1101:
1085:
952:
360:, Ernest and the helpers meet Santa's elves at the airport, retrieve the reindeer and sleigh, and fly to the children's museum. Although Ernest initially struggles to control the sleigh, they eventually make it to the museum. Joe witnesses the flying reindeer and sleigh, confirming Santa's claims. Joe turns down the acting job and decides to become the new Santa Claus.
31:
363:
The new Santa uses his magic to make it snow in
Orlando. Ernest and the helpers arrive just in time, and Pamela decides to go home after calling her mother. The new Santa chooses Pamela as his special helper and promises to take her home after their journey. Ernest becomes the sleigh driver for the
328:
During their drive, a runaway teenage girl named
Harmony Starr joins Ernest and Santa in the taxi. Upon reaching their destination, Santa realizes he has no real money and only possesses play money. Ernest lets him ride for free, resulting in Ernest losing his job. Ernest later discovers that Santa
336:
To help Santa escape from jail, Ernest pretends to be an employee of the governor, and
Harmony poses as the governor's niece. They convince the police chief to transfer Santa to a mental hospital. Santa explains to Ernest and Harmony that he became Santa Claus in 1889 and has enjoyed the role, but
352:
Santa finally tracks down Joe at his home and explains the importance of passing on the Santa Claus position. Joe initially declines but later changes his mind when he refuses to use foul language in front of the children on the film set. Ernest and
Harmony discover the magic of Santa's sack, but
348:
Meanwhile, two holding dock workers receive crates marked for release to "Helper Elves". The workers argue over the shipping papers and the crates' contents, which are revealed to contain flying reindeer. They seek help from animal control, but the reindeer amaze them by walking on the warehouse
332:
Santa tries to talk to Joe at the
Orlando Children's Museum but is interrupted and dismissed by Joe's rude agent, Marty Brock. Santa becomes worried when he discovers his sack is missing and feels discouraged due to his increasing forgetfulness at the age of 151. Marty refuses to believe Santa's
324:
works as a taxicab driver. Santa informs Ernest that he is on his way to tell a local celebrity named Joe
Carruthers that he has been chosen to be the new Santa Claus. Joe used to host a popular children's program that emphasized manners and integrity.
340:
Ernest disguises himself as a snake rancher to sneak Santa into a movie studio. Marty pressures Joe to abandon his focus on teaching goodness to children and instead take a role in a horror film called
766:
902:
337:
the magic weakens over time. To restore its full strength, he must pass the job on to someone else, which is why he needs to find Joe and make him the new Santa Claus before 7:00 PM.
1388:
859:
836:
697:
799:
458:. Exterior scenes set at the house of Ernest's friend Vern were filmed at a house located on Residential Street at the park, and which was part of the
1514:
1308:
1245:
1048:
524:
film scenes, as the station already had a promotional relationship with Jim Varney and the Ernest character. Other smaller scenes were filmed in
1459:
1439:
1286:
736:
1424:
869:
1316:
1252:
353:
Harmony, whose real name is Pamela
Trenton, abuses it. She steals the sack but eventually returns it after her conscience prevails.
1444:
1011:
364:
night. The old Santa resumes his identity as Seth
Applegate and spends Christmas Eve with a museum employee named Mary Morrissey.
1128:
661:
1469:
1449:
1504:
1429:
692:
758:
1434:
892:
497:
which is now the John and Rita
Lowndes Shakespeare Center (used as the "Orlando Children's Museum" in the film), and the
601:
and grossed $ 5.7 million from 1,634 theaters. Its domestic total was $ 28.2 million, making it is the highest grossing
1489:
1464:
1494:
540:
172:
683:
1479:
1454:
1279:
789:
478:
367:
At 7:00 PM, the new Santa takes off to deliver gifts. Later two dock workers receive a crate marked "E. Bunny".
1474:
1509:
614:
498:
466:
455:
112:
294:
It was released on
November 11, 1988. It grossed $ 23.5 million, making it the highest grossing film in the
1484:
1272:
1121:
597:
583:, assigned the film a score of 44 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
1034:
1499:
822:
1227:
465:
The remainder of the scenes were filmed in various locations in the greater Orlando area, including
580:
509:
656:
626:
517:
978:
1114:
494:
490:
482:
470:
153:
722:
1372:
1202:
1188:
1096:
1396:
1348:
1174:
525:
964:
924:
8:
1419:
1340:
1324:
1167:
1153:
548:
459:
300:
283:
148:
1100:
999:
1380:
1356:
1296:
1264:
1209:
1181:
1084:
1043:
951:
505:
258:
158:
44:
1137:
1079:
831:
651:
568:
381:
321:
287:(1987). The film chronicles Ernest's attempt to help find a replacement for an aging
274:
1364:
1195:
897:
486:
451:
317:
933:
864:
731:
572:
404:
329:
left his magic sack in the taxi and decides to find Santa and return it to him.
30:
938:
251:
1413:
1090:
575:, 36% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.9/10.
437:
431:
422:
386:
357:
270:
1106:
794:
395:
266:
416:
390:
313:
288:
254:
1073:
973:
576:
410:
377:
262:
99:
450:
This was the first major feature production filmed almost entirely in
345:, which deeply offends Santa. Santa punches the director in response.
474:
130:
1389:
The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in For Love or Mummy
513:
1294:
493:(now known as the "Beachline Expressway"), the original
261:
from a screenplay by B. Kline and Ed Turner. It stars
543:on November 11, 1988. It is the second film in the
539:was released theatrically in the United States by
1411:
613:The DVD was released on September 3, 2002, from
547:series, and the second in a four-film deal with
273:. It is the third film to feature the character
759:"Orlando Looking Good As 'Ernest' Hits Screens"
917:
1280:
1122:
790:"Hey, Vern: It's the Ernest P. Worrell Story"
1309:Knowhutimean? Hey Vern, It's My Family Album
1246:Knowhutimean? Hey Vern, It's My Family Album
1136:
893:"Ernest Saves The Day When Santa Needs Help"
1287:
1273:
1129:
1115:
1099:
1083:
957:
950:
820:
29:
1317:Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
1253:Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
821:Wilmington, Michael (November 15, 1988).
1515:English-language Christmas comedy films
1051:from the original on September 23, 2023
905:from the original on September 27, 2012
595:placed second at the box office behind
1412:
802:from the original on February 21, 2024
787:
739:from the original on December 15, 2023
664:from the original on December 15, 2023
1268:
1110:
839:from the original on November 6, 2012
823:"Not Even Christmas Can the Save New
717:
715:
646:
644:
642:
298:series. The next film in the series,
1460:Films directed by John R. Cherry III
1014:from the original on October 3, 2022
860:"Jim Varney Is Good For Some Laughs"
857:
769:from the original on August 29, 2012
559:
516:(channel 35, which is now owned by
13:
712:
639:
462:until it was demolished in 2002.
333:predicament and has him arrested.
14:
1526:
1067:
1032:
890:
788:Rossen, Jake (October 19, 2017).
700:from the original on May 30, 2024
564:The film received poor reviews.
541:Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
173:Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
1440:American children's comedy films
858:Kehr, Dave (November 14, 1988).
1445:American Christmas comedy films
1026:
992:
652:"Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)"
884:
851:
814:
781:
751:
676:
304:, was released in April 1990.
1:
1470:Films set in Orlando, Florida
1450:American fantasy comedy films
1425:1980s children's comedy films
632:
615:Touchstone Home Entertainment
608:
586:
467:Orlando International Airport
445:
1505:1980s English-language films
1430:1980s Christmas comedy films
554:
7:
620:
277:and the second film in the
187:November 11, 1988
10:
1531:
1435:1980s fantasy comedy films
531:
154:Silver Screen Partners III
1490:Touchstone Pictures films
1465:Films scored by Mark Snow
1303:
1237:
1219:
1145:
454:, at the then-unfinished
235:
227:
219:
211:
201:
178:
168:
136:
126:
118:
108:
92:
75:
67:
50:
40:
35:Theatrical release poster
28:
23:
591:In its opening weekend,
428:Buddy Douglas as Pyramus
401:Noelle Parker as Harmony
16:1988 film by John Cherry
1480:Films shot in Tennessee
1455:Ernest P. Worrell films
657:American Film Institute
627:List of Christmas films
370:
307:
159:Emshell Producers Group
1333:Ernest Saves Christmas
1228:Hey Vern, It's Ernest!
1092:Ernest Saves Christmas
1075:Ernest Saves Christmas
1037:Ernest Saves Christmas
967:Ernest Saves Christmas
927:Ernest Saves Christmas
725:Ernest Saves Christmas
686:Ernest Saves Christmas
593:Ernest Saves Christmas
537:Ernest Saves Christmas
499:Orlando AMTRAK station
495:Orlando Science Center
489:, a toll booth on the
247:Ernest Saves Christmas
24:Ernest Saves Christmas
1495:1988 children's films
1475:Films shot in Florida
1373:Ernest Goes to Africa
872:on September 28, 2012
479:Church Street Station
312:A man claiming to be
1510:1980s American films
1397:Pirates of the Plain
1349:Ernest Scared Stupid
520:) were used for the
269:, Noelle Parker and
1485:Santa Claus in film
1341:Ernest Goes to Jail
1325:Ernest Goes to Camp
549:Touchstone Pictures
491:Bee Line Expressway
460:Studio Backlot Tour
301:Ernest Goes to Jail
284:Ernest Goes to Camp
250:is a 1988 American
149:Touchstone Pictures
1381:Ernest in the Army
1357:Ernest Rides Again
1297:John R. Cherry III
1295:Films directed by
1097:TCM Movie Database
1044:Common Sense Media
696:. March 14, 1989.
471:Epcot Center Drive
456:Disney-MGM Studios
1500:1988 comedy films
1407:
1406:
1262:
1261:
1138:Ernest P. Worrell
832:Los Angeles Times
569:review aggregator
560:Critical response
419:as Mary Morrissey
398:as Joe Carruthers
382:Ernest P. Worrell
322:Ernest P. Worrell
320:, Florida, where
275:Ernest P. Worrell
243:
242:
1522:
1365:Slam Dunk Ernest
1289:
1282:
1275:
1266:
1265:
1131:
1124:
1117:
1108:
1107:
1103:
1087:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1019:
996:
990:
989:
987:
985:
961:
955:
954:
949:
947:
945:
921:
915:
914:
912:
910:
898:Orlando Sentinel
888:
882:
881:
879:
877:
868:. Archived from
855:
849:
848:
846:
844:
818:
812:
811:
809:
807:
785:
779:
778:
776:
774:
763:Orlando Sentinel
755:
749:
748:
746:
744:
719:
710:
709:
707:
705:
680:
674:
673:
671:
669:
648:
581:weighted average
508:studios of then-
487:Downtown Orlando
452:Orlando, Florida
194:
192:
33:
21:
20:
1530:
1529:
1525:
1524:
1523:
1521:
1520:
1519:
1410:
1409:
1408:
1403:
1299:
1293:
1263:
1258:
1233:
1215:
1161:Saves Christmas
1141:
1135:
1070:
1065:
1064:
1054:
1052:
1031:
1027:
1017:
1015:
1008:Box Office Mojo
998:
997:
993:
983:
981:
963:
962:
958:
943:
941:
934:Rotten Tomatoes
923:
922:
918:
908:
906:
889:
885:
875:
873:
865:Chicago Tribune
856:
852:
842:
840:
819:
815:
805:
803:
786:
782:
772:
770:
757:
756:
752:
742:
740:
732:Box Office Mojo
721:
720:
713:
703:
701:
682:
681:
677:
667:
665:
650:
649:
640:
635:
623:
611:
589:
579:, which uses a
573:Rotten Tomatoes
562:
557:
534:
448:
443:
405:Gailard Sartain
373:
310:
204:
197:
190:
188:
181:
164:
163:
141:
139:
104:
88:
85:Doug Claybourne
63:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1528:
1518:
1517:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1405:
1404:
1402:
1401:
1393:
1385:
1377:
1369:
1361:
1353:
1345:
1337:
1329:
1321:
1313:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1292:
1291:
1284:
1277:
1269:
1260:
1259:
1257:
1256:
1249:
1241:
1239:
1235:
1234:
1232:
1231:
1223:
1221:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1213:
1206:
1203:Goes to Africa
1199:
1192:
1189:Goes to School
1185:
1178:
1171:
1164:
1157:
1149:
1147:
1143:
1142:
1134:
1133:
1126:
1119:
1111:
1105:
1104:
1088:
1069:
1068:External links
1066:
1063:
1062:
1033:Ashby, Emily.
1025:
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956:
939:Fandango Media
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343:Christmas Slay
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281:series, after
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239:$ 28.2 million
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209:
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169:Distributed by
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145:
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137:
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128:
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109:Cinematography
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82:Stacy Williams
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1222:
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1212:
1211:
1207:
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1200:
1198:
1197:
1193:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1184:
1183:
1179:
1177:
1176:
1175:Scared Stupid
1172:
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1045:
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1039:Movie Review"
1038:
1029:
1013:
1009:
1005:
1003:
995:
980:
976:
975:
970:
968:
960:
953:
940:
936:
935:
930:
928:
920:
904:
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899:
894:
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871:
867:
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861:
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834:
833:
828:
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538:
529:
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523:
519:
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511:
507:
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500:
496:
492:
488:
484:
483:Orange Avenue
480:
476:
472:
468:
463:
461:
457:
453:
439:
438:Lindsey Alley
436:
433:
432:Patty Maloney
430:
427:
424:
423:Robert Lesser
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
397:
394:
392:
388:
387:Douglas Seale
385:
383:
379:
376:
375:
368:
365:
361:
359:
358:Christmas Eve
354:
350:
346:
344:
338:
334:
330:
326:
323:
319:
315:
305:
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297:
292:
290:
286:
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280:
276:
272:
271:Douglas Seale
268:
264:
260:
256:
253:
249:
248:
238:
234:
231:$ 6.5 million
230:
226:
222:
218:
215:United States
214:
210:
206:
200:
186:
185:
183:
177:
174:
171:
167:
160:
157:
155:
152:
150:
147:
146:
143:
135:
132:
129:
125:
122:Ian D. Thomas
121:
117:
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107:
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98:
97:
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84:
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78:
74:
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51:Screenplay by
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27:
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1226:
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1194:
1187:
1180:
1173:
1168:Goes to Jail
1166:
1160:
1159:
1154:Goes to Camp
1152:
1091:
1074:
1053:. Retrieved
1042:
1036:
1028:
1016:. Retrieved
1007:
1001:
1000:"Franchise:
994:
979:Fandom, Inc.
972:
966:
959:
942:. Retrieved
932:
926:
919:
907:. Retrieved
896:
891:Boyar, Joy.
886:
874:. Retrieved
870:the original
863:
853:
841:. Retrieved
830:
824:
816:
804:. Retrieved
795:Mental Floss
793:
783:
771:. Retrieved
762:
753:
741:. Retrieved
730:
724:
702:. Retrieved
691:
685:
678:
668:December 31,
666:. Retrieved
655:
612:
602:
598:Child's Play
596:
592:
590:
566:
563:
544:
536:
535:
521:
503:
464:
449:
396:Oliver Clark
366:
362:
355:
351:
347:
342:
339:
335:
331:
327:
311:
299:
295:
293:
282:
278:
267:Oliver Clark
257:directed by
246:
245:
244:
203:Running time
180:Release date
18:
1210:In the Army
1182:Rides Again
944:January 26,
417:Billie Bird
391:Santa Claus
316:arrives in
314:Santa Claus
289:Santa Claus
259:John Cherry
255:comedy film
113:Peter Stein
76:Produced by
45:John Cherry
41:Directed by
1420:1988 films
1414:Categories
982:Retrieved
974:Metacritic
909:October 6,
876:October 6,
843:October 6,
773:October 6,
743:October 4,
633:References
609:Home media
587:Box office
577:Metacritic
518:Fox itself
512:affiliate
446:Production
411:Bill Byrge
378:Jim Varney
263:Jim Varney
236:Box office
207:91 minutes
191:1988-11-11
138:Production
100:Jim Varney
1220:TV Series
1196:Slam Dunk
704:March 30,
555:Reception
526:Nashville
506:Lake Mary
475:Lake Eola
434:as Thisbe
349:ceiling.
252:Christmas
140:companies
131:Mark Snow
119:Edited by
71:Ed Turner
60:Ed Turner
1049:Archived
1012:Archived
903:Archived
837:Archived
800:Archived
767:Archived
737:Archived
698:Archived
662:Archived
621:See also
571:website
440:as Patsy
425:as Marty
413:as Bobby
407:as Chuck
220:Language
127:Music by
93:Starring
68:Story by
57:B. Kline
1238:Related
1095:at the
1055:May 30,
1018:May 30,
984:May 30,
806:May 30,
567:On the
532:Release
514:WOFL-TV
318:Orlando
223:English
212:Country
189: (
1400:(1999)
1392:(1999)
1384:(1998)
1376:(1997)
1368:(1995)
1360:(1993)
1352:(1991)
1344:(1990)
1336:(1988)
1328:(1987)
1320:(1985)
1312:(1983)
1140:series
1082:
1002:Ernest
825:Ernest
605:film.
603:Ernest
545:Ernest
296:Ernest
279:Ernest
228:Budget
1146:Films
1080:IMDb
1057:2024
1020:2024
986:2024
946:2024
911:2010
878:2010
845:2010
808:2024
775:2010
745:2014
706:2024
693:BBFC
688:(U)"
670:2022
504:The
481:and
371:Cast
308:Plot
1078:at
551:.
510:Fox
501:.
485:in
389:as
380:as
356:On
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