug 1986
- USA31 Dec 1986
- Netherlands18 Jun 2003
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