National Lampoon’s Movies

This is the page for information about all of National Lampoon’s movies, from Animal House all the way to the newest movies in production. You’ll find the stars, screenwriters, directors, and information about each movie (some of which came from Matty Simmons’ 1994 book, “If You Don’t Buy This Book, We’ll Kill This Dog”). I found as much as I could about the movies I haven’t seen or that haven’t been released yet. Almost all of the movies are available on VHS or DVD, and there’s links to purchase under each summary. At the bottom of the page is a list of NatLamp movies that were never made, for whatever reason.

National Lampoon’s Animal House

1978

Company: Universal Pictures

Video: MCA/Universal Home Video

DVD: Universal

Stars: John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna

Bloom, Tom Hulce, Cesare Danova, Peter Riegert, Mary Louise Weller, Stephen Furst, James Daughton, Bruce McGill, Mark Metcalf, Karen Allen, James Widdoes, Martha Smith, Sarah Holcomb, Donald Sutherland

Screenplay: Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney & Chris Miller

Producers: Matty Simmons and Ivan Reitman

Director: John Landis

The students at the Delta Fraternity house make life miserable for Dean Wormer (Vernon) and the Omegas. National Lampoon's first movie. It's partially based on stories that appeared in the National Lampoon magazine, written by Chris Miller, such as The Night Of The Seven Fires. Originally, Doug Kenney and Harold Ramis were writing a movie set in high school based on the 1964 High School Yearbook, but after Chris Miller came on to help write, they decided to change it to college to base it on his stories. This is one of the funniest NatLamp movies, and the one that made Belushi a star. National Lampoon made a TV show based on the movie, "Delta House," which aired on ABC and featured most of the original cast. Because of the success of Animal House, MAD Magazine tried to make their own hit movie too, Up The Academy, which bombed.

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National Lampoon Goes To The Movies

(aka National Lampoon’s Movie Madness)

1981

Company: United Artists

Video: MGM/UA Home Video

DVD: MGM Home Entertainment

Stars: Peter Riegert, Diane Lane, Candy Clark, Teresa Ganzel, Ann Dusenberry, Robert Culp, Fred Willard, Titos Vandis, Olympia Dukakis, Robby Benson, Richard Widmark, Christopher Lloyd, Barry Diamond, Elisha Cook Jr., Julie Kavner, Henny Youngman, Joe Spinell, Mary Woronov, Dick Miller, Rhea Perlman, Rodger Bumpass, Martin Harvey Friedberg

Screenplay: Tod Carroll, Shary Flenniken, Pat Mephitis, Gerald Sussman, Ellis Weiner

Producer: Matty Simmons

Directors: Bob Giraldi, Henry Jaglom

After other movies failed to get made, this was the Lampoon’s follow-up to Animal House, and it wasn’t very good, even though it was written by staff writers of the magazine. The opening credits actually call it by both titles. The movie’s made up of three different segments: “Growing Yourself,” “Success Wanters,” and “Municipalians.” There was also originally a fourth segment called “The Bomb.” The idea was, there was going to be a different director for each segment, but for whatever reason, they ended up using only two directors, directing two segments each. Bob Giraldi directed his segments with no problems, but Henry Jaglom’s were disasters. “Municipalians” had to be heavily re-edited, and “The Bomb” couldn’t even be used at all. The movie ended up going direct-to-video in 1983. MGM is releasing this on DVD on July 12, 2005, as National Lampoon's Movie Madness.

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National Lampoon’s Class Reunion

1982

Companies: ABC Motion Pictures; 20^th Century Fox

Video: Vestron Video; Anchor Bay Entertainment

DVD: Anchor Bay Entertainment; MGM Home Entertainment

Stars: Gerrit Graham, Fred McCarren, Miriam Flynn, Stephen Furst, Shelley Smith, Michael Lerner, Jacklyn Zeman, Blackie Dammett, Zane Buzby, Barry Diamond, Misty Rowe, Mews Small, Art Evans, Marla Pennington, Randy Powell, Jim Staahl, Anne Ramsey, Isabel West, Steve Tracy, Chuck Berry

Screenplay: John Hughes

Producer: Matty Simmons

Director: Michael Miller

The classmates at Lizzie Borden High are stalked by the demented Walter (Dammett), who is seeking revenge for a cruel prank. Another attempt at a follow-up, this one failed too. John Hughes, who was a writer for the Lampoon, had sold his horror parody Class Reunion to ABC Motion Pictures, who wanted to make it their first movie. Hughes asked Matty Simmons if he wanted to be a producer of it but he said no because he didn’t like the script. ABC said that they wouldn’t make it if it didn’t have the Lampoon name, so Hughes asked again and Simmons agreed. The movie’s not great, and it’s definitely not laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s still one of my favorites for some reason. There’s a few really funny parts. The idea was good but the execution was all wrong. MGM is releasing a new DVD version on July 12.

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National Lampoon’s Vacation

(aka National Lampoon’s Summer Vacation; American Vacation)

1983

Company: Warner Bros.

Video/DVD: Warner Bros.

Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Eddie Bracken, Brian Doyle-Murray, Miriam Flynn, James Keach, Eugene Levy, Frank McRae, John Candy, Christie Brinkley, Jane Krakowski

Screenplay: John Hughes

Producer: Matty Simmons

Director: Harold Ramis

Clark Griswold (Chase) takes his family on a cross-country vacation to Walley World, but they get into trouble every where they go. After two failures, the Lampoon was able to get it right again, and with Hughes writing the script. It was based on his story Vacation ‘58. In the original story, the Griswolds actually go to Walt Disney World, and Clark shoots Walt Disney! The story and characters were obviously changed a lot for the movie, and I think it was changed for the better; this is another one of the funniest Lampoon movies ever. The original ending for the movie was similar to the story, with Clark holding Roy Wally hostage, but was changed so that the audience could actually see Wally World. It’s the only Lampoon movie to ever have sequels. There was also a TV pilot made for Fox in 2000 called “National Lampoon’s American Adventure” that featured none of the original cast.

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National Lampoon’s

European Vacation

1985

Company: Warner Bros.

Video/DVD: Warner Bros.

Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Hill, Jason Lively, Victor Lanoux, Eric Idle, John Astin, Paul Bartel

Story: John Hughes

Screenplay: John Hughes and Robert Klane

Producer: Matty Simmons

Director: Amy Heckerling

The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show, and wreak havoc across different countries. While the magazine was having some troubles, the movie division was filming their second hit. Matty Simmons came up with the idea of sending the Griswolds to Europe, and Hughes started writing the script. He was so busy writing, directing and producing other movies at that point though that the script he submitted wasn’t that good. They hired Klane to do a re-write. In this movie, the Griswold kids are played by different actors. Simmons wanted the same actors, and Dana Barron was ready to do it, but Anthony Michael Hall couldn’t, and they ended up just recasting both roles instead of one. Chevy Chase was supposedly very hard to deal with on this movie due to his drug addiction problems, and he entered into rehab shortly after. I don’t know why some people think this movie is bad, it’s one of my favorites. I actually think it’s the first Lampoon movie I ever saw.

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National Lampoon’s Class Of ’86

1986

Company: National Lampoon

Video: Paramount Home Video

Stars: Rodger Bumpass, Veanne Cox, Annie Golden, John Michael Higgins, Tommy Koenig, Brian Brucker O’Connor

Writers: Andy Simmons, Dave Hanson

Producers: Michael Simmons, Matty Simmons, John Heyman

Director: Jerry Adler

I don’t really know much about this one, since it’s one of the only Lampoon movies I haven’t seen. It’s a filmed performance of a stage show about two hippies who find themselves in 1986. It parodies yuppies and consumerism and everything that people hated about the 80s. Like most of the Lampoon stage shows, it was a combination of songs and skits. It was originally shown on Showtime before being released on video. I can’t find anything else about it anywhere!

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National Lampoon’s

Christmas Vacation

(aka National Lampoon’s Winter Holiday)

1989

Companies: Hughes Entertainment, Warner Bros.

Video/DVD: Warner Bros.

Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Miriam Flynn, William Hickey, Mae Questel, Sam McMurray, Nicholas Guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brian Doyle-Murray

Screenplay: John Hughes

Producers: John Hughes, Tom Jacobson

Executive Producer: Matty Simmons

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Clark (Chase) decides to invite the whole family over to his house for Christmas, and it turns into a disaster. After a few years of dealing with film companies and various movie deals falling through, a new Lampoon movie finally came out. This time though, Simmons had nothing to do with the development. Hughes wrote the script and the movie was going to be made, but only if it had the Lampoon name on it. If they didn’t participate, the movie wouldn’t be made. Hughes was going to produce the movie himself, so Simmons became executive producer. This was based on another one of Hughes’ Lampoon stories, Christmas ’59. Another classic Lampoon movie, and it’s still shown on TV at Christmas time every year. This was the last Lampoon movie that involved anybody who worked on the magazine until 2003, when James P. Jimirro was forced out of the company and Simmons returned to write and produce National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2.

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National Lampoon’s

Loaded Weapon 1

1993

Companies: New Line Cinema, 3 Arts Entertainment

Video: New Line Home Video/Columbia TriStar Home Video

DVD: New Line Home Entertainment

Stars: Emilio Estevez, Samuel L. Jackson, Jon Lovitz, Tim Curry, Kathy Ireland, William Shatner, Lance Kinsey, Rick Ducommun, F. Murray Abraham, Denis Leary, Corey Feldman, Phil Hartman, J.T. Walsh, Paul Gleason, Charles Napier, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Nunn, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Richard Moll, Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards, Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox, Bruce Willis

Story: Don Holley & Tori Tellem

Screenplay: Don Holley and Gene Quintano

Producers: Suzanne Todd and David Willis

Director: Gene Quintano

Renegade cops Colt (Estevez) and Lugar (Jackson) investigate a murder-mystery involving drug-laced Wilderness Girls Cookies in this spoof of the Lethal Weapon movies. After four years without a movie, during which J2 Communications became the new owner, National Lampoon finally came out with a new movie. This was the first movie in a three part deal the Lampoon had with New Line Cinema. Pretty much, the name was licensed to them so they could stick it on the movie. I’m not sure, but it was probably added on after the movie had already been filmed. It’s not the greatest spoof, but it does have some really funny parts and it’s one of my favorites.

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National Lampoon’s Last Resort

(aka National Lampoon’s Scuba School)

1993

Company: National Lampoon

Video: Vidmark Entertainment

DVD: Trimark Home Video; Lions Gate Films

Stars: Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Robert Mandan, Maureen Flannigan, Demetra Hampton, Geoffrey Lewis, Milton Seltzer, Eda Reiss Merin, John William Young, Marji Martin, Chris Barnes, Tony Longo, Michael Ralph, Zelda Rubinstein, Patrick Labyorteaux, Dominic Brascia, Roger Clinton, Kevin West, Larry Gelman, Eric “Sparky” Edwards

Screenplay: Patrick Labyorteaux and Damian Lee

Producers: Damian Lee and Jeff Sackman

Director: Rafal Zielinski

This is definitely one of the worst National Lampoon movies ever made. It makes absolutely no sense. Half the stuff in this movie happens for no reason whatsoever. I have no idea what the hell’s happening for like the first 15 minutes of the movie! It’s like the screenwriters thought up a bunch of stuff they thought was funny, but it isn’t actually funny at all. The basic plot is two guys visit an island resort owned by one of their uncles and help him save it, but there’s so much pointless stuff going on, it kind of loses track of the plot. I’m not sure how involved J2 Communications was with this movie, other than somehow helping to make it. This was James P. Jimirro’s first (and only) attempt to make direct-to-video National Lampoon movies.

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National Lampoon’s

Attack Of The 5’ 2” Women

1994

Companies: Imagination, Showtime, Paramount Pictures

Video: Paramount Home Video

Stars: Julie Brown, Khrystyne Haje, Adam Storke, Sam McMurray, Margaret Cho, Peter DeLuise, Eric “Sparky” Edwards, Tom Kenny, Sydney Lassick, Vicki Lawrence, Dick Miller, Stella Stevens

Teleplay: Julie Brown & Charlie Coffey

Producers: Peter Manoogian, J. Marina Muhlfriedel

Executive Producer: David Jablin

Directors: Julie Brown, Richard Wenk

This is another Lampoon movie that I know little about because it’s another one that I haven’t seen yet. It’s a parody of two of the biggest news stories at the time, Tonya Harding and Lorena Bobbitt. This was the first in a seven-picture deal made between National Lampoon and Showtime, and the first to be executive produced by David Jablin, who would produce all of the Showtime/Lampoon movies. It was actually Showtime’s highest-rated made-for-TV movie at the time.

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National Lampoon’s

Favorite Deadly Sins

(aka National Lampoon’s Deadly Sins)

1995

Companies: Imagination, Showtime, National Lampoon

Video: Republic Pictures

DVD: Front Row Video; MJF Home Video

Stars: Joe Mantegna, Andrew Clay, Denis Leary, Cassidy Rae, Brian Keith, William Ragsdale, Allan Rich, Farrah Forke, Annabella Sciorra, Tanya Pohlkotte, Robert Culp, Tanya Roberts, Morgan Brittany, Ed Marinaro, Pia Zadora, Charlene Tilton, Saverio Guerra, Gerrit Graham

Teleplay: Michael Barrie & Jim Mulholland, Lee Biondi, Ann Lembeck

Producer: Peter Manoogian

Executive Producer: David Jablin

Co-Executive Producer: James P. Jimirro

Directors: David Jablin, Denis Leary

The second made-for-TV movie and the second three-part movie…and it’s actually pretty good! This movie’s made up of three segments, each one focusing on one of the seven deadly sins: “Greed,” “Anger,” and “Lust.” “Greed” is definitely the best, but I think the other two are pretty funny too. This was the first, and one of the only, 90’s Lampoon movies that Jim Jimirro was actually involved with (instead of just licensing out the name). I’ve seen the Front Row DVD called National Lampoon’s Deadly Sins online, but I don’t know how accurate that is.

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National Lampoon’s Senior Trip

1995

Companies: Alliance, New Line Cinema

Video: New Line Home Video, Turner Entertainment

DVD: New Line Home Entertainment

Stars: Matt Frewer, Valerie Mahaffey, Tommy Chong, Lawrence Dane, Jeremy Renner, Rob Moore, Eric “Sparky” Edwards, Kevin McDonald, Michael Blake, Tara Charendoff, Nicole de Boer, Sergio Di Zio, Fiona Loewi, Kathryn Rose, Danny Smith, George R. Robertson

Screenplay: Roger Kumble & I. Marlene King

Producer: Wendy Grean

Director: Kelly Makin

Thanks to dumb luck, the worst kids in the senior class at Fairmont High get invited to speak before the president in Washington, DC. This was the second of the three-picture deal with New Line (and also the last—there never was a third, probably because of how disappointing this one performed). Another in-name-only Lampoon movie, since nobody involved with J2 had anything to do with it. I remember really wanting to see it when it first came out in theaters, and then renting it as soon as it came out on video. Even though it’s not a great movie, it’s still one of my favorites, probably because it’s just fun! When it’s shown on TV, it has a completely different ending then the theatrical/home video version does for some reason. This was the last Lampoon movie to be released to theaters until 2002.

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National Lampoon’s Dad’s Week Off

1996

Companies: Imagination, Showtime, Paramount Pictures

Video: Paramount Home Video

Stars: Henry Winkler, Olivia d’Abo, Richard Jeni, Justin Louis, Ken Pogue, Wendel Meldrum, Don S. Davis, Colleen Winton

Story: Robert Kosberg

Teleplay: Neal Israel

Producer: Robert Frederick

Executive Producer: David Jablin

Co-Executive Producers: Robert Harris, Jim Korris, James P. Jimirro

Jack (Winkler) thinks he’s going to get a relaxing week off when his wife takes the kids camping, until he meets a manicurist (d’Abo) who doesn’t seem all quite there. The third Showtime/Lampoon movie, and the second time Jimirro was actually involved. This actually isn’t that bad a movie, and that’s pretty much all thanks to Henry Winkler, who’s always funny. However, I think the movie could have been a lot funnier if Neal Israel hadn’t written it. I have a feeling that everything that’s funny about Police Academy was written by Pat Proft…

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Vegas Vacation

(aka National Lampoon’s Las Vegas Vacation; National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation)

1997

Companies: Warner Bros., Jerry Weintraub Productions

Video/DVD: Warner Home Video

Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Wayne Newton, Ethan Embry, Marisol Nichols, Miriam Flynn, Shae D’Lyn, Wallace Shawn, Sid Caesar, Julia Sweeney, Christie Brinkley, Toby Huss

Story: Elisa Bell & Bob Ducsay

Screenplay: Elisa Bell

Producer: Jerry Weintraub

Executive Producers: Matty Simmons and Susan Ekins

Director: Stephen Kessler

The Griswolds head to Las Vegas, where Ellen (D’Angelo) gets hit on by Wayne Newton, Rusty (Embry) hits the big time on the slot machines, and Audrey (Nichols) becomes a party girl. This was the fourth Vacation movie, and the only one not to have “National Lampoon’s” in the title (even though some people accidentally said it did). This was because when Dan Grodnik and Tim Matheson took over the Lampoon, Simmons made a deal with them that he would produce any sequels to already-produced Lampoon movies. He probably didn’t want to do business with James Jimirro anyway. It was also the first to not have Hughes involved. It’s not the best Vacation movie, but it is pretty funny.

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National Lampoon’s

The Don’s Analyst

1997

Companies: Imagination, Showtime, Paramount Pictures

Video: Paramount Home Video

Stars: Kevin Pollak, Robert Loggia, Joseph Bologna, Angie Dickinson, Sherilyn Fenn, Ricky Aiello, Robert Cicchini, Joe Flaherty, Lucy Webb, Howard Jerome

Teleplay: David Hurwitz

Producer: Larry Rapaport

Executive Producer: David Jablin

Co-Executive Producer: James P. Jimirro

Director: David Jablin

When Don Vito (Loggia) begins to crack up, his sons kidnap a therapist (Pollak) to try and cure him. The fourth Lampoon/Showtime movie, and also possibly the best. And it came out a year before Analyze This and “The Sopranos”! Again, Jimirro actually was involved in the production. This was also the last of the Showtime/Lampoon movies. I’m not sure why they never finished the deal; either it expired or Jimirro bought it out, which he’d done before with other deals.

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National Lampoon’s Men In White

1998

Company: Saban Entertainment

Stars: Tom Wilson, Karim Prince, M. Emmet Walsh, Brion James, Wigald Boning, George Kennedy, Donna D’Errico, Barry Bostwick, Ben Stein, Jennifer Coolidge

Teleplay: Rob Kerchner, Scott Sandin

Producer: Mike Elliott

Directors: Scott P. Levy, Bruce McCarthy

Two garbage men are abducted by aliens and end up saving the world from an invasion in this spoof of sci-fi movies. Wow…this movie is BAD. Even still, I’ve actually watched it more than once and actually laughed at it. I don’t know why, I just get a kick out of it for some reason. In 1998, J2 Communications made a deal with the newly-renamed Fox Family Channel to lend the Lampoon name for use on made-for-TV movies, and this was the first one. The best thing I can say about this one is that it’s a little bit better than the next one. It was produced by Saban Entertainment, who produced the Power Rangers TV shows, which would explain the random stupid-looking “aliens” (who sing a really bad song for no apparent reason at one point) which look like rejected Power Rangers villains. For whatever reason, this has never been released on video in America.

National Lampoon’s Golf Punks

1998

Company: Shavick Entertainment

Video/DVD: Avalanche Entertainment

DVD: Platinum Disc Corporation

Stars: Tom Arnold, James Kirk, Rene Tardif, Katelyn Wallace, Rhys Huber, Neil Denis, Tarik Batal, Katrina Patt, Greg Thirloway, Cory Fry

Teleplay: Jill Mazursky

Producer: James Shavick

Director: F. Harvey Frost

Tom Arnold tries to teach a bunch of kids how to play golf. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse than Last Resort or Men In White, along comes Golf Punks! This has definitely got to be the worst Lampoon movie EVER. It’s basically Caddyshack for kids. And it basically should have never been made. This was the second made-for-TV Fox Family Channel movie, and also the last. After this, I wasn’t sure if there was even going to be another Lampoon movie, since the wait was so long. We didn’t get another one until 2002.

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National Lampoon’s Van Wilder

(aka Van Wilder: Party Liaison; Party Animals)

2002

Companies: Myriad Pictures, Tapestry Films, In-Motion AG, World Media Fonds V, Artisan Entertainment

Video/DVD: Artisan Entertainment

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Tim Matheson, Paul Gleason, Kal Penn, Teck Holmes, Daniel Cosgrove, Curtis Armstrong, Emily Rutherfurd, Erik Estrada, Chris Owen

Screenplay: Brent Goldberg & David T. Wagner

Producers: Robert L. Levy, Peter Abrams, Andrew Panay, Jonathon Komack Martin

Director: Walt Becker

Van Wilder (Reynolds) is enjoying his 7^th year at Coolidge College, until his father (Matheson) cuts off his money. Finally, after nearly 4 years without a new movie, we got a new one, and it’s actually pretty good. It’s not a classic, but it is way better than most of the Lampoon movies. Artisan Entertainment bought the distribution rights to it, and then J2 Communications lent the Lampoon name to it. This was the first Lampoon movie to be released to theaters since Senior Trip.

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National Lampoon Presents

Dorm Daze

(aka A College Sex Comedy; Dorm Days Craze; Dorm Daze; National Lampoon’s Dorm Daze)

2003

Companies: Hill & Brand Entertainment, 120° Films, Showcase Entertainment, National Lampoon

Video/DVD: MGM Home Entertainment

Stars: Tatyana Ali, Boti Bliss, James DeBello, Marieh Delfino, Tony Denman, Danielle Fishel, Courtney Gains, Edwin Hodge, Jennifer Lyons, Chris Owen, Patrick Renna, Cameron Richardson, Randy Spelling, Gable Carr, Patrick Cavanaugh, Gregory Hinton, Paul Hansen Kim, Katie Lohmann, Marie Noelle Marquis

Screenplay: Patrick Casey, Worm Miller

Producers: Sanford Hampton, David Hillenbrand, Scott Hillenbrand

Directors: David Hillenbrand, Scott Hillenbrand

It’s one mix-up after another for a group of college kids at their dorm before Christmas break, involving a foreign-exchange student and a hooker both named Monique, two handbags, and a large sausage. This is the first time the Lampoon has used the “Presents” tag; I like it, because they’re finally differentiating between movies they actually were involved in the production of and movies they just got involved with later. This movie was already produced when the Lampoon saw it and decided to distribute it in a limited theatrical run, their first time doing something like that. They promoted it heavily on the National Lampoon Network, and right now it’s doing pretty good in video rentals.

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National Lampoon’s

Thanksgiving Reunion

(aka National Lampoon’s Thanksgiving Family Reunion; National Lampoon’s Holiday Reunion)

2003

Companies: National Lampoon, Garry Hoffman Productions, Fox TV Studios

DVD: 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Stars: Bryan Cranston, Judge Reinhold, Penelope Ann Miller, Reece Thompson, Meghan Ory, Hallie Todd, Brittney Irvin, Antony Holland, Calum Worthy, Noel Fisher

Teleplay: Marc Warren & Dennis Rinsler

Producer: James Shavick

Executive Producer: Garry Hoffman

Co-Executive Producer: National Lampoon

Director: Neal Israel

After finding out he has a long-lost cousin, anesthesiologist-to-the-stars Mitch (Reinhold) accepts his invitation to spend Thanksgiving together. After Van Wilder, it seemed like the Lampoon would go back to making good movies, but that obviously wasn’t the case. This is the second Lampoon movie Shavick and Israel have worked on. Since Golf Punks and Dad’s Week Off aren’t exactly the best movies, it’s no wonder this wasn’t that good either. According to Israel, the script had been in development for a few years but never took off. Then they decided to make it a half-hour pilot, but they couldn’t find the right actor to play the hippie cousin. Then National Lampoon stepped in to help make it a movie. You’d think with all that time, they could have made a good movie. It premiered on the TBS Superstation as National Lampoon’s Thanksgiving Reunion, but for some reason, Fox re-titled it National Lampoon’s Holiday Reunion for the DVD.

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National Lampoon’s

Christmas Vacation 2:

Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure

(aka National Lampoon’s Cousin Eddie’s Christmas Vacation; Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie)

2003

Companies: National Lampoon Productions, Elliot Friedgen & Company, Warner Bros. Television

DVD: Warner Home Entertainment

Stars: Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Dana Barron, Jake Thomas, Sung Hi Lee, Julian Stone, Beverly Garland, Stephen Furst, Rodger Bumpass, Eric Idle, Fred Willard, Ed Asner

Teleplay: Matty Simmons

Producer: Elliot Friedgen

Executive Producer: Matty Simmons

Director: Nick Marck

Cousin Eddie (Quaid) loses his job at Christmastime, but his boss sends him and his family on a vacation after he’s bite by a lab monkey. But instead of a relaxing vacation, they end up stranded on a deserted island. This was the first time Matty Simmons was involved with a Lampoon movie since the original Christmas Vacation and the first time he had written one. You’d think that someone who was involved with the Lampoon from the beginning would write a really funny movie, but that wasn’t the case. This is the worst Vacation movie. Other than some stuff at the beginning, it really doesn’t even have anything to do with Christmas. It seems more like a combination of the Cousin Eddie script and the “Swiss Family Griswold” idea. This was also the first time anyone other than Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Quaid, or Miriam Flynn played the same role, since both Dana Barron and Eric Idle return. NBC premiered this right after a showing of the original Christmas Vacation.

UPDATE: Okay, I watched this again Christmas day, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I actually laughed out loud a couple times! But it definitely could have been better.

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National Lampoon Presents

Repli-Kate

(aka Repli-Kate; Dupli-Kate)

2003

Companies: Silver Nitrate Productions, Helkon Media AG, Zide/Perry Productions

DVD: Key Video

Stars: Ali Landry, James Roday, Todd Robert Anderson, Kurt Fuller, Desmond Askew, Eugene Levy

Story: Stuart Gibbs and Russ Ryan

Screenplay: Stuart Gibbs

Producers Warren Zide, Craig Perry, Ash Shah

Director: Frank Longo

Scientist Max (Roday) creates a cloning machine, and accidentally clones reporter Kate (Landry), who he then teaches to act like a guy. This movie originally came out in 2002 as just Repli-Kate. Then National Lampoon signed a four-picture deal with Silver Nitrate Productions, the makers of this movie, and it was re-released with the “National Lampoon Presents” tag. This is actually a really funny movie; the Lampoon needs to release more movies like this. You can find this at Wal-Marts and Targets for only $5.50.

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National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers

(aka National Lampoon’s Lady Killers; Lady Killers)

2004

Companies: Delfino Entertainment, Voyage Entertainment, National Lampoon Productions

DVD: MGM Home Entertainment

Stars: Will Friedle, Chris Owen, Louise Lasser, Renee Taylor, Nikki Ziering, Rudy DeLuca

Story: Michael Canale

Screenplay: Gary Preisler

Producers: Don Ashley, Amy Greenspun, Gary Preisler

Director: Gary Preisler

Two con-artists decide to marry two older women, then kill them and take all their money—but they don’t realize the two older woman are planning to do the same thing to them. National Lampoon acquired this movie (originally called Lady Killers, but changed because of the Tom Hanks-starring movie) for distribution and released it in a limited theatrical run on September 17. I’m not sure why they aren’t using “National Lampoon Presents” since they got involved after it had already been produced. MGM is releasing this on DVD in March.

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National Lampoon’s Blackball

(aka Blackball)

2003

Companies: Midfield Films, Icon Entertainment International, The Isle Of Man Film Commission, Inside Track Films

DVD: First Look Home Entertainment

Stars: Paul Kaye, James Cromwell, Bernard Cribbins, Alice Evans, Imelda Staunton, Johnny Vegas, Vince Vaughn

Screenplay: Tim Firth

Director: Mel Smith

Set in the world of the British sport lawn bowls, Cliff Starkey (Kaye) uses un-traditional techniques to rise to the top of the game, and joins forces with the traditional Ray Speight (Cromwell) to take on the Australian team. Vince Vaughn plays American sports agent Rick Schwartz, who wants to turn Cliff into an international sensation. This movie was released in Britain in 2003. I have no idea how National Lampoon became involved with the movie, but somehow they did! First Look Entertainment is releasing this in selected theaters in February. I think they should have released it wide instead, because it definitely had the potential to be a big hit, but oh well!

Buy it from Amazon.com Buy it from Best Buy Official site

National Lampoon’s

Going The Distance

(aka Going The Distance; Get On; MuchMusic Movie)

2004

Companies: Chum City, Brightlight Pictures

DVD: MGM Home Entertainment

Stars: Christopher Jacot, Joanne Kelly, Shawn Roberts, Katheryn Winnick, Ryan Bellville, Jason Priestley, Matt Frewer

Screenplay: Kelly Senecal and Eric Goodman

Director: Mark Griffiths

When he finds out that his girlfriend has fallen under the spell of a sleazy music producer, Nick (Jacot) and his friends fly to Toronto to win her back at the MuchMusic Video Awards. The Canadian music video channel MuchMusic were behind this movie, and apparently it’s terrible. Again, I have no idea how National Lampoon became involved with it. MGM is releasing the DVD; their website lists it as being out on May 12, but every other website says June 14, so I'm gonna guess its coming out June 14. There's also supposedly going to be a limited theatrical release.

Buy it from Amazon.com Buy it from Best Buy Official site

National Lampoon Presents

Jake’s Booty Call

2004

Companies: Romp Films; National Lampoon

Stars: Julian Max Metter, Jay Lerner

Screenplay: Eric D. Eisner, Julian Max Metter

Producers: Eric D. Eisner, Chad Hammes

Directors: Eric D. Eisner, Julian Max Metter

Jake teaches a visiting prince how to score with girls. This movie is based on an interactive internet cartoon, “Jake’s Booty Call.” The movie is animated entirely in Flash, and National Lampoon is traveling around the country showing this movie at various places. That’s about all I know about this one!

Official site

National Lampoon’s The Trouble With Frank

2005

Companies: National Lampoon Productions, Symphony Productions, New Directions Entertainment

Stars: Jon Bon Jovi, Estella Warren, Nora Dunn, David Faustino, Cary Elwes, Pat Kilbane, Jonathan Furr, Danielle James, Dana Baron

Screenplay: Matty Simmons, William Dozier, Sal Catalano, J. David Shapiro

Producers: William R. Greenblatt, Matty Simmons, Phil Smoot

Director: Arthur Hiller

Dreamer Frank (Jovi) receives a credit card in the mail, which he uses to fund an all-women hockey team, and to go $300,000 in debt. I have a feeling that this could be picked up by a studio for theatrical distribution.

National Lampoon’s Pledge This!

2005

Companies: Street Alien Productions, Ckrush Entertainment, Inc., National Lampoon Productions; Pop Films

Stars: Paris Hilton, Holly Valance, Simon Rex, Alexis Thorpe, Randy Spelling, Sarai Howard, Paula Garces, Sarah Carter, Nicky Hilton

Screenplay: Cheryl Guerrierio, Anna Obropta, Jason Jordan, Matthew Lawton

Producer: Juan Carlos Zapata

Director: William Heins

A group of freshmen girls try to enter and be accepted into an elitist sorority, lead by Paris Hilton, who are America's hottest sorority. This is the first in the four-picture deal with Silver Nitrate and Street Alien Productions to be made; it looks like Silver Nitrate isn’t a part of that deal anymore.

Official site

National Lampoon’s Cattle Call

2005

Companies: Sunset Pictures; National Lampoon Productions

Stars: Patrick Dempsey, Jenny McCarthy, Sherilyn Fenn, Fred Stroller, Lisa Arturo, Sandra Vidal

Screenplay: Martin Guigui

Director: Martin Guigui

Hoping to find the girl of his dreams, Richie (Dempsey) starts a fake casting agency. I'm not sure what the status of this is. It may be finished already and just waiting to be released.

National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2: Semester At Sea

2005

Companies: Hill & Brand Entertainment, National Lampoon

Stars: Jasmin St. Claire

Directors: David Hillenbrand, Scott Hillenbrand

So far the only thing I know about this movie is that former porn star (and gang-bang queen) Jasmin St. Claire is staring in it, after blowing away the Hillenbrand's with her acting talent (She originally had only a supporting role). I think it's safe to assume that most of the cast, if not all, will be returning, and that it will be set on a boat.

National Lampoon’s Bouncers

2005

Companies: Street Alien Pictures, Full Force Films, National Lampoon Productions

Stars: Lil’ Kim, Eve, Colby O’Donis, Krumb Snatcha

Screenplay: Full Force

Producers: Wayne Mogel, Juan Carlos Zapata, Angad Paul, Full Force

Directors: Full Force

This was supposed to be the first in the four-picture deal with Silver Nitrate Productions and Street Alien Pictures, but it looks like Silver Nitrate isn’t involved anymore. It’s the first urban comedy for the Lampoon, a look at club life. I wasn’t sure if this was still even going to be made, but apparently, it’s still in pre-production. Colby O’Donis is a singer who also is singing the title song for Pledge This! Vivica A. Fox and Serena Williams were also supposed to star, but I don’t think they’re attached anymore.

National Lampoon’s Movies That Never Were

Here’s some of the movies that were developed, but were never produced…..

National Lampoon’s Dacron, Ohio

I’m guessing that this was the movie-version of the High School Yearbook that was being worked on before they wrote Animal House.

National Lampoon’s Animal House 2

I have no idea what this is, other than a sequel to Animal House. All I can say is, thank God they didn’t make it!

National Lampoon’s Jaws 3—People O

This was a pitch that Matty Simmons came up with as a joke after Animal House was a hit, and suddenly, Universal wanted to make it. It was about a vengeful shark who wanted to stop the studio from making Jaws 3. Tod Carroll and John Hughes wrote the script, Joe Dante was going to direct, and it was going to star Rodger Bumpass, Stephen Furst, Mariette Hartley, and Bo Derek, with cameos from Jonathan Winters, Hans Conreid, Mel Brooks, and Mickey Rooney. They had even started making the sharks, but then it was suddenly cancelled without a reason, although it may have been because the producers of the original Jaws wanted a G-rated movie, and Simmons wanted an R-rated one. Simmons was so mad, he made Universal cancel the contract they had. Universal ended up making Jaws 3 as a straight movie.

National Lampoon’s The Joy Of Sex

This was based on the best-selling book, and was written by John Hughes. It was first to be directed by Joe Dante, then Bill Norton, then Penny Marshall. Simmons originally wanted Robert Zemeckis to direct, and Dennis Quaid, P.J. Soles, Julie Brown, and Jeff Goldblum to star, but the heads of Paramount kept rejecting all his choices. Finally, when Penny Marshall signed on to direct, they were also able to sign John Belushi, but a few weeks late, he overdosed. The movie ended up being made without Marshall, the Hughes script, or the Lampoon name.

Bernie X

This script was based on a long running feature from the magazine created by Gerald Sussman, and was written by Sussman, John Weidman, Andy Simmons, and Robert Zemeckis. Simmons also wanted Zemeckis to direct it, but Michael Eisner wouldn’t let him direct it and demanded he be taken off the project completely. It ended up stuck in development hell.

O.C. & Stiggs

Based on characters created by Ted Mann and Todd Carroll that appeared in stories in the magazine, Simmons passed on being involved with it. Paramount and MGM both wanted to make it, and MGM ended up winning. Robert Altman directed.

National Lampoon’s The Million-Dollar Kid

This was a story that appeared in the May 1986 issue, written by Andy Simmons. I honestly can’t remember what the hell the story is about, other than a baseball team. I have no idea why it was never made—probably got stuck in development hell.

National Lampoon’s Family Dies

This was supposed to be the first movie produced by National Lampoon Films. It was written by Piers Ashworth based on an idea by Emilio Estevez. It was a horror-comedy about a lonely man who accidentally kills his mother, than becomes a grave-robber, and brings her and an entire family (and dog) to live with him, and then back to life. It was going to be made at MGM, but a deal was never reached.

Meet The Parents

I’ve seen the original 1991 movie called National Lampoon’s Meet The Parents online before, but I’ve never found out if that’s for real. I read on one site that the Lampoon bought the rights to distribute it on video, but that never happened; then I read on another site that the video was distributed. Then just for the hell of it, I went on eBay and found a copy of it! But I never received it; I ended up getting a DVD of The Lone Ranger instead, and the lady I bought it from has no idea what happened. She’s trying to figure it out, so hopefully I’ll know soon if this really is a Lampoon movie…

National Lampoon’s Kicks

National Lampoon’s Mondo Beach Party

National Lampoon’s The Word Game

I had never even heard of these scripts before I started making this site, and I can’t find anything about them online. I’m guessing that they were movies developed during the New Line deal.

National Lampoon’s Back To College

Based on the experiences of Randall Emmett and George Furla, this movie about two guys who realize they’ve missed out on a lot of college experiences and go back to school, was to be written by Craig Moss and Steve Schoenburg. I don’t know what happened to this movie either.

This Is America

The Lightning Club

These are two movies that were going to be produced by Richard Belzer, Eric Gardner, and the new majority owner of the Lampoon, Dan Laiken. This Is America, which is a sketch-comedy movie, is supposedly still in development. The IMDB (not the most reliable source) says its written by Richard Belzer, Larry Charles, Tanner Colby, Alan Donnes, Kevin Rooney, Dave Thomas, Jim Vallely, and Ron Zimmerman, to be directed by Larry Charles, co-produced by Madonna (!), and released by Maverick Entertainment. There’s no mention of the Lampoon though, and I have no idea if it’s still going to be made. The Lightning Club was written by Jim Valalee. The script is about a house in Heaven where people who were hit by lightning are sent (anybody hit by lightning automatically goes to Heaven). The Lampoon was looking for studio backing to make this, and I don’t think they ever got it, since I can’t find anything about it online.

Some posters courtesy of AllPosters.com and MovieGoods