The Best Jim Varney Movies

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Updated August 11, 2023 1.2K votes 266 voters
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List of the best Jim Varney movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Jim Varney's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Jim Varney movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Jim Varney movies will be at the top of the list. Jim Varney has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Jim Varney movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Jim Varney films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Jim Varney role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Jim Varney performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

List is made up of a variety of films, including Knowhutimean? Hey Vern, It's My Family Album and Annabelle's Wish.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Jim Varney movies?" and "What are the greatest Jim Varney roles of all time?"
Most divisive: 100 Proof
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  • Ernest Goes to Jail
    1

    Ernest Goes to Jail

    Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Bill Byrge
    83 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: John R. Cherry
    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).

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  • Ernest Scared Stupid
    2

    Ernest Scared Stupid

    Jim Varney, Eartha Kitt, Austin Nagler
    89 votes
    • Released: 1991
    • Directed by: John R. Cherry
    Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is working as a garbage collector in a small Missouri town. Despite the warnings of superstitious local Old Lady Hackmore (Eartha Kitt), he accidentally unleashes devious troll Trantor (Jonas Moscartolo), a slimy creature confined under a tree for 200 years. Trantor changes some kids into wooden dolls and turns Ernest's dog, Rimshot, into a log. Ernest then teams up with Old Lady Hackmore to get rid of the beast and bring the victims back to life.

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  • Ernest Saves Christmas
    3

    Ernest Saves Christmas

    Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark
    74 votes
    • Released: 1988
    • Directed by: John R. Cherry
    Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) is looking for his successor, and hapless taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is just the man to help him out. Traveling to Florida to pass his mantle on to children's show host Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark), Santa gets into unexpected trouble, and it's up to Ernest, along with a teen girl named Harmony (Noelle Parker), to assist Saint Nick with his important mission, or the future of Christmas could be in jeopardy.

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  • Ernest Goes to Camp
    4

    Ernest Goes to Camp

    Jim Varney, Victoria Racimo, John Vernon
    85 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: John R. Cherry
    Kamp Kikakee janitor Ernest (Jim Varney) finally gets to be counselor, for a bunch of juvenile delinquents.

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  • Toy Story
    5

    Toy Story

    Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
    40 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: John Lasseter
    In the animated adventure Toy Story, Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll, reigns supreme in the room of his young owner, Andy. Life takes an unexpected turn when spaceman action figure Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) becomes Andy's new favorite toy. Woody, consumed by jealousy, pushes Buzz out a window, sparking a thrilling journey of redemption and self-discovery. This Pixar masterpiece, winner of a Special Achievement Academy Award for its groundbreaking computer animation, weaves together comedy and drama to captivate audiences with its narrative on friendship and rivalry among toys.

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  • The Beverly Hillbillies
    6

    The Beverly Hillbillies

    Jim Varney, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin
    42 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Penelope Spheeris
    Backwoods farmer Jed Clampett (Jim Varney) strikes oil on his land, and soon he and his clan have moved to the posh surroundings of Beverly Hills, Calif. As Jed, Granny (Cloris Leachman), Elly May (Erika Eleniak) and Jethro (Diedrich Bader) adjust to completely new surroundings and culture, they must deal with an unscrupulous banker (Dabney Coleman) and his employees, who are scheming to get their money. Luckily, the banker's top assistant (Lily Tomlin) develops a soft spot for the Clampetts.

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