Finding the right order of National Lampoon movies is a nightmare. Honestly. If you think it’s as simple as following a timeline or a single storyline, you’re going to get a headache. Most people assume "National Lampoon" is a franchise like Marvel or Star Wars. It isn't. It’s a brand name that was slapped onto dozens of movies over four decades. Some are stone-cold classics that defined a generation. Others? They’re basically unwatchable low-budget comedies that bought the name to trick you into buying a ticket.
The magazine started it all. Founded by Harvard Lampoon alumni Doug Kenney, Henry Beard, and Robert Hoffman, the National Lampoon magazine was a satirical powerhouse in the 1970s. When they transitioned to film, they caught lightning in a bottle. But as the years went on, the brand got diluted. Licensing deals meant the "National Lampoon" name appeared on movies that had absolutely nothing to do with the original writers or their specific brand of biting, intelligent anarchy.
To actually enjoy these, you have to ignore the release dates and focus on the distinct "universes" within the brand.
The Vacation Series: The Only True Continuity
If you want to watch the order of National Lampoon movies that actually feels like a cohesive story, you start with the Griswolds. This is the gold standard. It’s based on John Hughes’ short story "Vacation '58," which was originally published in the magazine.
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) is the starting point. It's the quintessential road trip movie. Chevy Chase is at his peak as Clark Griswold, the well-meaning but slightly unhinged father trying to force his family to have fun. You've got the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, the dead aunt on the roof, and the eventual breakdown at Walley World. It’s perfect.
Next, you hit National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985). Most critics think it’s the weakest of the core three, but it’s essential for the timeline. The kids—Rusty and Audrey—are played by different actors, which became a running gag for the rest of the series.
Then comes the heavy hitter: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989). People watch this every year. It’s arguably more popular than the original. It trades the road trip for a stationary disaster at home, introducing Randy Quaid’s Cousin Eddie as a permanent fixture of the Griswold lore.
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After that, things get a little weird. Vegas Vacation (1997) dropped the "National Lampoon" prefix because the brand had become a bit "cheap" by the late 90s, but it's officially the fourth film. Then there’s the 2015 Vacation sequel/reboot starring Ed Helms as an adult Rusty. There’s even a weird TV movie spin-off called National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003). Skip that one. Seriously. It’s a trap.
The Golden Era Classics (1978–1982)
Before the brand became a licensing free-for-all, there was a period where the name actually meant something. If you’re looking for the "Essential" order of National Lampoon movies, this is the era to study.
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) changed everything. It was the first film under the banner and it became the highest-grossing comedy of its time. It’s the reason "frat culture" is a trope in movies. Without John Belushi’s Bluto, we don’t get Old School or The Hangover. It’s a period piece set in 1962, so chronologically, it actually takes place before almost every other movie in the catalog.
Then you have National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982). This one is fascinating because it was written by John Hughes, but it’s a slasher-comedy parody. It didn’t land well at the time. People wanted another Animal House, and they got a weird genre mashup. It’s worth watching if you want to see the brand experimenting before it lost its way.
The Lost Gems and Sketches
You also have to consider National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1982). It’s an anthology. It’s messy. It’s hit-or-miss. But it represents that early 80s "Saturday Night Live" energy that the magazine was famous for.
The Van Wilder Era: The Second Wind
By the early 2000s, the brand was basically dead. Then came Ryan Reynolds.
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National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002) was a massive hit on home video and basically saved the brand's relevance for a new generation. It’s not smart satire. It’s gross-out humor. But it worked. It spawned a direct-to-video prequel, Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009), and a spin-off, Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (2006).
If you're watching these, watch the 2002 original first. The others are really only for completionists who have a very high tolerance for early-2000s "bro" comedy.
The "Buyer Beware" List: Where the Brand Went Wrong
This is the part of the order of National Lampoon movies that most guides won't tell you about. Because the name was licensed out, there are dozens of movies that use the name but have zero connection to the original spirit of the magazine.
- National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 (1993): Actually pretty funny. It’s a Lethal Weapon parody starring Samuel L. Jackson and Emilio Estevez. It’s the last "good" one for a long time.
- National Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995): Notable only because it’s Jeremy Renner’s first movie.
- National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011): Avoid.
- National Lampoon's Cattle Call (2006): Avoid.
The list goes on. There are titles like Dorm Daze, Pledge This! (starring Paris Hilton), and Gold Diggers. These aren't really "National Lampoon" movies in the way Vacation or Animal House are. They are generic comedies that paid a fee to put a logo on the poster.
Chronological vs. Release Date: How to Actually Watch
If you want the best experience, do not watch by release date. You’ll be jumping from a masterpiece like Animal House to a bottom-tier stayer like Movie Madness.
Instead, group them by "Vibe."
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1. The Foundation (The 70s/80s Peak)
Start with Animal House, then Vacation, then Christmas Vacation. If you stop here, you've seen the best the brand has to offer. You've seen the evolution from the 60s counter-culture satire to the 80s suburban nightmare.
2. The Parody Phase
Watch Loaded Weapon 1 and Class Reunion. These show the brand trying to mock specific movie genres rather than just "life" in general. They’re fun, but they lack the heart of the Griswold family.
3. The Modern Gross-Out
Watch Van Wilder. That’s it. Maybe the Taj spin-off if you’re bored. This era is defined by the transition from clever satire to "shock" humor. It’s a different beast entirely.
4. The Documentary Context
To truly understand the order of National Lampoon movies, you actually need to watch a documentary called Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon (2015). It explains why the movies started so strong and why they eventually fell off a cliff. Seeing the real-life tragedy of Doug Kenney (who co-wrote Animal House and Caddyshack) puts the cynical nature of the later films into perspective.
Why the Order Matters for Collectors
If you're a physical media collector, the "National Lampoon" branding is a total mess. Some DVDs have the logo, some don't. Some streaming services list Caddyshack as a Lampoon movie because it was written by the same people, but it doesn't officially carry the name.
The brand has changed hands so many times—from Matty Simmons to J2 Communications to various private equity groups—that the "official" list is constantly debated. Even the 2018 Netflix film A Futile and Stupid Gesture (a biopic about the magazine's founders) is technically more of a "National Lampoon movie" than most of the stuff released in the 2000s, even though it doesn't have the logo.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Movie Night
Don't try to watch all 60+ movies. You’ll regret it. Instead, follow this curated path to get the most out of the "National Lampoon" experience without the filler.
- Start with "Animal House" (1978): It’s the DNA of everything that followed.
- The Griswold Trilogy: Watch Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation in that order. Skip Vegas Vacation unless you’re a Chevy Chase superfan.
- The "Good" Parody: Watch Loaded Weapon 1. It holds up surprisingly well as a time capsule of 90s action cinema.
- The Cultural Shift: Watch Van Wilder to see how comedy changed by the turn of the millennium.
- The Context: Finish with the documentary Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead. It’ll make you appreciate the early genius and mourn what the brand became.
If you stick to this order, you’re seeing the creative arc of a comedy empire. You’re seeing how a group of Harvard nerds took over Hollywood, lost their minds, and left behind a legacy that—while diluted—still contains some of the funniest moments in film history. Just remember: if the poster looks like it was made in MS Paint and features a celebrity you haven't seen since 2004, it's probably a "National Lampoon" movie in name only. Stick to the classics.