Ernest Saves Christmas
“A Holiday Comedy Unlike Any Other!”
Synopsis
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.
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) | Official Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-12-03
Top Cast
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Jim Varney
Ernest P. Worrell
Oliver Clark
Joe Carruthers
Noelle Parker
Harmony
Gailard Sartain
Chuck
Billie Bird
Mary Morrissey
Bill Byrge
Bobby
Douglas Seale
Santa
Robert Lesser
Marty
Key Howard
Immigration Agent
Jack Swanson
Businessman
Buddy Douglas
Pyramus
Patty Maloney
Thisbe
Beecher Martin
Agent Skippy
Barry Brazell
Cab Passenger
George Kaplan
Mr. Dillis
Bill Welter
Waiter
Joe Candelora
Arresting Officer
Danny Dillon
Booking Officer
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 11, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$28.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.7x
+$22.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Cherry
- Screenplay & Story
- B. Kline, Ed Turner
- Original Score
- Mark Snow
- Original Title
- Ernest Saves Christmas
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Budget
- $6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $28.2M
- Production Studios
- Emshell Producers, Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Cherry
B. Kline, Ed Turner
Mark Snow
Peter Stein
Sharyn L. Ross
Stacy Williams, Doug Claybourne, Martin Erlichman, Joseph L. Akerman Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
John Cherry
Director
Mark Snow
Original Music Composer
Peter Stein
Director of Photography
Stacy Williams
Producer
Doug Claybourne
Producer
B. Kline
Screenplay
Ed Turner
Screenplay
Peter Mitchell
Costume Design
Sharyn L. Ross
Editor
Tim McHugh
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ernest Saves Christmas.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ernest Saves Christmas
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ernest Saves Christmas 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 directed Ernest Saves Christmas?
Ernest Saves Christmas was directed by John Cherry.
Who stars in Ernest Saves Christmas?
The principal cast of Ernest Saves Christmas includes Jim Varney, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker, Gailard Sartain, Billie Bird.
When was Ernest Saves Christmas released and how long is it?
Ernest Saves Christmas was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
What was the box office and production budget of Ernest Saves Christmas?
Ernest Saves Christmas had a reported production budget of $6M and grossed $28.2M at the worldwide box office (4.7 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Ernest Saves Christmas?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ernest Saves Christmas was composed by Mark Snow.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ernest Saves Christmas?
Ernest Saves Christmas holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).