Ernest Scared Stupid

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Ernest Scared Stupid

PG

1991

1h 31m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

27%

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11 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is working as a garbage collector in a small Missouri town. Despite the warnings of superstitious local Old Lady Hackmore (Eartha Kitt), he accidentally unleashes devious troll Trantor (Jonas Moscartolo), a slimy creature confined under a tree for 200 years. Trantor changes some kids into wooden dolls and turns Ernest's dog, Rimshot, into a log. Ernest then teams up with Old Lady Hackmore to get rid of the beast and bring the victims back to life.

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

This film isn’t for me, but it’s a cult millennial legend for a reason. It did a lot of things right, even if it’s too scary for little kids and way too boring for me.

Rated: 4/10

Sep 23, 2025

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The primary appeal here is Ernest running and screaming and crashing into things and getting doused with gunk, as if a live-action Scooby-Doo entity.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 23, 2025

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Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

This farcical kids versus gloopy monster comedy-horror adventure might please nostalgic parents but Ernest is unlikely to find any new fans with this outing.

Nov 4, 2024

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Avaryl Halley

Movie Bitches

The best of the Ernest Movies. The practical FX are amazing!

Apr 24, 2024

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Andrew Galdi

Movie Bitches

Is this the inspiration for Hocus Pocus?

Rated: 6.5/10

Apr 24, 2024

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Austin Kennedy

Sin Magazine

In a perfect world, the kids from THE MONSTER SQUAD would've teams up with Ernest to battle the trolls. Now THAT would be a fun movie!

Rated: 2/4

May 21, 2012

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John H

Woefully underrated Halloween movie! By far one of the best introductory horror movie for kids. The scene where the boy Kenny is being chased by the troll mimicking his girlfriend's voice: "Faster Kenny, I'm catching up. Hurry Kenny, I'm right behind youuuu" is like a kids' version of the scene in 2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre when Leatherface is chasing Erin (Jessica Biel) with a chainsaw while wearing her dead boyfriend's face! What a mind f***! Anyway this film has been beaten down and marginalized by critics since it was released, but has a very strong cult following for those who experienced it at the right age in the 90s. Great monster costume and unique kid-centric plot. Still fun to watch as an adult, but if you didn't see it as a kid then it won't have the nostalgia factor for you. Show it to your 7-10-year old kid and give them that. A little fun trauma won't hurt 'em.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/25

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Jon L

Still an awesome movie to get into the Halloween spirit.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

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Brad R.

As a kid this movie was everything! By far the best one out of the Ernest movies and still holds up now!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

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Guy M

I cant help but give this movie love it was always my favorite of the Ernest besides "Goes To Jail"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

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Audience Member

One of the scariest creatures put in a children's movie, but once you get past that the movie has a fun atmosphere that only an Ernest movie can provide.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

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Anton H

Arguably just as fondly remembered as “Hocus Pocus”, this was a ‘90s kids’ must-see for Halloween season. Young kids today will also get a real kick out of it. Innocent, harmless, silly fun.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

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John R. Cherry III

Director

Jim Varney

Ernest

Eartha Kitt

Old Lady Hackmore

Austin Nagler

Kenny

Shay Astar

Elizabeth

Jonas Moscartolo

Trantor

3 Ninjas

35%

53%

3 Ninjas

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Synopsis

Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is working as a garbage collector in a small Missouri town. Despite the warnings of superstitious local Old Lady Hackmore (Eartha Kitt), he accidentally unleashes devious troll Trantor (Jonas Moscartolo), a slimy creature confined under a tree for 200 years. Trantor changes some kids into wooden dolls and turns Ernest's dog, Rimshot, into a log. Ernest then teams up with Old Lady Hackmore to get rid of the beast and bring the victims back to life.

Director: John R. Cherry III
Producer: Stacy Williams, Coke Sams
Screenwriter: Charles Gale, Coke Sams
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 1991, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.1M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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