‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ Director Quit After “Bizarre” Meeting With Star Chevy Chase: “Treating Me Like S***” By Radhamely De Leon Published Dec. 27, 2024, 3:53 p.m. ET ...

Director Chris Columbus claims he quit working on “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” after he met with the film’s leading actor, Chevy Chase. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, the ...

Related: Christmas Movie Kids Then and Now: 'Home Alone,’ ‘The Holiday,’ More Columbus described his awkward first meeting with Chase, which he called “the most surreal, bizarre thing.” ...

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is currently streaming on both MAX and Hulu. You can stream on MAX with a subscription for $16.99 per month ad free or $9.99 per month with ads.

Chase in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” “He had to know I was directing the movie. I talked about how I saw the movie, how I wanted to make the movie,” Columbus added.

However, leaving "Christmas Vacation" led Columbus right to another holiday classic. "The next weekend, I got another script from John—and it’s 'Home Alone,'" he said.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is currently streaming on both HBO MAX and Hulu. Oregon residents can stream on MAX with a subscription for $16.99 per month ad free or $9.99 per month with ...

Following the dinner, Columbus thought, "‘There’s no way I can make a movie with this guy.' First of all, he’s not engaged. He’s treating me like s**t. I don’t need this.

Columbus said he had dinner with Chase and Hughes but that, “I was basically nonexistent.” He explained, “It was Chevy and Hughes, and they talked about everything except Christmas Vacation.

“We spent two hours together, and I left the dinner and I thought, ‘There’s no way I can make a movie with this guy,' ” Columbus told Vanity Fair. “First of all, he’s not engaged.

The movie opened in theaters in 1989 and was the third installment in National Lampoon’s “Vacation” film series. Chase had headlined all three movies opposite Beverly D’Angelo.