IMDb RATING
5.7/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Ernest helps Santa Claus as he searches for his successor.Ernest helps Santa Claus as he searches for his successor.Ernest helps Santa Claus as he searches for his successor.
Noelle Parker
- Harmony
- (as Noëlle Parker)
Bill Welter
- Waiter
- (as Bill Christie)
Featured reviews
If you wasn't to thrilled with Ernest Goes to Camp, write it off and give this one a shot. A good story involving Ernest helping Santa Clause find a replacement before Christmas Eve is fun, and delightful. Jim Varney again does a terrific job playing the dimwitted goofball. Entertaining from start to finish, this is the best of the Ernest series.
Rating: B
Rating: B
I have been an Ernest P. Worrell fan since my teens and Ernest Saves Christmas is a funny holiday movie. After serving as a camp counselor in Ernest Goes To Camp, Ernest crosses paths with Santa Claus while working as a taxi driver in Florida. Santa is eager to retire from his job and pass the torch to his would-be successor, Joe Carruthers, the star of a children's television show. Ernest, along with a teenage girl he encounters, must help Santa fulfill his mission. Time is running out, as Christmas will be gone if Santa fails in his quest.
The late Jim Varney was funny and great as Ernest. His talent made the character shine through, especially in Ernest Saves Christmas.
The late Jim Varney was funny and great as Ernest. His talent made the character shine through, especially in Ernest Saves Christmas.
I grew up watching "Earnest Saves Christmas," so I may be biased in saying that it is an underrated Christmas classic. It's cute, sometimes cheesy, very slapstick-y, but it's absolutely endearing as a family film!
This IS my favorite Christmas movie. It is funny, in a totally ridiculous, moronic, Ernest sort of way - it has all of his best schtick and then some. I really like the message, too - that Christmas is in the heart. Unlike some of the typical Christmas movies there is no major transformation where the mean man becomes the nice guy -the nice guy stays the nice guy and becomes even better. Suspend your need to see Citizen Kane and just watch it for the total silliness. You will enjoy it.
This, my personal favorite Ernest film, is arguably one of the funniest. And its holiday theme adds that extra something for a comedy franchise (like Christmas Vacation did for the National Lampoon films). Basic story has Ernest literally save Christmas, with predictable but sometimes hilarious results. If you ever thought Ernest's schtick was funny, you gotta see this. And if you wanna laugh for the holidays, you can do a lot worse than this.
Did you know
- TriviaJohn Cherry the director of this movie and of most of the other Ernest movies said he thought this was the best of the Ernest movies.
- GoofsWhen Ernest and the elves are orbiting the Earth in the sleigh, the picture of the Earth shows that it's daytime in the Western Hemisphere, but Ernest's sleigh ride took place at night.
- Quotes
Ernest P. Worell: [quietly] Santa Claus.
Mary Morrissey: What did you say?
Ernest P. Worell: His name is Santa Claus!
[children giggle]
Ernest P. Worell: That's it. Yuck it up. He happens to be a close, personal friend of mine. Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah. Fifth graders think they know everything.
- Crazy credits(closing wishes) Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! KnoWhutImean?
- Alternate versionsSome VHS and DVD prints have slightly different opening and closing credit sequences, notably some have "and Douglas Seale as Santa Claus," while others just have "and Douglas Seale." The closing credits on some prints also feature smaller type.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Nostalgia Critic: Ernest Saves Christmas (2009)
- SoundtracksDeck the Halls
(uncredited)
Melody of 'Nos Galan'
- How long is Ernest Saves Christmas?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Navidad de locura
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $6,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $28,202,109
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,710,734
- Nov 13, 1988
- Gross worldwide
- $28,202,109
- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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