You kids might be asking if they can see this one. The star power is there and it is a holiday classic! But can they? What is the true age rating of Christmas Vacation? Can your kids watch this one? We’re coving the 7 big things parents need to know about the age rating for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in this parents guide.
Table of Contents
About National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations.
However, things go awry quickly.
His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property.
Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.
Watch the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation trailer here.
Read the best Clark Griswold quotes and rants here.
Age Rating of Christmas Vacation: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
Our favorite American family gets to gether for Christmas, and as always, they deliver big laughs.
Can your kids watch this one? What is the age rating of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
This parent’s guide will help you decide if your family can handle the seven big issues with movies and shows: mature topics, gore, violence, language, sex, romance, and nudity. We’ll also give the age rating of Christmas Vacation and age-appropriate recommendations.
Language
There’s a lot of language in this one. Some unkind words, as well as swears, may make this movie one you proceed with caution if you have younger children.
Your kids will hear:
- jack@ss
- flipping the bird
- “bend over and I’ll show you”
- sh!t (and variants)
- @ss (variants)
- h@ll (variants)
- d@mn
- g-d d@mnit
- p!ssed (variants)
- crap
- son of a b!tch
- d!ck (variants)
- f@cking (used once)
- one character tells the main character that he “cocked” the evening up
Age Rating of Christmas Vacation: Is It Safe For Kids When It Comes To Sex, Romance, and Nudity?
Clark (the dad in the story) is a bit of a dirty dude when it comes to his fantasies. He tends to sexualize women and does so in this movie, particularly with a saleswoman.
Clark also trips over words and makes things more sexual in their conversation.
He later fantasized about the saleswoman stripping for him.
In one scene, characters are told to “freeze,” and the wife of the main character freezes with her hand on Clark’s crotch.
There is also a partial view of the side of a woman’s breast in a swimming pool scene.
Violence and Gore: Is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Too Scary For Kids Under 13?
While it’s not a scary movie, there are moments that are meant to be shocking.
Sensitive kids may not enjoy the humor of the movie.
There are lots of explosions (without injuries) during Christmas Vacation, with one character briefly catching on fire.
There are some jokes made about animals that do seem to put them in harm’s way. Obviously, no animals were harmed for real, but it can be something that bothers children.
Clark shakes a box aggressively with a cat in it, causing the cat to scream.
Later, a cat is electrocuted and leaves a dark cat-shaped mark and fur behind on the ground.
A character describes smacking a squirrel with a hammer.
Characters fall down the stairs, fall through an attic floor, and a man falls off a ladder; there are a lot of physical falls played for comedy.
Is Christmas Vacation Ok For Kids: Mature Topics
Clark has frequent bursts of rage which can be over the top.
Characters are also seen drinking and smoking in the movie.
If you have Santa believers: this is not the movie to watch with them. Plenty of discussion about who really buys the presents and it could ruin the Santa magic.
Age Rating of Christmas Vacation: What Ages Can Really Watch This One?
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is rated PG-13 for crude humor, language, and sexual innuendo.
Parents Guide Christmas Vacation: Is Appropriate For Kids Under 13?
We think kids as young as 10 could handle the humor in Christmas Vacation. But that will entirely depend on how your family feels about somewhat crude humor.
13, however, is a safe bet for the age of kids who will truly get and understand the jokes in the movie.
Where To Stream The Christmas Movies You Love
- Christmas Movies to Stream on Hulu
- Christmas Movies to Stream on Amazon
- Christmas Movies For Kids to Stream on Netflix
- Christmas Movies to Stream on Disney+
More Parents Guides
- Age Rating of A Christmas Story (1983): Parents Guide
- Age Rating of Gremlins: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
- Age Rating of Elf: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
- Age Rating of Wakanda Forever: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
- Age Rating of Prey For The Devil: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
- Age Rating of Willow (1988): Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
- Age Rating Of Ticket To Paradise: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
- Age Rating of Black Adam: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
Want More Age Rating Recommendations?
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Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.