The Best Jim Varney Movies, Ranked
30 credits from 1983 to 2015, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) with $186M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Jim Varney Box Office Hits
Jim Varney's films have made $336M worldwide in total. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) is the biggest hit at $186M, ahead of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) ($57.4M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
- 1
Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001 · Adventure $186M $84.1M dom. - 2
The Beverly Hillbillies 1993 · Family $57.4M $44M dom. - 3
Ernest Saves Christmas 1988 · Fantasy $28.2M $28.2M dom. - 4
Ernest Goes to Jail 1990 · Comedy $25M $25M dom. - 5
Ernest Goes to Camp 1987 · Comedy $23.5M $23.5M dom. - 6
Ernest Scared Stupid 1991 · Fantasy $14.1M $14.1M dom. - 7
Ernest Rides Again 1993 · Comedy $1.45M $1.45M dom. - 8
3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain 1998 · Action $376K $376K dom. - 9
Wilder Napalm 1993 · Comedy $84.9K $84.9K dom. - 10
Daddy and Them 2001 · Drama $6.72K
The Best Jim Varney Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Jim Varney has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Comedy leads with 16 films, and Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) is the pick of them.
- Comedy 16 films Ernest Goes to Jail 1990
- Adventure 2 films Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001
- Family 2 films The Beverly Hillbillies 1993 · as Jed Clampett
- Action 2 films 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain 1998
- Fantasy 2 films Ernest Saves Christmas 1988
- Drama 1 film Daddy and Them 2001 · as Hazel Montgomery
The Best Jim Varney Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Jim Varney's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1980s to 2000s.
The Latest Jim Varney Movies
The most recent films Jim Varney is credited on, newest first — starting with Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001 · Adventure
- Daddy and Them 2001 · Hazel Montgomery
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Treehouse Hostage 1999 · Carl Banks - 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain 1998 · Action
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Ernest in the Army 1998 · Ernest P. Worrell -
Annabelle’s Wish 1997 · Mr. Gus Holder (voice) -
Snowboard Academy 1997 · Rudy James -
The Expert 1995 · Snake -
Slam Dunk Ernest 1995 · Ernest P. Worrell -
Ernest Goes to School 1994 · Ernest P. Worrell -
Your World As I See It 1994 · Ernest P. Worrell - Ernest Rides Again 1993 · Comedy
The Best Jim Varney Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Jim Varney films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing Jim Varney movie?
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) made the most at the box office, with $186M worldwide, followed by The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) with $57.4M. Together, Jim Varney's films with box office figures have made $336M.
What is the best Jim Varney comedy movie?
Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) is the best-rated of Jim Varney's comedy films. In other genres: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (adventure), The Beverly Hillbillies (family) and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (action).
What is the newest Jim Varney movie?
The newest film on Jim Varney's filmography is Toy Story at 20: To Infinity and Beyond (2015), with Jim Varney as Self (archive footage).
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