Ever wondered why the young actors portraying Audrey and Rusty Griswold in the Vacation movies kept getting replaced? It wasn't due to their acting skills (at least not always). The issue was the movies' irregular release schedule, causing the actors to age out of the roles before they could film another one. Here's a comprehensive ranking of the five pairs of Audreys and Rustys in the comedy multiverse.

The Definitive Ranking

5. Vegas Vacation

Ethan Embry and Marisol Nichols take on the older, more disillusioned versions of Rusty and Audrey. This makes sense given the film's setting. With the aid of a fake ID, Rusty manages to win five cars at the slot machines. And Audrey experiences sexualization for the first time in the series as she gets a job as a go-go dancer after visiting a strip club with her pole-dancing cousin. It's quite a disturbing turn of events.In this movie, we see a different side of the Griswold family as they navigate through a wild Vegas adventure. The characters are more mature and jaded, adding a new dimension to the story.

4. National Lampoon’s European Vacation

Dana Hill (not to be confused with the original actress Dana Barrows) plays Audrey, and Jason Lively is Rusty. While it's not a significant improvement over Vegas Vacation, at least the braces-wearing Rusty and Audrey still get to be teenagers enduring a terrible family trip. Lively particularly shines as a lusty teenager who isn't as cool as he thinks he is.Audrey also gets a solo dream sequence that combines elements of Monty Python and Willy Wonka. It's a fun and imaginative moment that adds some charm to the film.

3. Vacation

Ed Helms stars as a grown-up Rusty, trying to recreate a family vacation to Wally World. Although some may prefer the Griswold kids to remain children, Helms is undoubtedly a funnier actor than most of the other Rustys on this list.The underrated Leslie Mann doesn't get as much screen time as adult Audrey in this version of Vacation, as the focus is mainly on Rusty's family. However, the movie earns bonus points for minimizing the screen time of Chase (and D'Angelo, who appear briefly as the proprietors of a bed-and-breakfast).

2. National Lampoon’s Vacation

Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barrows should perhaps be at the top, but I'm downgrading them slightly. Hall was even funnier in Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, and Weird Science, making this one of his less interesting John Hughes roles. Nevertheless, he holds his own against Chevy Chase.Barrows has a relatively smaller role as Audrey. Her main task is to be shocked by the depravity of her cousin Vicky, played by the impossibly young Jane Krakowski.

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki's future careers demonstrate their ability to take on the roles of Rusty and Audrey in the franchise's most enduring installment. Galecki has the perfect amount of tolerant disdain for his father's holiday light project.Again, Audrey gets the short end of the stick when it comes to funny scenes, but no one does teen disgust better than Lewis. And Christmas Vacation has become incredibly meaningful to her, as she told Kelly Clarkson. "People are like, 'You're a part of my family,'" she said through tears. "People who've lost their parents, what it meant to them. It's a tradition."