National Lampoon's European Vacation
The well-meaning Griswold family sets out to soak up Europe’s sights on a free‑trip prize, only to have their dream holiday derailed by a cascade of cultural blunders and slapstick disasters.
“For over two thousand years, Europe has survived many great disasters. Now for the real test. Chevy Chase & his family are coming from America!”
Synopsis
The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show and begin packing for their trip to the continent. They attempt to experience the essence of Europe, but struggle to be effective tourists. Compounding their difficulties, they find it challenging to enjoy their holiday in countries where they are able to speak the local language.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 148+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Pembroke J HerringShot by Robert PaynterScored by Charles FoxDesigned by Robert CartwrightSound by Tony DaweCostumes by Graham Williams
Box Office
1985 · Box office
✅ Made its money back — grossed 2.9× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$49.4M
Also known as
- Hilfe, die Amis kommen!de
- National Lampoon's European Vacationen
- Bonjour les vacances 2fr
- Ma guarda un po' 'sti americaniit
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Cast & Crew
148 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Chevy Chase
as Clark Griswold
Beverly D Angelo
as Ellen Griswold
Sheila Kennedy
as Game Show Hostess #1
Dana Hill
as Audrey Griswold
Jason Lively
as Rusty Griswold
John Astin
as Pig in a Poke Host - Kent
Kevi Kendall
as The Froegers' Daughter
Paul Bartel
as Mr. Froeger
Cynthia Szigeti
as Mrs. Froeger
Malcolm Danare
as The Froegers' Son
Tricia Lange
as Game Show Hostess #2
William Zabka
as Jack
Supporting cast
37Wendy Goldman
as Stewardess
Angus Mackay
as Announcer at Court
Julie Wooldridge
as Princess Di
Peter Hugo
as Prince Charles
Jeannette Charles
as Queen Elizabeth
Derek Deadman
as Taxi Driver
Mel Smith
as Hotel Manager
Gwen Nelson
as Hotel Manager's Mother
Robbie Coltrane
as Man in the Bathroom
Maureen Lipman
as Lady in the Bed
Paul Mcdowell
as First English Motorist
Ballard Berkeley
as Second English Motorist
Eric Idle
as The Bike Rider
Elizabeth Arlen
as Mrs. Garland
David Gersh
as Mr. Garland
Jacques Herlin
as Hotel Desk Clerk
Jacques Maury
as Hotel's Assistant Manager
Philippe Sturbelle
as Cafe Waiter
Alice Sapritch
as Dowager on the Eiffel Tower
Isa Carol Horio
as Blond Girl at Eiffel Tower
Isabelle Massard
as Brunet Girl at Eiffel Tower
Sylvie Badalati
as Rusty's French Girl
Didier Pain
as Video Camera Thief
Willy Millowitsch
as Fritz Spritz
Erika Wackernagel
as Helga Spritz
Claudia Neidig
as Claudia - Rusty's German Girl
Victor Lanoux
as The Thief
Massimo Sarchielli
as The Other Thief
Jorge Krimer
as Unfortunate Express Agent
Moon Unit Zappa
as Rusty's California Girl
Gloria Charles
as Stewardess
Salvatore Billa
as Policeman
Bruno Di Luia
as Beret'ed Man in City Square
Gary Owens
as Pig in a Poke' Announcer
Peter Roy
as Guest in Ellen's Dream
Reg Thomason
as Guest in Ellen's Dream
Tom Willett
as Game Show Audience Member
Directors
1Writers
2Producers
2Other crew
95Barbara Harris
adr voice casting (uncredited)
Sam Kirson
animator: "Pig in a Poke" animation
Benedict Beauce
art director: France
Stefano Maria Ortolani
art director: Italy
Alan Tomkins
Art Directors
Leslie Tomkins
Art Directors
Pauline Granby
assistant accountant
Colin Davidson
assistant camera
Stefan Zurcher
assistant director: second unit (as Stefan Zuercher)
Mark Gill
assistant editor
Russ Woolnough
assistant editor
Dennie Chikte
assistant editor: USA
Parents Guide
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