One of the most inescapable characters throughout the '80s and '90s was Ernest P. Worrell. The brainchild of advertising executive John Cherry and actor Jim Varney, Ernest was originally created as an advertising tool. His commercials gained more and more popularity with each airing, and soon the logical choice to bring Ernest to the big screen was made.
The character was featured in nine movies in total, each one still loved by fans today. While Ernest was featured in several specials, such as Hey Vern! It's My Family Album and Your World As I See It, we will only be looking at the feature-length films today. So grab your bottle of Miak and head over to Vern's house as we take a look at every Ernest movie in order of release date and chronologically (which happen to be the same).
How to Watch the Ernest Movies in Order
- Ernest Goes to Camp
- Ernest Saves Christmas
- Ernest Goes to Jail
- Ernest Scared Stupid
- Ernest Rides Again
- Ernest Goes to School
- Slam Dunk Ernest
- Ernest Goes to Africa
- Ernest in the Army
Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
Ernest made his first jump to the big screen in 1987 with Ernest Goes To Camp. The movie follows the bumbling Ernest as he works at Camp Kikakee for the summer. He works as a maintenance man, but what he truly longs for is to be a camp counselor. When a group of delinquent kids joins the camp as part of a second chance program, he may get his wish. The other counselors appoint Ernest as a joke, but he soon proves himself as a loyal friend to the kids, even if he gets a few bruises along the way.
Being the first Ernest movie, the film is still highly regarded among fans. In fact, every year a festival honoring the film is held at the filming location, ending with a showing of the movie right at the real Camp Kikakee.
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Of all of Ernest's outings, Ernest Saves Christmas may be the best known. Ernest works as a taxi driver in Florida. While escaping some angry men at an airport, he picks up a man he can't help but find familiar. As it turns out, this man is none other than Santa Claus himself, and he is there to find his replacement. With some help from a runaway teen, Ernest helps Santa convince his replacement to take the reins before it is too late.
Each year more and more people add this film to their list of yearly holiday viewings. It has the typical Ernest shenanigans, but it also has plenty of heart and cheer as every great Christmas movie should. If new fans watch one Ernest movie, they should put this one on around the Christmas season and start a new tradition.
Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
A case of mistaken identity could be the end of Ernest, as Ernest Goes to Jail sees him on death row. Bumbling bank janitor Ernest joins jury duty when a deadly criminal notices they share a striking resemblance. It takes no effort for the two to switch places, and Ernest finds himself in the big house. His criminal doppelganger lives his life and plans on robbing the bank he works at and stealing his girlfriend.
Varney not only plays Ernest with the same charm he always does, but he also shows his more sinister side by playing criminal Felix Nash. The film even shows some special effects, as a magnetized Ernest finds himself with Palpatine-esque lighting powers.
Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
Ernest finds out he is the descendant of a man who once defeated a deadly troll. Ernest undoes this deed but unleashes the same troll back on the world around Halloween. Ernest must then join his young friends as they try to once again defeat the trolls before they turn the entire town into statues.
Ernest Scared Stupid is enjoyed by fans of all ages around Halloween. The movie even reuses the costumes from Killer Klowns From Outer Space as the trolls. The movie is fun and spooky and should be on any Ernest fan's Halloween watch list.
Ernest Rides Again (1993)
Once again playing a janitor, Ernest Rides Again sees the titular goofball on an adventure with a history professor. After finding part of a legendary canon, the duo set off to find it. Of course, things never go according to plan for Ernest, so they become entangled in a plot with jewel thieves. This movie is a fun time and is one of the more underrated films in the series. Rides Again is also the last Ernest film to receive a wide theatrical release.
Ernest Goes to School (1994)
While working as, of course, a janitor at a high school, Ernest finds his job in jeopardy in Ernest Goes to School. All employees must have a high school diploma which Ernest lacks. He must choose between losing his job or going through the twelfth grade, and he chooses the latter.
What follows is the typical adult in high school fare, but with an Ernest twist. Worrell is in danger of failing when he becomes subject to an experiment that greatly improves his intelligence, at the risk of his personality. This was the last theatrically released Ernest movie, although it was only shown in a handful of cities.
Slam Dunk Ernest (1995)
The first straight-to-video Ernest movie sees him become a basketball all-star. Ernest is never allowed to play on his coworker's basketball team because the clumsy Ernest is more trouble than he is worth. That all changes when he comes across seemingly magical shows that allow him to leap off the ground with ease.
Ernest not only joins the team but quickly becomes the star player. Soon the fame gets to his head, and he pushes away his teammates for money. Slam Dunk Ernest is a fun time, but it marks what many feels is the decline in quality for the series.
Ernest Goes to Africa (1997)
You may be looking at the title of Ernest Goes to Africa and think, "How did this happen? Is it as bad as it sounds?" Yes, yes it is. In the film, Ernest attempts to win the affection of a local woman. He buys some jewels to make a yo-yo, unaware they are highly sought-after jewels stolen from Africa.
Soon the woman is kidnapped and Ernest must make his way to Africa to save her. Not only is the film pretty racist, full of cringe moments, and genuinely not very funny compared to Ernest's previous output, but the movie also reuses several plot points from earlier films, such as the jewel thief plot from Ernest Rides Again.
Ernest in the Army (1998)
Ernest joins the army in hopes to be able to drive large vehicles and not have to face any combat. Just Ernest's luck, but his entire platoon is sent to the front line. Ernest in the Army follows all the classic military comedy tropes but with Ernest in the center. The movie is fun enough but is usually only enjoyed by die-hard Ernest fans.
This was the last film to feature the Ernest character, as Jim Varney passed away just two years later. While not a high note to end on, Ernest in the Army as well as many of the movies in the series leaves behind an enduring legacy that more and more people discover each year.