On July 29th, 1983, "National Lampoon's Vacation" was released to theaters across the United States. Directed by Harold Ramis and written by John Hughes, the film was based on Hughes's own short story, "Vacation '58", which had originally appeared in "National Lampoon" magazine. The film was a massive commercial hit, grossing over $60 million and cementing Chevy Chase as one of the biggest comedy stars of the 1980s. It also served as the breakout role for Anthony Michael Hall, who became one of the biggest teen stars of the 1980s as a member of the "Brat Pack". The film's success launched a multi-decade franchise, including the beloved "Christmas Vacation in 1989 and the 1985 sequel, "European Vacation".
