The creation of Ernest P. Worrell, played by actor/comedian Jim Varney, was novel for an advertising-saturated age. The idea was that the character's creators -- John R. Cherry III, his business partner Jerry Carden, and Varney -- would farm out their pre-made mascot to whatever product or service that might want him, and Ernest would hawk their wares. He wasn't invented for any one particular business. He was invented to be a pitchman-for-hire, and the Ernest ads all followed a similar format, making the commercial spots low-budget and instantly universal. Ernest was hired by the Coca-Cola Company to sell Sprite, but would also appear in ads for local businesses like the Cerrito Auto Square. Ernest was very, very popular.
Eventually, the Ernest ads became so huge and ubiquitous that the character began to bleed over into feature films and TV shows. Ernest was a media personality writ large, living...
Eventually, the Ernest ads became so huge and ubiquitous that the character began to bleed over into feature films and TV shows. Ernest was a media personality writ large, living...
- 12/17/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the world of cinematic comedy, few characters have made as indelible a mark as Ernest P Worrell, brilliantly portrayed by the late American actor Jim Varney. We will take a look at all the Ernest P Worrell movies in order and delve into the humor, chaos, and heartwarming moments that define his cinematic legacy.
Beginning with his emergence in television commercials and later in the television series “Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!” before venturing into a series of feature films, Ernest’s enduring popularity speaks to his timeless charm.
Related: Austin Powers Movies In Order By Release Date
So, prepare for a journey through the extraordinary universe of Ernest P. Worrell, where laughter is guaranteed.
1 ‘The Ernest Film Festival’ (1986)
IMDb: 6.8/10 255
Duration: 55m | Genres: Comedy | Director: John R. Cherry III
Cast: Jim Varney
“The Ernest Film Festival” (1986) serves as a delightful compilation of the early comedic exploits of the lovable character Ernest P.
Beginning with his emergence in television commercials and later in the television series “Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!” before venturing into a series of feature films, Ernest’s enduring popularity speaks to his timeless charm.
Related: Austin Powers Movies In Order By Release Date
So, prepare for a journey through the extraordinary universe of Ernest P. Worrell, where laughter is guaranteed.
1 ‘The Ernest Film Festival’ (1986)
IMDb: 6.8/10 255
Duration: 55m | Genres: Comedy | Director: John R. Cherry III
Cast: Jim Varney
“The Ernest Film Festival” (1986) serves as a delightful compilation of the early comedic exploits of the lovable character Ernest P.
- 9/11/2023
- by Israr Ahmed
- buddytv.com
This article contains Ernest Saves Christmas spoilers
After hurrying his grandkids off to bed, an elderly man puts the finishing touches on his Christmas Eve presentation. He bounces around the tree, bubbling over with the Christmas spirit until a rustling outside his door causes him to pause. Could that noise be Santa Claus himself? Just as the grandfather allows himself to believe the impossible, a grotesque creature bursts through the door, leading with his extended claws. The grandfather wastes no time, training a pistol on the invader and sneering, “Die, you son of a…”
Unable to say the curse word, the actor playing the grandfather calls cut and the actors reset. It turns out, we’re not watching a horror movie at all, but Ernest Saves Christmas, a Christmas movie with its own set of oddities. The 1988 film stars milk pitchman turned unlikely children’s movie star Ernest P. Worrell,...
After hurrying his grandkids off to bed, an elderly man puts the finishing touches on his Christmas Eve presentation. He bounces around the tree, bubbling over with the Christmas spirit until a rustling outside his door causes him to pause. Could that noise be Santa Claus himself? Just as the grandfather allows himself to believe the impossible, a grotesque creature bursts through the door, leading with his extended claws. The grandfather wastes no time, training a pistol on the invader and sneering, “Die, you son of a…”
Unable to say the curse word, the actor playing the grandfather calls cut and the actors reset. It turns out, we’re not watching a horror movie at all, but Ernest Saves Christmas, a Christmas movie with its own set of oddities. The 1988 film stars milk pitchman turned unlikely children’s movie star Ernest P. Worrell,...
- 12/2/2022
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
On May 8, 2022, John R. Cherry III passed away at the age of 73 due to Parkinson's disease. Cherry is perhaps best known as the creator of Ernest P. Worrell, a bumbling, none-too-bright-but-good-hearted blue-collar hero played by the late Jim Varney in TV shows, commercials, and 11 feature films — 10 of which Cherry directed. According to a 1993 interview in the Los Angeles Times, Ernest — first invented in 1980 — was inspired by one of Cherry's dad's co-workers, a confident man who thought he knew everything, but actually knew nothing. Cherry found his muse in Varney, an aspiring standup comedian at the time,...
The post Remembering John R. Cherry, Co-Creator of Ernest P. Worrell appeared first on /Film.
The post Remembering John R. Cherry, Co-Creator of Ernest P. Worrell appeared first on /Film.
- 5/10/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
There are two men responsible for the creation of beloved character Ernest P. Worrell, of course including the late actor Jim Varney who memorably played Ernest on screen. But it was John R. Cherry III who created the Ernest character that Varney ended up making famous, and we’ve learned the sad news this week that […]
The post ‘Ernest Scared Stupid’ Director John Cherry Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The post ‘Ernest Scared Stupid’ Director John Cherry Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 5/9/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) Director: John Cherry Stars: Jim Varney, Eartha Kitt, Austin Nagler Ernest P. Worrell accidentally unleashes a gruesome troll that turns children in to wood. The Ernest movies are stupid. I don.t think anybody would argue that. In fact, the character of Ernest is such a bizarre choice to headline a film series when you think about it. What.s the guy.s appeal? He.s a denim-loving redneck who seems mentally challenged yet strangely eloquent....
- 10/30/2013
- by Jason Adams
- JoBlo.com
RuckusFilm is rebooting the "Ernest" franchise that starred Jim Varney and consists of nine feature films that were made between 1987 and 1998. Varney, who first appeared as the character in commercials in early 1980s, died in 2000. John Cherry, who created the character and directed most of the films, will return to produce. The reboot, called "Son of Ernest," will center on Ernest P. Worrell's long-lost son. Casting is currently underway. Dan Ewen (Dear Satan) is writing the script. "Ernest was this plucky little engine that could -- against all odds," said Ewen. "Ernest struck a nerve, one we're going to revisit. We plan to honor the originals and Jim Varney while birthing a new chapter that lies somewhere between not sucking and Earth-shatteringly funny."...
- 10/18/2012
- WorstPreviews.com
Just when you thought that everything from the '80s and '90s had already been rebooted and rehashed a few hundred times over by now, along comes someone to remind us that there's still at least one more property that has yet to be tapped. Believe it or not, former TV commercial personality turned movie star Ernest P. Worrell is headed back to the big screen... knowhutImean, Vern? Original creator John Cherry is bringing back the classic character that he created in the mid-'80s and then essentially ran into the ground until the death of star Jim Varney in 2000. The new movie is called Son of Ernest and will obviously star a different actor donning the denim vest. Hey, what could possibly go wrong? According to Variety, production company Ruckusfilm is bringing back Ernest with the help of screenwriter Dan Ewen, who recently wrote a potential upcoming Farrelly Brothers movie called Dear Satan.
- 10/16/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Ruckusfilm is planning a reboot/sequel to the "Ernest" comedy film series entitled "Son of Ernest" reports Variety.
The Ernest P. Worrell character, played by the late Jim Varney, appeared in nine films from 1987 to 1998 after he began life as a character in commercials.
Dan Ewen is penning the screenplay and will produce the film which centers on Worrell's long-lost son. Early discussions are already under way in regards to casting.
Clarke Gallivan, Coke Sams and John Cherry will produce.
The Ernest P. Worrell character, played by the late Jim Varney, appeared in nine films from 1987 to 1998 after he began life as a character in commercials.
Dan Ewen is penning the screenplay and will produce the film which centers on Worrell's long-lost son. Early discussions are already under way in regards to casting.
Clarke Gallivan, Coke Sams and John Cherry will produce.
- 10/16/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Seeing as he appeared in commercials, had his own television series, and starred in nine feature films, you would think that the character of Ernest P. Worrell was one of the most hilarious and beloved in comedy history. But that’s not exactly the case. As a matter of fact, you would probably be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to admit to ever liking an Ernest movie these days (full disclosure: I still consider Goes to Camp, Saves Christmas, and Scares Stupid to be guilty pleasures). We must have all just been experiencing some mass hallucination throughout the 80s and early 90s, and there’s no way anybody could make any money by trying to market another Ernest product in this day and age, right? Well, don’t tell that to RuckusFILM, as they’re trying to bring the character back in a new feature called Son of Ernest. As announced in a press release (which was...
- 10/16/2012
- by Nathan Adams
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Even though the great Jim Varney has passed away, audiences will still see more of Ernest P. Worrell on screen. FirstShowing reports that Ruckus film has decided to reboot the series with Son of Ernest, which will be produced by character creator John Cherry. The story will focus on Ernest's long-lost son.
According to Variety, newcomer Dan Ewen will penn the script. He already has a project called Dear Satan to be directed by the Farrelly Brothers at Fox, and a family film called Playing with Fire on the way.
Ewen had this to say about the reboot:
Ernest was this plucky little engine that could -- against all odds. Ernest struck a nerve, one we're going to revisit. We plan to honor the originals and Jim Varney while birthing a new chapter that lies somewhere between not sucking and Earth-shatteringly funny.
Check out the poster spoofing The Bourne Legacy...
According to Variety, newcomer Dan Ewen will penn the script. He already has a project called Dear Satan to be directed by the Farrelly Brothers at Fox, and a family film called Playing with Fire on the way.
Ewen had this to say about the reboot:
Ernest was this plucky little engine that could -- against all odds. Ernest struck a nerve, one we're going to revisit. We plan to honor the originals and Jim Varney while birthing a new chapter that lies somewhere between not sucking and Earth-shatteringly funny.
Check out the poster spoofing The Bourne Legacy...
- 10/15/2012
- by Jim Napier
- GeekTyrant
Just because actor Jim Varney has passed away, doesn't mean we're done with Ernest P. Worrell. After all, since studios are obsessed with rebooting and established intellectual property, a film franchise with no less than nine films sounds like a solid investment. That's exactly what Ruckusfilm thought, and the company is working on Son of Ernest, a reboot that will be produced by character creator John Cherry. With lead actor Jim Varney passed away, the film will focus on Ernest's long-lost son, who will most likely be just as goofy as Varney's original character who's origin goes back to commercials in the 80s. Read on! A press release was also sent our way with this Bourne Legacy spoofing promo art: Variety reports relatively new writer Dan Ewen (who has a film called Dear Satan set up at Fox with the Farrelly Brothers attached, and a family film called Playing with...
- 10/15/2012
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Screen Australia has invested $1m in five documentaries through the signature documentary program.
The investment is expected to trigger $2.2m in production.
Recipients include writer/director Matthew Bate, producer/director John Cherry, filmmaker Lawrence Johnston, writer/producer/director Janine Hosking and the team of writer/director Juliet Lamont and producer Jessica Douglas-Henry.
Liz Stevens, Screen Australia’s documentary manager said: “This year’s exciting line-up of Signature documentaries were chosen from 50 plus applications. They’ll take audiences on inspirational journeys, touching on the personal and the political, and reveal that truth is stranger than fiction.”
The full list of projects:
The Call Of Conscience (working title)
iKandy Films Pty Ltd
Producer/ Writer/Director: Janine Hosking
Producer/Writer: Katey Grusovin
Synopsis: From the grave, a dead man identifies his alleged killers.
Fallout
Rough Trade Pictures Pty Ltd
Producer: Peter Kaufmann
Producer/Writer/Director: Lawrence Johnston
Synopsis: Following the atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,...
The investment is expected to trigger $2.2m in production.
Recipients include writer/director Matthew Bate, producer/director John Cherry, filmmaker Lawrence Johnston, writer/producer/director Janine Hosking and the team of writer/director Juliet Lamont and producer Jessica Douglas-Henry.
Liz Stevens, Screen Australia’s documentary manager said: “This year’s exciting line-up of Signature documentaries were chosen from 50 plus applications. They’ll take audiences on inspirational journeys, touching on the personal and the political, and reveal that truth is stranger than fiction.”
The full list of projects:
The Call Of Conscience (working title)
iKandy Films Pty Ltd
Producer/ Writer/Director: Janine Hosking
Producer/Writer: Katey Grusovin
Synopsis: From the grave, a dead man identifies his alleged killers.
Fallout
Rough Trade Pictures Pty Ltd
Producer: Peter Kaufmann
Producer/Writer/Director: Lawrence Johnston
Synopsis: Following the atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,...
- 12/12/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Rank the week of August 23rd’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Blitz
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #9439
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 215
Top-20 Rankings: 5
Directed By: Elliott Lester
Starring: Jason Statham • Paddy Considine • Aidan Gillen • Zawe Ashton • David Morrissey
Genres: Crime • Crime Thriller • Police Detective Film • Thriller
Rank This Movie
The Beaver
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5199
Win Percentage: 52%
Times Ranked: 858
Top-20 Rankings: 6
Directed By: Jodie Foster
Starring: Mel Gibson • Jodie Foster • Anton Yelchin • Jennifer Lawrence • Zachary Booth
Genres: Comedy Drama • Drama • Psychological Drama
Rank This Movie
Win Win
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2107
Win Percentage: 61%
Times Ranked: 2455
Top-20 Rankings: 6
Directed By: Thomas McCarthy
Starring: Paul Giamatti • Amy Ryan • Bobby Cannavale • Jeffrey Tambor • Burt Young
Genres: Comedy Drama • Drama • Sports Comedy • Sports Drama
Rank This Movie
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5643
Win Percentage: 49%
Times Ranked: 725
Top-20 Rankings:...
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #9439
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 215
Top-20 Rankings: 5
Directed By: Elliott Lester
Starring: Jason Statham • Paddy Considine • Aidan Gillen • Zawe Ashton • David Morrissey
Genres: Crime • Crime Thriller • Police Detective Film • Thriller
Rank This Movie
The Beaver
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5199
Win Percentage: 52%
Times Ranked: 858
Top-20 Rankings: 6
Directed By: Jodie Foster
Starring: Mel Gibson • Jodie Foster • Anton Yelchin • Jennifer Lawrence • Zachary Booth
Genres: Comedy Drama • Drama • Psychological Drama
Rank This Movie
Win Win
(Blu-ray & DVD | Nr | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2107
Win Percentage: 61%
Times Ranked: 2455
Top-20 Rankings: 6
Directed By: Thomas McCarthy
Starring: Paul Giamatti • Amy Ryan • Bobby Cannavale • Jeffrey Tambor • Burt Young
Genres: Comedy Drama • Drama • Sports Comedy • Sports Drama
Rank This Movie
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5643
Win Percentage: 49%
Times Ranked: 725
Top-20 Rankings:...
- 8/23/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
"All destinations are final! That's what it means, destiny: final." - George Carlin
With its trademark wacky, Rube Goldberg-style deaths of random teens, the "Final Destination" series is near-revolutionary in horror terms. It did away with the boogiemen of Freddy and Jason, embracing the idea that some kids are simply supposed to die for our entertainment dollar.
And die they do, and continue doing so in "Final Destination 5," which holds some ace killings up its sleeve as people get mashed, smashed, fried, and diced beyond recognition as punishment for... well, we're not sure if there's a lesson anymore.
We do know they're fun as hell to watch, which is why we've gathered the top five best kills from the four previous entries to get your blood pumping for more. (Warning: These clips are most definitely not safe for work. If you're squeamish, look away.)
5. Hunt Goes Swimming - '...
With its trademark wacky, Rube Goldberg-style deaths of random teens, the "Final Destination" series is near-revolutionary in horror terms. It did away with the boogiemen of Freddy and Jason, embracing the idea that some kids are simply supposed to die for our entertainment dollar.
And die they do, and continue doing so in "Final Destination 5," which holds some ace killings up its sleeve as people get mashed, smashed, fried, and diced beyond recognition as punishment for... well, we're not sure if there's a lesson anymore.
We do know they're fun as hell to watch, which is why we've gathered the top five best kills from the four previous entries to get your blood pumping for more. (Warning: These clips are most definitely not safe for work. If you're squeamish, look away.)
5. Hunt Goes Swimming - '...
- 8/11/2011
- by Max Evry
- NextMovie
Remember that one year (2001) when the list-happy AFI (American Film Institute) decided to compete with the Globes and the Oscars in year end prizes? No, that didn't last long. But there's another AFI, The Australian Film Institute, that has been around for a long time and is in no such danger of being a one-off. This year, they're all about the amazing family crime drama Animal Kingdom which they awarded with a record breaking 18 nominations. Sure, the film is in danger of being way overhyped for people who are coming to it late (which is just about everyone given the sorry state of international distribution for dramas of virtually any kind) but for those who can slough off the "omg" raves, I guarantee you'll think it at least an insinuating and well executed crime drama.
AFI Favorites with multiple nominations
Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...
AFI Favorites with multiple nominations
Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...
- 10/29/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Animal Kingdom received 18 nominations for this year’s Australian Film Institute Awards, followed by Beneath Hill 60 (12), Bright Star (11), Tomorrow, When the War Began (8), The Tree, Bran Nue Dae (7 each) and The Boys Are Back (4)
The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.
Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).
The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.
This is the full list of nominees:
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.
The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.
Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).
The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.
This is the full list of nominees:
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.
- 10/27/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
The AFI has announced its nominees for the non-feature categories including best documentary, animated short and fiction short.
These are the nominees:
Best Feature Length Documentary
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Contact . Martin Butler, Bentley Dean Inside The Firestorm. Lucy Maclaren, Alex West The Snowman. Rachel Landers, Dylan Blowen Strange Birds In Paradise – A West Papuan Story. Jamie Nicolai, John Cherry
Three of the four nominees are featured in this Screen Australia video:
Best Short Animation
The Lost Thing. Sophie Byrne, Andrew Ruhemann, Shaun Tan Zero. Christine Kezelos, Christopher Kezelos
Best Short Fiction Film
Deeper Than Yesterday. Benjamin Gilovitz, Sarah Cyngler, Anna Kojevnikov, Ariel Kleiman The Kiss. Sonya Humphrey, Ashlee Page The Love Song of Iskra Prufrock. Lyn Norfor, Lucy Gaffy Suburbia. Richard Halsted, Antonio Oreña-Barlin
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The short nominees will be available for all AFI members on AFI TV during the screenings period,...
These are the nominees:
Best Feature Length Documentary
Normal 0 false false false En-au X-none X-none MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Contact . Martin Butler, Bentley Dean Inside The Firestorm. Lucy Maclaren, Alex West The Snowman. Rachel Landers, Dylan Blowen Strange Birds In Paradise – A West Papuan Story. Jamie Nicolai, John Cherry
Three of the four nominees are featured in this Screen Australia video:
Best Short Animation
The Lost Thing. Sophie Byrne, Andrew Ruhemann, Shaun Tan Zero. Christine Kezelos, Christopher Kezelos
Best Short Fiction Film
Deeper Than Yesterday. Benjamin Gilovitz, Sarah Cyngler, Anna Kojevnikov, Ariel Kleiman The Kiss. Sonya Humphrey, Ashlee Page The Love Song of Iskra Prufrock. Lyn Norfor, Lucy Gaffy Suburbia. Richard Halsted, Antonio Oreña-Barlin
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The short nominees will be available for all AFI members on AFI TV during the screenings period,...
- 7/12/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
It usually takes a comedic franchise a few outings to warm to up a “going to jail” installment. Sure, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay got the irrepressible stoners to America’s most infamous detention center on their second journey to the multiplexes, but for the most part, especially when the films are buoyed by a comedic performer whose brand is based around a single outrageous, larger than life comedic persona, you have to work up to the jailhouse installment. Tyler Perry’s sixth outing as a feature film director, Madea Goes to Jail, which opens today (not screened for critics), takes him into this territory as he sends his signature character to the slammer, but the most treasured entry in this oh so small subgenre certainly belongs to John Cherry III. Who the hell is John Cherry III? He directed 1990’s <a href="http://www.spou ...
- 2/20/2009
- by Brandon Harris
- Spout
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