Ernest Saves Christmas

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Ernest Saves Christmas

PG

1988

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

40%

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15 Reviews

44%

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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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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.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

12/26/2024

2.5/4

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

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Steve Crum

Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

08/25/2006

3/5

Typical yet frequently goofy fun Ernest flick.

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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.

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Edward B

@EdwardicusB 6d

Corny. Totally 80's. And yet, it hits home for Christmas. If you don't like Ernest, you will not like this. But, if you do like his witty yet silly charm, chances are this will make your Yuletide brighter. And in the end, it comes down to two words: "Air brakes!"

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Matthew B.

@bromley93 Dec 25

Somehow I made it 30 years without ever hearing of this movie. It’s dumb in the best way. Exactly the kind of easy, low effort comedy that’s perfect for a Christmas afternoon.

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Bill R.

@PainDealer Dec 24

Magical Christmas family fun.

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Kymber H.

@SandlotLover17 Dec 15

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.

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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.

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Zach S

Dec 8

Absolutely hilarious! 😂

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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

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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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