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Ernest Saves Christmas

PG Released Nov 11, 1988 1h 26m Kids & Family Holiday Comedy List
36% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) is looking for his successor, and hapless taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is just the man to help him out. Traveling to Florida to pass his mantle on to children's show host Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark), Santa gets into unexpected trouble, and it's up to Ernest, along with a teen girl named Harmony (Noelle Parker), to assist Saint Nick with his important mission, or the future of Christmas could be in jeopardy.
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Ernest Saves Christmas

Critics Reviews

View All (14) Critics Reviews
Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Only marginally insufferable, the Ernest movie is...a big-screen example of the TV-sitcom tendency to go broad and sappy with a token Yuletide show each December. Nov 29, 2018 Full Review Steve Crum Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers Typical yet frequently goofy fun Ernest flick. Rated: 3/5 Aug 25, 2006 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Oct 16, 2005 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 2/5 May 19, 2005 Full Review Luke Y. Thompson New Times A Christmas classic. Jim Varney is sorely missed in my heart. Rated: 5/5 May 22, 2004 Full Review Greg Maki Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) Rated: 2/5 Jan 6, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dale R Ernest gets caught up in Santa’s quest to find his replacement. Ernest’s brand of humor is not my cup of tea and aimed at a younger demographic than I am. The way this movie is filmed, edited and written makes it feel more like a series of vignettes than an actual movie. Like a series of commercials that the Ernest character originated in. There is enough heart to this film to make it watchable. If you enjoy the Ernest character or just need to entertain the littles for a bit this movie will work. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/07/24 Full Review Teddy B For all its cheesy faults and shortcomings, 'Ernest Saves Christmas' has its heart in the right place. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Christy T Grew up watching Ernest movies, since he was a Kentuckian too, as well as an amazing archer; and this one is a wholesome, family friendly must watch during the holidays. No different than A Christmas Story or Home Alone. Yes, it's cheesy, yes it's campy, yes it's silly; but that's the charm of any of his movies. My grandkids love this one as much as any of the other "Christmas classics", and they are 100% family friendly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/25/23 Full Review David S It's goofy, silly and really has some wonderful moments. I try to watch it every Christmas. Jim Varney was gone too soon. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/18/23 Full Review Tessa A Silly goofy movie. 9\10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Yes it's phenomenally stupid but still a serious guilty pleasure Still an adorable Christmas film starring the late Jim Varney In one of his many film series Varney is back at Ernest P. Worhl being a taxi cab driver He unknowingly picks up Santa Clause...the real one to be precise Santa is in need of someone to replace him to keep the Christmas spirit going and he'll need Ernest's help Also joining them is a young girl named Harmony who's a runaway desperate to find a home Joe might be the right man for the Santa job but he's caught up in the world of Hollywood Douglas Seale is a very sweet and lovable Santa Clause, his kind heart and innocence just melts your heart Ernest is his usually dim witted likable self eager to get the Christmas spirit in tact Harmony is very much more 1980s than 90s but still has that spunky attitude Some of the effects are very dated and this plot has some things missing but this is one of the more watchable entries in this collection The movie is stupid cheesy and doesn't make a whole lot of sense but still a harmless, easy to digest viewing Varney and Seale are the best reasons to watch It's also good natured for the holiday season Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Ernest Saves Christmas

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Cast & Crew

Ernest Scared Stupid 25% 51% Ernest Scared Stupid Watchlist 3 Ninjas 35% 53% 3 Ninjas Watchlist Home Alone 66% 80% Home Alone Watchlist TRAILER for Home Alone Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 35% 62% Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Watchlist TRAILER for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York A Christmas Story 89% 89% A Christmas Story Watchlist TRAILER for A Christmas Story Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) is looking for his successor, and hapless taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is just the man to help him out. Traveling to Florida to pass his mantle on to children's show host Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark), Santa gets into unexpected trouble, and it's up to Ernest, along with a teen girl named Harmony (Noelle Parker), to assist Saint Nick with his important mission, or the future of Christmas could be in jeopardy.
Director
John R. Cherry III
Producer
Doug Claybourne, Stacy Williams
Screenwriter
B. Kline, Ed Turner
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 11, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$28.1M
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Surround
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