Vacation

Year: 2015

Runtime: 99 min

Language: English

Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein

Budget: $31M

AdventureComedy

Seeking to recreate the cherished childhood vacations of his youth, Rusty Griswold takes his own family on a cross-country road trip to the beloved Walley World theme park. What begins as a sentimental journey quickly devolves into a series of increasingly chaotic and hilarious mishaps. Along the way, the Griswolds encounter quirky characters and face unexpected challenges, ultimately redefining their understanding of family and the true meaning of a vacation.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Vacation yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Vacation (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Vacation (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:02

Main Characters – Vacation (2015)

Meet the key characters of Vacation (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:02

Major Themes – Vacation (2015)

Explore the central themes of Vacation (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:02

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Chaotic family road trip disasters like in Vacation

Dysfunctional families endure hilarious and escalating mishaps on cross-country journeys.If you enjoyed the chaotic cross-country journey in Vacation, you'll love these other movies about dysfunctional family road trips. Discover comedies filled with escalating mishaps, quirky roadside characters, and the humorous trials of family bonding on the open road.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a linear journey from point A to B, where the primary conflict is the trip itself. A family, often dysfunctional at the start, faces a rapid-fire sequence of comedic obstacles and embarrassing situations that force them to confront their issues and ultimately rediscover their connection.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the 'road trip as disaster' narrative structure, a light and irreverent tone that finds humor in failure, and a fast-paced energy driven by constant, chaotic events that test the family unit.

Irreverent escapist comedies with a vibe like Vacation

Fast-paced, lighthearted comedies that use absurd humor as a form of pure escapism.Looking for more movies with the fast-paced, hilarious, and irreverent vibe of Vacation? This collection features comedies that deliver constant laughs through absurd situations, chaotic energy, and a lighthearted tone perfect for an entertaining escape.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is straightforward, often built around a simple premise that serves as a framework for a series of comedic set pieces. Character development is secondary to the delivery of jokes and chaotic scenarios, with conflicts resolved quickly and humorously, leading to an unambiguously happy ending.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their primary goal of providing escapist entertainment through a consistent LIGHT tone, FAST pacing fueled by jokes and mishaps, and a STRAIGHTFORWARD narrative that keeps the focus squarely on humor and chaotic fun.

Unlock the Full Story of Vacation

Don't stop at just watching — explore Vacation in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Vacation is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Vacation Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Vacation, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Vacation Timeline

Track the full timeline of Vacation with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Vacation Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Vacation

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Vacation: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Vacation

Discover movies like Vacation that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.