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What is the best Ernest movie?

Discussion

Ernest P. Worrell is a character portrayed by the late Jim Varney. The Ernest character has appeared in commercials, TV shows, and movies. There are nine Ernest movies. Only four were released theatrically. The rest were direct-to-video movies. Now I'm not going to act like the Ernest movies are the pinnacle of cinema, but which one is the best by default?

Also, whenever I think of Ernest, I think of this Family Guy clip.

The movies:

  • Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)

  • Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

  • Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

  • Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

  • Ernest Rides Again (1993)

  • Ernest Goes to School (1994)

  • Slam Dunk Ernest (1995)

  • Ernest Goes to Africa (1997)

  • Ernest in the Army (1998)

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Ernest Scared Stupid.

u/ggroover97 avatar

MIAK!!!

u/KingEuronIIIGreyjoy avatar

Bet you didn't think I could get any this time of year!

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u/SmoothJimmyApollo avatar
Edited

That movie fucking terrified me as a kid. Haven't revisited it since.

u/TubaMike avatar

Same.

u/saltusz avatar

Me too, man that troll creature was scary!

It's on YouTube for free now

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That creature had a double dick nose

u/Helena_Wren avatar

This is the correct answer.

Agreed

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u/joycefuljames avatar

Ernest Goes to Jail is legit good

I came, I saw, I got blown up! God, I haven't seen that movie in 25+ years. Can't wait to introduce Ernest to my son when he gets a little older. I hope he enjoys the movies as much as I did.

I will say, so far, my young son loves the ones that I've shown him

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u/themoonatomic87 avatar

Am I me?

u/The_Vampire_Barlow avatar

Totally agree.

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goes to camp

u/randothrowoh avatar

His song about being glad it was raining to hide his tears made me sad as a kid. Pretty sure it was in this one along with the knife sharpening routine.

I still think about this song to this day.

u/Dont_like_my_comment avatar

Still makes be sob

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Right...through....the meat...of....the hand

I think about him licking the wet stone at least once a day.

u/randothrowoh avatar

It still makes me laugh.

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u/2ndprize avatar

Eggsaronious

“Hey Ernest, you’ve got a turtle on your nose!”

u/Papamato99 avatar

Finally the right answer. Way too many wrong answers in this thread lol

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Maybe it's just for me, but for me it's gotta be Scared Stupid.

Earnest Scared Stupid.

The troll in that was as scary as any adult horror villain.

u/montizzle1 avatar

Ernest in the army holds a special place in my heart. Ernest is a 300% better soldier than most the guys I served with.

Scared stupid is probably the correct answer though.

Saves Christmas and goes to jail are solid entries too

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Scared stupid was the best. Goes to camp is a close second.

u/m0ondogy avatar

With Jail rounding out the main 3, imo.

All other just sorta exist.

u/Dont_like_my_comment avatar

The correct answer

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Our local TV played scared stupid throughout the year so it'll have to be that one. The only other one I've seen was the prison one a was weird. I guess I have a whole 7 movie adventure to go on. He's such a sweet character. RIP Jim Varney

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christmas has the most heart but has the most tv movie feel and they actually film a tv movie during it

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u/jeffedge avatar

side question: growing up with people like ernest, mr rogers, steve irwin, etc. etc. ernest seemed to be one of the good guys in that line of like, always wholesome but good content anyone can enjoy. i feel like that's all been lost for the most part. is there anyone these days that's like ernest movie wise? i figure i may be too old to pick up on that but i feel like if there was a character like ernest that everybody loved, i'd have heard about it.

u/KinkyKiKi avatar

I have to admit I haven't seen them all but the ones I have, I loved. My personal opinion is Ernest Scared Stupid is #1 Ernest Saves Christmas #2 and Ernest Goes to Camp #3.

u/nywanderer avatar

The Importance of Being Earnest

I'd say scared stupid, then goes to jail, I think mainly cuz those are the two I had on vhs growing up

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Earnest goes to jail. Hands down.

u/Bargetown avatar

Ernest Rides Again is the most competent, well-developed Ernest film. It’s where he hit hit his cinematic peak. Ernest Goes to Jail is probably the best distillation of what made Ernest funny though.

♬ There was a man named Worrell ♬

u/Bargetown avatar

It’s the Makita warriors!

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u/Jojosbazaar avatar

To me, Scared Stupid is the best

u/Maverick916 avatar

That's The correct answer booger lips

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Jail or Christmas.

u/The_Vampire_Barlow avatar

It's really between these two. Camp was good but rough, and after scared stupid they lost a lot of their charm.

Or I aged out of the Ernest bracket.

Edited

The latter is a fine Christmas movie that has Ernest in it. The former is more of an Ernest movie.

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Nailed it

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Ernest Scared Stupid is a legit terrifying horror movie.

Ernest rides again was awesome because the VHS had some Mr. Bill claymation short bonus content. OH NOOOOOOOOO!

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Ernest Saves Christmas

u/skyhawk214 avatar

"Ho ho ho Vern!" slams door in face

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Ernest Scared Stupid with Ernest Goes to Jail as a very close second

u/darthjoey91 avatar

Scared Stupid is easily the best.

You’re missing an interesting side note though:

Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain.

u/omarsdroog avatar
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u/MovieBuff90 avatar

Ernest Doesn’t Go to the Beach will always be the best

Omg I love Ernest!!! His movies made me laugh hysterically from a kid, up until now.

Ernest goes to camp is one of my favorites, but Ernest saves Christmas will always have a place in my heart though! I watch this every Christmas 😂

While technically not an Ernest movie "Dr. Otto And The Riddle Of The Gloom Beam". You can call it a proof of concept for Jim Varney.

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Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Glow Beam(1986) is the best Ernest film.

Also "Hey Vern! It's Ernest" 1988 Season 1 is the best Ernest thing ever. But Ernest Rides Splash Mountain(1989 ABC Special) may be the rarest special.

u/tykeryerson avatar

Jail.

u/TheJOHNTHEGREAT avatar

Ernest Saves Christmas. Easily the best

u/Ru-fi-oo avatar

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) and then Ernest Goes to School (1994)

I remember my mom taking me to a drive inn to see Ernest goes to Camp.

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its like asking which sugary cereal is better than the other sugary cereals

they are all good

u/Dont_like_my_comment avatar

RIMSHOT!!

u/PathOfTheBlind avatar

His commercials and outtakes VHS was always my favorite.

Scared Stupid, for sure.

u/Manns15 avatar

Ernest Goes to Jail.

I thought this one was the funniest. The absurdist slapstick worked so well, and Varney was great as Nash. I thought director John Cherry did a great job with making essentially a live action cartoon.

u/ddwcommish avatar

Christmas is just charming as all get out. With the best movie Santa portrayal i can remember.

u/gopi187187 avatar

Ernest scared stupid. I was thinking about watching it again rn, childhood movie I'm 36 now lmao