National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

National Lampoon’s Vacation
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $61,400,000Details
OpusData ID: 8380100
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$8,333,358 (13.6% of total gross)
Legs:7.37 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$15,000,000 (worldwide box office is 4.1 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,175 opening theaters/1,253 max. theaters, 11.1 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $220,455,233

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,531 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,817 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 201-300) 272 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 401-500) 443 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 401-500) 418 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 801-900) 825 $61,400,000

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 29th, 1983 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as National Lampoon's Vacation
July 16th, 2023 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events (40th Anniversary)
Video Release: April 6th, 1999 by Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 98 minutes
Franchise: National Lampoon's Vacation
Comparisons: vs. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Family Vacations, Road Trip, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 112 $15,003,294 Sep 2, 1983 38

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,531 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 601-700) 635 $220,455,233
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,125 $61,400,000
Top-grossing movies at the domestic box office first released in 1983 11 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 701-800) 720 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,204 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 601-700) 667 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 201-300) 272 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 401-500) 418 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 201-300) 254 $61,400,000

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 29, 1983 1 $8,333,358   1,175 $7,092   $8,333,358 1
Aug 5, 1983 1 $7,191,832 -14% 1,230 $5,847   $20,721,199 2
Aug 12, 1983 1 $6,161,649 -14% 1,253 $4,918   $31,072,408 3
Aug 19, 1983 4 $4,028,780 -35% 1,252 $3,218   $38,365,442 4
Aug 26, 1983 5 $3,410,591 -15% 1,246 $2,737   $43,924,299 5
Sep 2, 1983 4 $4,008,514 +18% 1,248 $3,212   $49,398,171 6
Sep 9, 1983 4 $2,271,155 -43% 1,193 $1,904   $52,421,040 7
Sep 16, 1983 4 $1,800,559 -21% 1,124 $1,602   $54,940,238 8
Sep 23, 1983 3 $1,502,252 -17% 1,104 $1,361   $56,991,352 9
Sep 30, 1983 9 $1,080,602 -28% 935 $1,156   $58,526,630 10
Oct 7, 1983 9 $970,890 -10% 867 $1,120   $59,840,990 11
Oct 14, 1983 9 $636,081 -34% 704 $904   $60,684,903 12
Oct 21, 1983 13 $482,989 -24% 576 $839   $61,399,552 13

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 29, 1983 1 $13,529,367   1,175 $11,514   $13,529,367 1
Aug 5, 1983 1 $11,381,392 -16% 1,230 $9,253   $24,910,759 2
Aug 12, 1983 1 $9,425,903 -17% 1,253 $7,523   $34,336,662 3
Aug 19, 1983 4 $6,177,046 -34% 1,252 $4,934   $40,513,708 4
Aug 26, 1983 4 $4,875,949 -21% 1,246 $3,913   $45,389,657 5
Sep 2, 1983 4 $4,760,228 -2% 1,248 $3,814   $50,149,885 6
Sep 9, 1983 4 $2,989,794 -37% 1,193 $2,506   $53,139,679 7
Sep 16, 1983 4 $2,349,421 -21% 1,124 $2,090   $55,489,100 8
Sep 23, 1983 3 $1,956,928 -17% 1,104 $1,773   $57,446,028 9
Sep 30, 1983 8 $1,424,072 -27% 935 $1,523   $58,870,100 10
Oct 7, 1983 8 $1,178,722 -17% 867 $1,360   $60,048,822 11
Oct 14, 1983 8 $867,741 -26% 704 $1,233   $60,916,563 12

Weekly US Blu-ray Sales

DateRankUnits
this
Week		% ChangeTotal
Units		Spending
this
Week		Total
Spending		Weeks
in
Release
Jul 2, 202367,508 7,508$116,224$116,2241,265
Nov 12, 2023186,014 38,219$93,277$569,1271,284

Our DVD and Blu-ray sales estimates are based on weekly retail surveys, which we use to build a weekly market share estimate for each title we are tracking. The market share is converted into a weekly sales estimate based on industry reports on the overall size of the market, including reports published in Media Play News.

For example, if our weekly retail survey estimates that a particular title sold 1% of all units that week, and the industry reports sales of 1,500,000 units in total, we will estimate 15,000 units were sold of that title. The consumer spending estimate is based on the average sales price for the title in the retailers we survey.

We refine our estimates from week to week as more data becomes available. In particular, we adjust weekly sales figures for the quarter once the total market estimates are published by the Digital Entertainment Group. Figures will therefore fluctuate each week, and totals for individual titles can go up or down as we update our estimates.

Because sales figures are estimated based on sampling, they will be more accurate for higher-selling titles.

Leading Cast

Chevy Chase    Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.
Beverly D'Angelo    Ellen Griswold
Christie Brinkley    Girl in Red Ferrari

Supporting Cast

Imogene Coca    Aunt Edna
Randy Quaid    Cousin Eddie
John Candy    Lasky
Anthony Michael Hall    Russell Griswold
Dana Barron    Audrey Griswold
Eugene Levy    Car Salesman
Harold Ramis    Cop at Wally World
Brian Doyle-Murray    Kamp Komfort Clerk
Frank McRae    Grover
Jane Krakowski    Cousin Vicki
James Keach    Motorcycle Cop
Eddie Bracken    Roy Walley
Miriam Flynn    Cousin Catherine
Denny Freeman    Policeman
John P. Navin Jr.    Cousin Dale
Nathan Cook    Man Giving Directions
Christopher Jackson    Pimp
Mickey Jones    Mechanic
John Diehl    Assistant Mechanic
Randolph Dreyfuss    Wyatt Earp
Jeannie Dimter Barton    Dodge City Cashier
James Staley    Motel Desk Clerk
Adelaid Wilder    Car Hop
Virgil Wyaco II    Indian
Gerry Black    Davenport
Michael Talbott    Cowboy
Fritz Ford    Neighbor
Tessa Richarde    Motel Guest
Eric Stacey Jr    Neighbor

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Harold Ramis    Director
Matty Simmons    Producer
John Hughes    Screenwriter
Ralph Burns    Composer
Pem Herring    Editor
Victor J. Kemper    Director of Photography
Jack T. Collis    Art Director

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$8,333,358 (13.6% of total gross)
Legs:7.37 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$15,000,000 (worldwide box office is 4.1 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,175 opening theaters/1,253 max. theaters, 11.1 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $220,455,233

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,531 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,817 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 201-300) 272 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 401-500) 443 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 401-500) 418 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 801-900) 825 $61,400,000

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 29th, 1983 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as National Lampoon's Vacation
July 16th, 2023 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events (40th Anniversary)
Video Release: April 6th, 1999 by Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 98 minutes
Franchise: National Lampoon's Vacation
Comparisons: vs. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Family Vacations, Road Trip, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 112 $15,003,294 Sep 2, 1983 38

Leading Cast

Chevy Chase    Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.
Beverly D'Angelo    Ellen Griswold
Christie Brinkley    Girl in Red Ferrari

Supporting Cast

Imogene Coca    Aunt Edna
Randy Quaid    Cousin Eddie
John Candy    Lasky
Anthony Michael Hall    Russell Griswold
Dana Barron    Audrey Griswold
Eugene Levy    Car Salesman
Harold Ramis    Cop at Wally World
Brian Doyle-Murray    Kamp Komfort Clerk
Frank McRae    Grover
Jane Krakowski    Cousin Vicki
James Keach    Motorcycle Cop
Eddie Bracken    Roy Walley
Miriam Flynn    Cousin Catherine
Denny Freeman    Policeman
John P. Navin Jr.    Cousin Dale
Nathan Cook    Man Giving Directions
Christopher Jackson    Pimp
Mickey Jones    Mechanic
John Diehl    Assistant Mechanic
Randolph Dreyfuss    Wyatt Earp
Jeannie Dimter Barton    Dodge City Cashier
James Staley    Motel Desk Clerk
Adelaid Wilder    Car Hop
Virgil Wyaco II    Indian
Gerry Black    Davenport
Michael Talbott    Cowboy
Fritz Ford    Neighbor
Tessa Richarde    Motel Guest
Eric Stacey Jr    Neighbor

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Harold Ramis    Director
Matty Simmons    Producer
John Hughes    Screenwriter
Ralph Burns    Composer
Pem Herring    Editor
Victor J. Kemper    Director of Photography
Jack T. Collis    Art Director

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,531 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 601-700) 635 $220,455,233
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,125 $61,400,000
Top-grossing movies at the domestic box office first released in 1983 11 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 701-800) 720 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,204 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 601-700) 667 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 201-300) 272 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 401-500) 418 $61,400,000
All Time Domestic Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 201-300) 254 $61,400,000

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 29, 1983 1 $8,333,358   1,175 $7,092   $8,333,358 1
Aug 5, 1983 1 $7,191,832 -14% 1,230 $5,847   $20,721,199 2
Aug 12, 1983 1 $6,161,649 -14% 1,253 $4,918   $31,072,408 3
Aug 19, 1983 4 $4,028,780 -35% 1,252 $3,218   $38,365,442 4
Aug 26, 1983 5 $3,410,591 -15% 1,246 $2,737   $43,924,299 5
Sep 2, 1983 4 $4,008,514 +18% 1,248 $3,212   $49,398,171 6
Sep 9, 1983 4 $2,271,155 -43% 1,193 $1,904   $52,421,040 7
Sep 16, 1983 4 $1,800,559 -21% 1,124 $1,602   $54,940,238 8
Sep 23, 1983 3 $1,502,252 -17% 1,104 $1,361   $56,991,352 9
Sep 30, 1983 9 $1,080,602 -28% 935 $1,156   $58,526,630 10
Oct 7, 1983 9 $970,890 -10% 867 $1,120   $59,840,990 11
Oct 14, 1983 9 $636,081 -34% 704 $904   $60,684,903 12
Oct 21, 1983 13 $482,989 -24% 576 $839   $61,399,552 13

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 29, 1983 1 $13,529,367   1,175 $11,514   $13,529,367 1
Aug 5, 1983 1 $11,381,392 -16% 1,230 $9,253   $24,910,759 2
Aug 12, 1983 1 $9,425,903 -17% 1,253 $7,523   $34,336,662 3
Aug 19, 1983 4 $6,177,046 -34% 1,252 $4,934   $40,513,708 4
Aug 26, 1983 4 $4,875,949 -21% 1,246 $3,913   $45,389,657 5
Sep 2, 1983 4 $4,760,228 -2% 1,248 $3,814   $50,149,885 6
Sep 9, 1983 4 $2,989,794 -37% 1,193 $2,506   $53,139,679 7
Sep 16, 1983 4 $2,349,421 -21% 1,124 $2,090   $55,489,100 8
Sep 23, 1983 3 $1,956,928 -17% 1,104 $1,773   $57,446,028 9
Sep 30, 1983 8 $1,424,072 -27% 935 $1,523   $58,870,100 10
Oct 7, 1983 8 $1,178,722 -17% 867 $1,360   $60,048,822 11
Oct 14, 1983 8 $867,741 -26% 704 $1,233   $60,916,563 12

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,817 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,193 $61,400,000
Top 1983 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 15 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,442 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,301-2,400) 2,333 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,350 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 401-500) 443 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 801-900) 825 $61,400,000
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 301-400) 392 $61,400,000

Weekly US Blu-ray Sales

DateRankUnits
this
Week		% ChangeTotal
Units		Spending
this
Week		Total
Spending		Weeks
in
Release
Jul 2, 202367,508 7,508$116,224$116,2241,265
Nov 12, 2023186,014 38,219$93,277$569,1271,284

Our DVD and Blu-ray sales estimates are based on weekly retail surveys, which we use to build a weekly market share estimate for each title we are tracking. The market share is converted into a weekly sales estimate based on industry reports on the overall size of the market, including reports published in Media Play News.

For example, if our weekly retail survey estimates that a particular title sold 1% of all units that week, and the industry reports sales of 1,500,000 units in total, we will estimate 15,000 units were sold of that title. The consumer spending estimate is based on the average sales price for the title in the retailers we survey.

We refine our estimates from week to week as more data becomes available. In particular, we adjust weekly sales figures for the quarter once the total market estimates are published by the Digital Entertainment Group. Figures will therefore fluctuate each week, and totals for individual titles can go up or down as we update our estimates.

Because sales figures are estimated based on sampling, they will be more accurate for higher-selling titles.