Ernest Saves Christmas is a 1988 American Christmas comedy film directed by John Cherry from a screenplay by B. Kline and Ed Turner. It stars Jim Varney, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker and Douglas Seale. It is the third film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell and the second film in the Ernest series, after Ernest Goes to Camp. The film chronicles Ernest's attempt to help find a replacement for an aging Santa Claus.
It was released on November 11, 1988. It grossed $28.2 million, making it the highest grossing film in the Ernest series. The next film in the series, Ernest Goes to Jail, was released in April 1990. From Wikipedia