Ernest Saves Christmas

Play trailer

Ernest Saves Christmas

PG

1988

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

15 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

11/29/2018

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.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Dec 26

2.5/4

...a predictably larger-than-life (and relentlessly silly) endeavor that just squeaks by on charm and earnestness...

Go to Full Review

Steve Crum

Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

08/25/2006

3/5

Typical yet frequently goofy fun Ernest flick.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

10/16/2005

2/5

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

05/19/2005

2/5

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

05/22/2004

5/5

A Christmas classic. Jim Varney is sorely missed in my heart.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kymber H.

@SandlotLover17 6d

The plot of this film is bland and like any other low budget Christmas movie. Santa lost his bag as needs help saving the holiday. Also, Ernest’s hake accent sucks.

See more

John R

@JohnRyder Dec 14

Anyone hating on this movie is either some try hard wannabe film critic or sad edgelord that wouldn't know a good Christmas movie if you crammed the tree in em and made them the angel. Sure it's a standard 90's movie with some more zanier parts tied to Ernest's antics but complaining about that is like complaining about Michael Bay movie having explosions. Seriously, this movie is FAR FAR FAR better than every single Hallmark Christmas movie that I promise most of these reviews consider high cinema.

See more

Zach S

Dec 8

Absolutely hilarious! 😂

See more

Allan M.

@Allanm11290 Nov 28

Such an underrated Christmas classic!

See more

David S.

Nov 22

One of the best Christmas movies ever. Fun, exciting, and interesting. This is probably one of the few really good Ernest films, and it's one of Jim Varney's finest performances as the character. It's fairly short, with an easy to understand plot and hey, it's one of the best Ernest films!!!

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 16

Funny in 01 hour, 31 minutes, and 30 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In memory of Jim Varney (1950-2000)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The worldwide gross is $28,202,109.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John R. Cherry III

Director

Jim Varney

Ernest P. Worrel

Douglas Seale

Santa Claus, aka 'Seth Applegate'

Oliver Clark

Joe Curruthers

Noelle Parker

Harmony Star, aka 'Pamela Trenton'

Robert Lesser

Martin 'Marty' Brock, Joe's agent

Ernest Scared Stupid

27%

52%

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

87%

89%

A Christmas Story

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Christmas Story

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

18 Rotten Christmas Movies We Love

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now