This Christmas, the lights won’t stay on, the family won’t get along, and the holiday spirit might need CPR
Christmas Vacation (2025) brings the holiday chaos roaring back with a fresh twist on the classic holiday comedy formula. Loosely inspired by the beloved National Lampoon’s franchise, this modern spiritual successor delivers a hilariously over-the-top look at what happens when high expectations, dysfunctional relatives, and a blizzard of bad luck collide under one roof. Directed by Adam McKay, the film blends satire, slapstick, and just enough heart to make it a new holiday favorite — for families that can laugh at themselves.
The story centers on Greg Sanders (Jason Sudeikis), a middle-management dad desperate to give his family “the perfect Christmas” after a turbulent year. Armed with Pinterest-level ambition and Costco-level decorations, he invites his in-laws, estranged siblings, and a surprise guest or two to his snow-covered suburban home. Naturally, nothing goes to plan. The turkey catches fire, the tree falls (twice), the power goes out, and someone’s emotional support alpaca escapes into the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, his teenage daughter (Jenna Ortega) wants nothing to do with the festivities, his mother-in-law (Catherine O’Hara) critiques every dish, and his brother (Keegan-Michael Key), a wildly successful tech entrepreneur, arrives via private drone with a superiority complex and a suitcase full of passive aggression. As the weekend spirals into chaos, Greg begins to unravel — until a heartfelt, chaotic climax reminds everyone what the season’s really about.
What sets Christmas Vacation (2025) apart is its blend of outrageous humor and genuine emotion. Underneath the sight gags, pratfalls, and escalating disasters is a story about family pressure, generational disconnect, and the universal truth: the harder you try to make things perfect, the messier they get. It’s fast-paced, sharply written, and packed with quotable one-liners that are destined to echo through group chats for years.
With a killer ensemble cast and just the right dose of holiday magic, Christmas Vacation (2025) doesn’t reinvent the sleigh — it just adds rocket boosters. Funny, frantic, and surprisingly warm, it’s a joyful disaster wrapped in tinsel and tied with a dysfunctional bow.