Ernest Saves Christmas (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1988, Ernest Saves Christmas is a comedy and family film directed by John R. Cherry III, running about 95 minutes. “A Holiday Comedy Unlike Any Other!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When Santa Claus decides to retire and pass on his magic bag of Christmas surprises to a new Saint Nick, he enlists the aid of a hilarious assortment of characters. A perky teen runaway and hapless taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell must convince a skeptical kiddie-show host to take over the post of Father Christmas.
Who’s in it. Ernest Saves Christmas stars Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell, Douglas Seale as Santa, Noelle Parker as Harmony and Gailard Sartain as Chuck, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, Ernest Saves Christmas has proved divisive with audiences. It went on to earn $28.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Disney Plus and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ernest Saves Christmas page.
If you liked it. Fans of Ernest Saves Christmas tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)?
- In US, Ernest Saves Christmas is available to stream on Disney Plus, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Ernest Saves Christmas worth watching?
- Ernest Saves Christmas holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Ernest Saves Christmas?
- Ernest Saves Christmas stars Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Noelle Parker, Gailard Sartain and Bill Byrge.
- When was Ernest Saves Christmas released?
- Ernest Saves Christmas was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.