5 Fun Facts About 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'

When it comes to Christmas, there's only one movie that summarizes the season for me, and that's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

I think this is the perfect movie for the season. You get all the cheer and all the morals with nonstop laughs and some risque behavior. That's what the holidays are really about, anyway.

For me, it’s not officially Christmas until you’ve watched Clark Griswold battle a squirrel, untangle a million lights, and endure Cousin Eddie’s RV antics.

But even if you’ve watched it every December since 1989, there are likely a few behind-the-scenes secrets hiding in that "hap-hap-happiest Christmas."

I know I learned a lot researching this script.

Here are five things you probably didn't know about the Griswold family’s finest hour.

Let's dive in.

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1. The Screenplay Was Based on a Story by John Hughes

This one I did know, but you might not. Before he was the king of 80s teen cinema, John Hughes was a writer for National Lampoon magazine.

And while he was writing for them, he wrote a little piece called "Christmas '59." It served as the foundation for this movie, though there are a lot of changes. Hughes included a subtle nod to this in the movie. When Clark is trapped in the attic and starts watching old home movies, one of the film canisters is clearly labeled "X-Mas '59." It’s a nice tribute to the story that started the chaos.

2. The Movie Shares a Location with 'Lethal Weapon'

Another great Christmas movie is Lethal Weapon. And you wouldn't believe what it shares with Christmas Vacation.

Ever notice that Clark’s snooty neighbors, Todd and Margo, live in a house that looks suspiciously familiar? That’s because the Griswold home and the neighbors' house were located on Blondie Street at the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank.

And that house is the exact same exterior used for Roger Murtaugh’s (Danny Glover) home in the Lethal Weapon franchise.

That means if you look closely, you’re seeing the same neighborhood where Riggs and Murtaugh spent their holidays. That would be a fun crossover event.

3. A Real Earthquake Caught the Cast Off Guard

Okay, so when filming in California, you're going to have to deal with a little earthquake now and then. And sometimes a big one.

If Uncle Lewis and Aunt Bethany look a little extra rattled when they arrive at the Griswold house, it might not just be the cold. While filming their arrival on the Warner Bros. backlot in California, a minor earthquake actually struck.

You can actually see the camera shake slightly in the final cut during that scene.

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4. The "Fried Cat" Almost Didn't Make the Cut

I love the joke where the cat bites the Christmas lights that get plugged in and then explodes. It's so unexpected and gets big laughs from people who haven't seen the movie before. It's crazy to think that moment was almost not in the movie.

Warner Bros. executives were terrified of it. They were afraid the scene would be seen as animal cruelty and lobbied to cut it.

But John Hughes defended the idea as pure slapstick.

The production used a specialized puppet, and the American Humane Association was on hand to verify that no felines were harmed. And all this paid off because early test audiences ranked it as their favorite moment in the entire film.

5. Chevy Chase Actually Broke His Finger

During Clark’s iconic "Hallelujah" meltdown—where he finally snaps and attacks the plastic decorations on the lawn, it turns out Chevy Chase wasn’t just acting out his frustration. He punched the plastic Santa Claus so hard that he broke his pinky finger.

And yes, it was worth it for how funny it is.

If you watch the scene closely, he immediately stops punching and starts kicking the decorations instead to favor his injured hand. That genuine look of pained fury on his face is 100% real.

Even More Christmas Vacation Fun Facts!

• A Family Connection to the Soundtrack: When the SWAT team raids the house to the tune of "Here Comes Santa Claus," it’s more than just a festive music choice. The song is performed by Gene Autry, who happens to be the real-life third cousin of Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie).
• The Inspiration for Eddie: Randy Quaid didn’t have to look far for inspiration for his iconic performance. He based many of Cousin Eddie’s quirks—including that unmistakable tongue-clicking sound—on a man he knew growing up in Texas.
• The Producer’s Cameo: Keep your eyes peeled during the scene where Clark is struggling to read a People magazine with sap-covered fingers. The person gracing the magazine’s cover is actually the film’s producer, Matty Simmons.
• A Small Screen Tribute: The movie pays homage to classic TV during the attic scene. While Clark is watching old home movies, you can catch a glimpse of the house fronts used in both Bewitched and The New Gidget.
• Eddie's Brew of Choice: For the eagle-eyed viewers, the specific brand of beer Eddie enjoys while "tending" to his septic tank in the middle of the street is Meister Brau.
• The Missing Holiday: Despite being one of the most famous "Christmas movies" of all time, the film actually ends on Christmas Eve. We never actually see the Griswolds celebrate on Christmas Day!

Summing It All Up

As I said up top, this is my favorite Christmas movie and one I try to watch every year. All these fun behind-the-scenes facts crack me up and show that a lot goes into making movies.

And thematically, they all line up with a movie about holiday chaos, too.

Let me know what you think in the comments.