You know the one. He’s standing there, looking like a literal Norse god carved from granite, but he’s holding a very specific, very distracting prosthetic.
If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last decade, you’ve likely stumbled upon the Chris Hemsworth vacation scene from the 2015 reboot of Vacation. It was the moment the world collectively realized that the guy who plays Thor isn't just a heavy-hitter in the MCU—he’s actually pretty funny. And maybe a little bit fearless when it comes to looking ridiculous.
But there is a lot more to that scene than just a visual gag.
The Audacity of Stone Crandall
Most actors with a physique like Hemsworth’s would be protective of their "tough guy" image. Not this guy. In Vacation, he plays Stone Crandall, an insanely successful, incredibly condescending news anchor who is married to Audrey Griswold (Leslie Mann).
The scene in question happens in a bedroom. Stone walks in wearing nothing but gray underwear to "show" Ed Helms and Christina Applegate how to use a remote control. It’s awkward. It’s lingering. Honestly, it’s one of the most effective uses of physical comedy in a mid-2010s studio movie.
Hemsworth has since admitted that the "appendage" used in the scene was a massive prosthetic. In fact, he told Attitude Magazine that the whole experience was "intimidating." Imagine being one of the most famous men on Earth and having to choose between different sizes of prosthetic parts in a room full of directors. He chose the biggest one. Naturally.
Why that scene changed his career
Before 2015, Hemsworth was mostly the "serious action guy." Sure, Thor had some fish-out-of-water charm, but we hadn't seen him go full-tilt into R-rated comedy.
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- He proved he could pivot. Without Stone Crandall, we might never have gotten the hilarious, slightly unhinged Thor in Ragnarok.
- It humanized him. Watching a guy that handsome act that stupid makes him likable.
- The "Hemsworth Effect." It set a template for his later roles in Ghostbusters and Saturday Night Light, where he leaned into the "himbo" archetype with zero ego.
Reality vs. Fiction: The Actual Hemsworth Vacations
While the Vacation movie scene is what pops up in Google searches, his real-life vacations are what usually trend on Instagram.
Take his recent trip to Japan in early 2025. It wasn't all serene temples and tea ceremonies. Hemsworth posted a photo dump that actually caused a bit of a stir among his followers. One of his sons was caught on camera pulling a middle finger—a classic "kid being a kid" moment that some fans found hilarious and others found "inappropriate."
It’s a far cry from the pristine, curated life people expect from A-listers.
Then there was the Zermatt trip in February 2025. He was snowboarding in Switzerland with a group of friends, looking significantly less like a polished movie star and more like a guy who just wants to drink a beer at an après-ski bar. He even shared clips of himself shredding the slopes near the Matterhorn.
If you're looking for the "real" Chris Hemsworth vacation scene, it's usually found in Byron Bay. This is where he actually lives. He’s often spotted at The Pass or Tallow Beach. Locals call it the "Hemsworth Effect"—the way the once-quiet surf town has transformed into a high-end celebrity hub. His $30 million mansion there, dubbed "Hemsworth Hills," features a rooftop infinity pool that supposedly cost $400,000.
The 2026 Shift: A Road Trip to Remember
Right now, in 2026, the conversation around Hemsworth and travel has taken a much more serious turn.
He recently released a documentary called A Road Trip to Remember. It’s a National Geographic project where he takes his father, Craig, on a journey across Australia. This isn't a comedy sketch. It’s an exploration of brain health and social connection following his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
It’s interesting to see the evolution.
- 2015: Walking around in underwear for a laugh.
- 2020: Posting shirtless surfing photos in Byron Bay.
- 2026: Using a "vacation" as a therapeutic tool to battle cognitive decline.
What we can learn from the Hemsworth lifestyle
He’s clearly obsessed with "active recovery." He doesn't just sit on a beach. Whether it’s snowboarding in Switzerland or building a massive high-tech gym (called "The Shed") at his home, his downtime is basically just "training in a different location."
If you want to replicate the vibe of a Chris Hemsworth vacation, you’ve basically got to do three things:
- Prioritize the "Cold-Hot" routine. He’s a huge advocate for ice baths followed by saunas. His Byron Bay estate has both right next to each other.
- Go off-grid but stay active. Whether it’s Rottnest Island with Matt Damon or the Japanese Alps, he tends to pick places where he can move his body.
- Don't take yourself too seriously. If you can’t laugh at yourself in your underwear (figuratively or literally), you’re doing it wrong.
The Chris Hemsworth vacation scene isn't just a moment in a raunchy comedy anymore. It's a weirdly accurate metaphor for his whole public persona: a mix of peak physical performance and a total willingness to look like a dork.
Moving forward, keep an eye on his upcoming project Subversion, which is filming on the Gold Coast. It’s an action thriller, but a lot of it takes place on the water. Expect more "accidental" vacation content to leak from the set soon.
To live more like Hemsworth, start by integrating "functional play" into your trips. Instead of just a hotel gym, find a local trail or a surf break. Use your next getaway to disconnect from the screen and reconnect with physical movement—though maybe leave the oversized prosthetics at home.