Ernest Goes to Jail

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Ernest Goes to Jail

PG,

1990,

1h 21m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

11%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Dim-witted Ernest (Jim Varney) is a janitor at a bank who gets called for jury duty. It turns out that the murder defendant, Felix Nash (also Varney), is a dead ringer for Ernest. Nash's lawyer (Jeffrey Buckner Ford) arranges a switch, and Ernest finds himself on death row while Nash goes to work at the bank, scheming up a way to rob it. Ernest then sets in motion a plan to escape jail, foil Nash's plot, snag the bank clerk job he covets and rescue his favorite teller, Charlotte (Barbara Bush).

Ryan Murphy

Miami Herald

Aug 17, 2021

1/4

The arrival of any film featuring the character of Ernest P. Worrell is a perfect occasion to brush up one's Dorothy Parker chestnuts and scream what' is perhaps her most famous phrase: "What fresh hell is this?"

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 12, 2005

2/5

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

Jun 24, 2004

5/5

Jim Varney at the peak of his comedic powers, playing two instantly distinctive roles. If you only ever see one Ernest movie, make it this one.

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Greg Maki

Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Jan 5, 2004

1/5

Frank Ochieng

TheWorldJournal.com

May 31, 2003

2/5

Here's one fictitious Ernest sequel that fits my sentiments exactly: "Ernest Gets on my Last Nerve". "Nuff said...

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Albus S

Dec 8, 2018

The best of the "Ernest" movies, but that ain't saying much.

Rey M

Oct 5, 2017

Much funnier, like how he always goes off. Ending very stupid.

Draco G

Aug 11, 2015

Eh, it's still okay. A good film to watch for the summertime.

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John R. Cherry III

Director

Jim Varney

Ernest P. Worrell

Gailard Sartain

Chuck

Bill Byrge

Bobby

Barbara Tyson

Charlotte Sparrow

Barry Scott

Rubin Bartlett

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Synopsis

Dim-witted Ernest (Jim Varney) is a janitor at a bank who gets called for jury duty. It turns out that the murder defendant, Felix Nash (also Varney), is a dead ringer for Ernest. Nash's lawyer (Jeffrey Buckner Ford) arranges a switch, and Ernest finds himself on death row while Nash goes to work at the bank, scheming up a way to rob it. Ernest then sets in motion a plan to escape jail, foil Nash's plot, snag the bank clerk job he covets and rescue his favorite teller, Charlotte (Barbara Bush).

Director: John R. Cherry III
Producer: Stacy Williams
Screenwriter: Charlie Cohen
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 1990, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.0M
Runtime: 1h 21m
Sound Mix: Surround

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