Where To Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Well, it's that magical time of year when audiences get ready for their comfort holiday watches, which, of course, includes "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." By and large, these holiday films fall into two camps: sentimental (see: "It's a Wonderful Life"), and the comedically quotable (see: "A Christmas Story"). But there's one thing that these successful seasonal films have in common: heart. This prerequisite for staying power is as true for 1947's "Miracle on 34th Street" as it is for director Jeremiah S. Chechik's 1989 hit, starring Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Beverly D'Angelo, and Juliette Lewis.

The third film in the franchise's "Vacation" series, "Christmas Vacation," follows legendary patriarch Clark Griswold (Chase) as he tries to pull off the perfect Christmas for his family, all while running up against a series of obstacles that range from the absurd to the all-too-relatable. Clark is banking on a holiday bonus his employers decided they'd rather not dole out, and when his eccentric cousin Eddie (Quaid) shows up with his family and trailer in tow to move onto the Griswold property, things spiral out of control. 

Here's everything you need to know about where to watch the Griswolds learn a little something about the meaning of family and the spirit of the season.

Screwball scenarios and hilarious hijinks ensue throughout the film, balanced by a light-handed sprinkle of heartwarming revelations that few writers manage to land with quite the same expertise as John Hughes. Despite debuting in 1989, viewers still rate this film highly. The film has earned an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from general fans, proving that its laughs and cheers have withstood the test of time as an iconic '80s-era comedy.

Wondering where you can stream "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and its tidings full of mayhem and misunderstandings? Well, look no further than HBO Max, as it's a Warner Bros. film and will likely call the streamer home for some time. Outside of a streaming platform, you can buy or rent "Christmas Vacation" on sites like Prime Video, Vudu, and Apple TV. All four are offering the movie for $3.99 and $14.99 for rent and purchase, respectively. If you have a cable subscription, you can also watch "Christmas Vacation" on TNT or TBS's websites or apps. You'll need to log in via your service provider credentials to get access, but this is a great alternative for those without streaming subscriptions.

However, if you'd rather watch the film on the big screen and live — TNT and TBS have you covered this holiday season. No need to wait until December either! As part of its Winter Break programming, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" will be airing on a 24-hour marathon on TNT on November 25, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET. Per Warner Bros. Discovery's October 2023 press release, the classic holiday film will also air live on the below dates and times:

TBS

• Saturday, November 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
• Sunday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT
• Saturday, November 11 at 7:45 p.m. & 9:45 p.m. ET/PT
• Friday, November 17 at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET/PT

TNT

• Sunday, November 5 at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET/PT
• Sunday, November 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
• Thursday, November 20 at 4:30 p.m. ET/ 1:30 p.m. PT
• Thursday, November 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
• Friday, November 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT

Other holiday classics like "Elf," "Jack Frost," and "A Christmas Story" will also join its holiday line-up, too — so you'll have plenty of yuletide jokes to fill November.