National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: The Griswold Legacy (2026) brings the beloved Griswold family back for another round of holiday mayhem, and this time, the chaos is bigger, bolder, and more hilariously disastrous than ever before. Starring Ed Helms, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and a talented supporting cast, this sequel blends old traditions with new technology, creating a whirlwind of laughs, mishaps, and heartwarming moments that will have you screaming, “Clark, what did you do now?”
The story picks up with Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms), now an adult and the patriarch of his own family, trying to bring the Griswold Christmas spirit into the modern age. Faced with a malfunctioning “Smart Christmas” system, Rusty battles a world of voice-controlled lights, robotic decorations, and over-complicated technology. Unfortunately, everything he touches seems to make the holiday chaos worse, leading to hilarious, high-tech failures that are anything but merry and bright.
Meanwhile, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is not ready to give up on the old-school, hands-on Christmas traditions he’s famous for. Armed with outdated tools and a stubborn determination, Clark’s efforts to maintain the Griswold legacy clash with Rusty’s newfangled tech solutions. The ensuing family tensions are a perfect storm of comedic disaster, as both generations try to prove their way of celebrating Christmas is the best way.
Enter the ultimate Griswold Christmas disaster: a Cybertruck RV that Clark insists is the “future of family road trips.” Packed with the latest tech, the RV quickly turns into a mechanical nightmare, adding another layer of chaos to an already over-the-top holiday. With the RV malfunctioning and the Griswold family unable to escape their own holiday madness, they’re forced to adapt and rely on their resourcefulness—and sometimes, their complete lack of it—to save the day.
As always, the Griswold family’s obsession with holiday decorations knows no bounds. Clark has once again gone all-out, stringing up millions of lights that seem to take on a life of their own. But when the lights refuse to cooperate, the family must deal with sparks flying, power outages, and Clark’s determination to make the display as grand as possible—no matter the cost. With each decoration, they prove that when it comes to Christmas, the Griswolds never do anything halfway.
But the holiday chaos doesn’t stop there. A snowstorm turns the already-stressful Christmas gathering into a full-blown survival situation, with the Griswolds fighting their way through snowdrifts, frozen pipes, and a never-ending parade of disasters. As the weather worsens, tensions rise, and the family is forced to come together in a way they never expected. Despite all the chaos and mishaps, the Griswolds find a way to make Christmas memorable—just not in the way anyone planned.
Throughout the madness, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: The Griswold Legacy shines a light on family dynamics and traditions. While the film is full of absurd humor, it also emphasizes the love and care that binds the Griswolds together. Even in the most ridiculous of moments, they come to realize that what matters most is being together, no matter how messy things get.
The film’s humor is a blend of physical comedy, witty one-liners, and heartwarming moments that fans of the original Christmas Vacation will adore. The dynamic between Ed Helms’ Rusty and Chevy Chase’s Clark brings a fresh energy to the story, with Rusty’s new-tech approach clashing hilariously with Clark’s old-school methods. Beverly D’Angelo’s return as Ellen Griswold offers the perfect balance, as she tries to keep the peace amidst the chaos and reminds everyone that Christmas is about more than just the spectacle.
In the film’s heartwarming finale, the Griswolds manage to pull together a Christmas celebration that, despite the mayhem, is filled with love, laughter, and the holiday spirit they’ve always cherished. The Griswold legacy lives on—proof that no matter how many disasters happen, the family’s bond is what truly makes Christmas magical. The film is a tribute to the spirit of the season and a reminder that sometimes the best memories come from the most chaotic moments.
Watch movie:
*Content is hosted on a partner site.
