Hey there, friends! Let me tell you something that might blow your mind—there’s a sequel to A Christmas Story that even the biggest holiday movie enthusiasts might not know about. No, I’m not talking about the 2012 direct-to-DVD disaster called A Christmas Story 2, which starred Braeden Lemasters as a dead-ringer for a teenage Ralphie. This one is something entirely different. It's called It Runs in the Family, later retitled My Summer Story, and it hit theaters back in 1994.

What Is My Summer Story All About?

So, here’s the deal. This little-known film aired on Light TV on December 13th, and it had the same narrator as A Christmas Story—the one and only Jean Shepherd. The characters had the same names and ages, but they looked nothing like the originals, which left viewers scratching their heads and asking, "What the heck is this?" Let me break it down for you.

Ralphie and The Old Man.

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The Story Behind My Summer Story

My Summer Story made its way into theaters in 1994, a full decade after the original film. Now, here’s the kicker—it’s not actually a holiday movie. But, it has that same nostalgic charm as the original, especially since it's based on semi-autobiographical stories by Jean Shepherd, pulled from his memoir In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. The movie opens with a reference to what happened in A Christmas Story, which can be a bit confusing because, except for The Old Man, the characters look completely different. Ralphie, this time around, is played by Keiran Culkin, Macaulay Culkin’s brother, which is pretty cool. And guess what? The original Miss Shields, Tedde Moore, reprises her role!

Delving Into the Movie

Alright, let’s dive into the film itself. Initially, it might take a few minutes to adjust to the fact that the characters are portrayed by different actors, but trust me, they do a fantastic job of capturing those familiar personalities. Fans of A Christmas Story will get a kick out of seeing the return of beloved characters like the Bumpuses, Scut Farkas, Schwartz, and Flick. This time around, instead of obsessing over a Red Ryder BB Gun, Ralphie is all about getting a top that can beat the new bully’s in a game. Along the way, he learns some truly valuable life lessons.

Join us for a presentation of the #comedy, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY. Tonight at 10/9c on LIGHT TV. pic.twitter.com/t552Q4hHkU
— LightTV (@lighttv) December 13, 2017

Why Did My Summer Story Flop?

It’s clear they were trying to channel the National Lampoon vibe with A Christmas Story, much like they did with Vacation and Christmas Vacation. But alas, My Summer Story didn't quite hit the mark. It flopped at the box office, making a mere $71,000. It seems like transitioning from a Christmas movie to a regular film is a tough road, as opposed to releasing a comedy and then spinning it into a holiday version. Despite its box office failure, the movie carries the same heart as the original and is absolutely worth checking out if you’re a fan of A Christmas Story. You can rent it on Netflix (DVD only) or Amazon. Plus, Light TV plans to air it several more times this season!