Vegas Vacation
Performance & Direction: Vegas Vacation Review
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Vegas Vacation (1997) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Vegas Vacation features a noteworthy lineup led by Chevy Chase . Supported by the likes of Beverly D'Angelo and Randy Quaid , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Vegas Vacation
Quick Plot Summary: Vegas Vacation is a Comedy film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. The Griswold family hits the road again for a typically ill-fated vacation, this time to the glitzy mecca of slots and showgirls—Las Vegas. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Vegas Vacation
Ending Breakdown: Vegas Vacation concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Vegas Vacation reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Vegas Vacation?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Box Office Collection: Vegas Vacation
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $25.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $36.4M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Vegas Vacation Budget
The estimated production budget for Vegas Vacation is $25.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Vegas Vacation
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Where to Watch Vegas Vacation Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoVegas Vacation Parents Guide & Age Rating
1997 AdvisoryWondering about Vegas Vacation age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Vegas Vacation is 93 minutes (1h 33m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, Vegas Vacation is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1997 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vegas Vacation worth watching?
Vegas Vacation is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Vegas Vacation parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Vegas Vacation identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Vegas Vacation?
The total duration of Vegas Vacation is 93 minutes, which is approximately 1h 33m long.
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Critic Reviews for Vegas Vacation
My ten word review: _Comedy that still holds up, even all these years later._ Click here for a video version of this review: https://youtu.be/QzlQnWap2-g
'Vegas Vacation' is decent fare for this franchise, I think I just about enjoyed it. It does go through peaks and troughs, there are some uninteresting moments but by and large what I was viewing was passable entertainment. The Vegas setting and shenanigans keep it watchable, the dam scenes are good too. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are back yet again, as is Randy Quaid. I still don't really rate the latter's character all that much, pretty annoying in fact (and not in the intended sense); Chase's Clark is supposed to be the idiot here, so always feels odd to have an even bigger idiot. The more sentimental conclusion doesn't totally land, at least in terms of how it's portrayed. It felt watching that it was attempting to be super sensitive about family and love for each other, but these aren't the sort of movies where that fits. The Griswolds are dysfunctional, not lovable or relatable. Still, this is better than I thought it was going to be; especially with the disappearance of the National Lampoon name and the eight-year gap from the previous entry.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
Useful Links
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