Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

17% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(48,129 ratings)

Ernest (Jim Varney) gets into deep trouble when he decides to build a treehouse for the neighborhood kid and accidentally digs up an ugly, evil-tempered troll who hates all children and shows it by promptly turning the five kids helping Ernest into wooden sculptures. This is the fourth entry in the… More Ernest (Jim Varney) gets into deep trouble when he decides to build a treehouse for the neighborhood kid and accidentally digs up an ugly, evil-tempered troll who hates all children and shows it by promptly turning the five kids helping Ernest into wooden sculptures. This is the fourth entry in the Ernest series and is filled with the goofy humor that has made the films popular with preadolescent kids. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: John R. Cherry III
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Oct 11, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Sep 3, 2002

Critic Reviews

Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
In a perfect world, the kids from THE MONSTER SQUAD would've teams up with Ernest to battle the trolls. Now THAT would be a fun movie!
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
No, it's not good, but it's kind of likable.
Kevin Fiddler, Henderson Home News (Henderson, NV)
How about a bumper sandwich boogerlips!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael E

Its so unfunny and stupid that its funny and entertaining. The children actors do a good enough job, and the late Jim Varney is good as the protagonist Ernets P. Worell, and he did manage to get a couple laughs out of me. It also has a great performance from the again late Ertha Kitt… More
Its so unfunny and stupid that its funny and entertaining. The children actors do a good enough job, and the late Jim Varney is good as the protagonist Ernets P. Worell, and he did manage to get a couple laughs out of me. It also has a great performance from the again late Ertha Kitt who was one of the actors who played Catwoman in the 50s batman show, as well as Yzma in "The Emperors New Groove." Plus the troll effects are pretty good and interesting to look at, and I have to say they're sure as heck better than the troll effects in the "Troll" films. The premise is also pretty interesting, being a monster run amuck film and an idiot having to save the world. Also the running joke with him finding the trolls weakness being milk, and him confusing it for a supposedly fake seasonal stuff called Miak.
Stacy A

Here's another great movie starring Jim Varney. This is a wonderful movie for the family to enjoy, especially on Halloween. I loved the part when Ernest said, "I sure hope you're from Keebler." I crack up every time. Not only is this a fun movie, but the good… More
Here's another great movie starring Jim Varney. This is a wonderful movie for the family to enjoy, especially on Halloween. I loved the part when Ernest said, "I sure hope you're from Keebler." I crack up every time. Not only is this a fun movie, but the good family values show through. For instance: when the mother and her daughter have a little fight but the girl turns around and tells her mother that she loves her. Also, near the end of the movie when Ernest realizes that unconditional love was the strongest weapon of all. (Varney is the only one that can convey that child-like innocence.) Of course, kissing Trantor's slimy lips was an 'Ewwww' moment for me as well. Trantor, to this day, is still the ugliest thing I've ever seen. If people can't see the moral content of this movie, they must be blind. I always saw Ernest as a playmate and someone that never aged. I would've given just about anything to work with Varney. Sadly, he is no longer with us and no one will ever be able to duplicate what he did. R.I.P. Jim Varney 1949-2000.
Kyle F

Probably the flat out weirdest movie I've ever seen. It's epic, completely action packed, and even a bit scary. So, maybe it's not the funniest movie ever, and maybe it's really corny (especially the child actors). But aside from being exiting and entertaining,… More
Probably the flat out weirdest movie I've ever seen. It's epic, completely action packed, and even a bit scary. So, maybe it's not the funniest movie ever, and maybe it's really corny (especially the child actors). But aside from being exiting and entertaining, this film also captures the true spirit of Halloween.
Curtis L

This movie scared the crap out of me as a kid. I was afraid to look under the bed for years to come. "How 'bout a bumper sandwich, buggar lips!"
Lafe F

Stupid and annoying Ernest goes up against a witch! It's fun comedy for the kids.
Jason S

Funny. The character was a little overused at this point though.
James A

"Someone with a runny nose is going to die." Diologue like this must have been forged by Zues himself.
Isaac H

Did not impress me at all. Not my kind of movie. Ernest Scared Stupid should be called: Ernest is Stupid:rotten:
nathometer

Oh gosh, another Ernest movie.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell

            Austin Nagler as Kenny

            Shay Astar as Elizabeth

            Jonas Moscartolo as Trantor

            Bill Byrge as Bobby Tulip

            Richard Woolf as Matt

            Nick Victory as Mike

            Alec Klapper as Joey

            Joey Anderson as Ernest's Teacher

            Jody Austin as Parent

            Barkley as Rimshot

            Nellie Batson as Troll

            Sabrina Birdine as Parent

            Larry Black as Mayor Murdock

            John Cadenhead as Tom Tulip

            Angela Chao as Troll

            Renee Clary as Troll

            Deidre Clower as Troll

            Rhonda Clower as Troll

            Mark Delabarre as Jimmy

            Ann Dresen as Troll

            Adora Dupree as Francis' Mother

            Misty Eaker as Troll

            Jodie Evans as Parent

            Jessa Fahey as Little Girl

            Ernest Fosselius as Trantor the Troll

            Lauren Frankenbach as Daughter

            Phyllis Fuller as Parent

            Mellissa Gerach as Parent

            Reginald Glimps as Parent

            Jeanette Green as Parent

            Ralph Green Jr. as Troll

            Marc Gullen as Parent

            Will Hammond as Parent

            Danielle Harrison as 2nd Child

            Dennis Harrison Jr. as 1st Child

            Tammy Harrison as Troll

            Mary Jane Harvill as Mother

            Denice Hicks as Elizabeth's Mother

            Daniel Higgs as Kids Army

            Gregg Higgs as Kids Army

            Esther Huston as Amanda

            Mike Hutchinson as Steve Swindell

            Vicki Jacobs as Parent

            Karson Kanitz as Army Kid

            Dana Kennedy as Troll

            Pamela Kippes as Troll

            Eartha Kitt as Old Lady Hackmore

            Renee LeBlanc as Troll

            Roberta Madison as Parent

            Marin Miller as Army Kid

            Steven Moriyon as Gregg

            Myke R. Mueller as 2nd Parent

            Cathy Susan Pyles as 1st Parent

            Luke Roberts as Army Kid

            Dan Sarenana as Parent

            Barry Scott as Another Parent

            Glenn Seer as Troll

            Gwendolyn Smith as Parent

            Tawanya Smith as Troll

            Vanessa Smith as Parent

            Bobby Storm as Parent

            Todd Suttles as Troll

            Jackie Welch as Teacher

            Melanie Wheeler as Crying Woman

            Polly Ann Young as Parent

            Douglas Zagorski as Troll

            Daniel Butler as Cliff

            Michael Montgomery as Joey's Dad

            Richard Sadler as Parent

            John Phillips as Parent
See full cast

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