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Ernest Collection poster
Official Collection
Series Freshness: Apr 14, 2026

Ernest Collection

A series of films charting the many adventures of good-natured but dim-witted Ernest P. Worrell.

9Movies
★ 5.3 Avg Rating

Ernest Collection Movies: Timeline & Franchise Overview

The Ernest Collection franchise spans roughly 11 years, featuring 9 interconnected films that build a shared narrative universe.

From its earliest installment to the most recent release, the series has expanded its world-building while introducing new characters and story arcs. Notable entries such as Ernest Saves Christmas demonstrate the franchise’s ability to maintain audience interest over time.

Franchise Quality Benchmark

Across all entries, the series holds an average audience rating of 4.6. While many long-running franchises experience declining reception, this series continues to deliver memorable cinematic moments.

Viewing Order Strategy

Most viewers prefer watching the films in release order, which reflects how audiences originally experienced the evolving story.

However, a chronological viewing order can provide deeper insight into the timeline of events within the Ernest Collection universe.

Timeline & Watch Order

We recommend watching the Ernest Collection franchise in the following order to fully experience the narrative expansion.

1
Ernest Goes to Camp

Ernest Goes to Camp

1987★ 5.2AVERAGE

Ernest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance counselor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinque...

2
Ernest Saves Christmas

Ernest Saves Christmas

1988★ 5.3AVERAGE

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 charact...

3
Ernest Goes to Jail

Ernest Goes to Jail

1990★ 5.0AVERAGE

Bumbling bank janitor Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, and soon finds himself in trouble when he is covertly switched with a look-a-like crime boss. ...

4
Ernest Scared Stupid

Ernest Scared Stupid

1991★ 5.3AVERAGE

Well-intentioned, eternally bumbling Ernest P. Worrell accidentally releases an evil demon from its sacred tomb. As the demon flexes its power and goes on a rui...

5
Ernest Rides Again

Ernest Rides Again

1993★ 4.2FLOP

Buffoonish Ernest and his dimwitted pal Abner unearth a huge cannon reputed to contain the crown jewels of England....

6
Ernest Goes to School

Ernest Goes to School

1994★ 4.0FLOP

Jim Varney's recurring dim-bulb character Ernest P. Worrell returns in this film as a school janitor seeking to obtain a high school diploma....

7
Slam Dunk Ernest

Slam Dunk Ernest

1995★ 4.2FLOP

Ernest P. Worrell becomes a basketball star after an angel bearing an uncanny resemblance to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gives him a pair of magic sneakers....

8
Ernest Goes to Africa

Ernest Goes to Africa

1997★ 4.1FLOP

The title says it all. There's a mix up involving stolen diamonds which Ernest has (naturally) made into a yo-yo and given to his would be girlfriend, Rene. But...

9
Ernest in the Army

Ernest in the Army

1998★ 3.8FLOP

Ernest P. Worrell is now in the military as a soldier. Once he begins, him and his team investigates a dictator who was responsible for the wars in the nearly v...

Common Questions about Ernest Collection

How many movies are in the Ernest Collection?

There are currently 9 movies in the Ernest Collection, starting from Ernest Goes to Camp to the latest release, Ernest Goes to School.

What is the best order to watch the Ernest Collection?

The best way to watch the Ernest Collection is usually in release order: starting with Ernest Goes to Camp and ending with Ernest Goes to School. Check our timeline for the full chronological breakdown.

Which is the highest-rated movie in the Ernest Collection?

According to movieMx ratings, the fans have a strong preference for Ernest Saves Christmas in this franchise.