Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Use of blackface dates this silly slapstick monster movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ernest Scared Stupid
What's the Story?
In ERNEST SCARED STUPID, refuse worker Ernest (Jim Varney) awakens a troll that turns children into wooden dolls. With the help of kids Kenny (Austin Nagler) and Elizabeth (Shay Astar), can Ernest defeat it?
Is It Any Good?
This farcical kids versus gloopy monster comedy-horror adventure might please nostalgic parents but Ernest is unlikely to find any new fans with this outing. Ernest Scared Stupid often grinds to a halt to showcase skits with Varney, whose gurning impressions are of subjects long forgotten to pop culture history. Kids who don't love the star of the show have to wait around for characters their own age to appear. When they do, their tooling up with a supermarket raid, den building, and frantic monster fighting are fun but like the blackface in the movie, Ernest Scared Stupid belongs to a long gone era.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Ernest Scared Stupid was scary or not. Did you find any of the characters or scenes particularly creepy? Why do some people like being scared while watching movies? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How did Ernest and his friends show good teamwork and courage? Why are these such important character strengths? Can you think of times when you've shown good teamwork and/or courage in your own life?
The movie was released in 1991. What elements of the movie might now be considered offensive? Why do you think our standards and tastes change over time?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 11, 1991
- On DVD or streaming : September 3, 2002
- Cast : Jim Varney , Eartha Kitt , Austin Nagler
- Director : John R. Cherry III
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Buena Vista Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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