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Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) movie poster

Timeline

Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1990 · 81 min · English
Directed by
John R. Cherry III
Starring
Gailard Sartain, Charles Napier, Jim Varney, Jackie Welch, Bill Byrge, Barbara Tyson

A hapless man named Ernest P. Worrell finds himself embroiled in a bizarre situation involving jury duty. A clever lawyer orchestrates a scheme to switch identities with a dangerous crime boss, Mr. Nash. Ernest unwittingly assumes Nash's life, and soon faces a dire threat of execution. However, a surprising event grants him extraordinary strength, leading to a chaotic and humorous jailbreak adventure filled with unexpected twists.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Ernest Goes to Jail
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

Where can you watch Ernest Goes to Jail? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Ernest Goes to Jail Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Night Watch Begins

    Chuck and Bobby, two security guards at Howard County Bank and Trust, begin their night shift by playing Red light/Green light to pass the time. Their boredom leads them to conjure outlandish schemes to catch any potential thieves, highlighting their lack of serious responsibilities during the watch.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust
  2. Ernest's Mishap

    Ernest P. Worrell, the night custodian, struggles to operate a floor polisher, leading to chaos in the bank. In an unfortunate twist, he becomes magnetized due to a mishap, creating a mess that irritates the guards and foreshadows the trouble to come.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust
  3. The Next Day's Demand

    The following day, Charlotte Sparrow, assistant to the bank's president, demands Ernest clean up the supernatural mess he created. Despite President Pendlesmythe's frustration and determination to fire Ernest, Charlotte passionately defends him, showcasing her compassion for misfits.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust
  4. A Quirky Bath

    At home, Ernest hilariously bathes in a tumble dryer while preparing for his dinner date with Charlotte. His antics include using a blow dryer on a high setting, illustrating his quirky and comical personality as he attempts to impress her.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Ernest's home
  5. Jury Duty Chaos

    During jury duty, Ernest is recognized by convict Rubin Bartlett, who notes Ernest's resemblance to death row inmate Felix Nash. This leads to a manipulative scheme where Bartlett's lawyer pressures the jury for a prison tour, setting Ernest up for his impending troubles.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Courthouse
  6. Identity Swap

    In Dracup Maximum Security Prison, Bartlett and his accomplice, Lyle, kidnap Ernest, coercing him into swapping identities with the incarcerated felon, Nash. Despite his cries of innocence, Ernest finds himself trapped in a growing web of deception and danger.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Dracup Maximum Security Prison
  7. Desperate Measures

    While in prison, Ernest faces hostility as he attempts to convince the guards of his true identity. His situation worsens when he is thrown into a cell, further accentuating the absurdity of his predicament and the disbelief of those around him.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Dracup Maximum Security Prison
  8. The Electric Chair Incident

    Facing execution, Ernest is subjected to a botched electrocution, miraculously transforming him into 'Electroman.' He discovers unprecedented powers, including the ability to shoot lightning bolts, changing the dynamics of his situation dramatically.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Dracup Maximum Security Prison
  9. Escape Attempt

    Using his newly acquired powers, Ernest blasts through the prison gates in a daring escape. Lyle, understanding Ernest's unique situation, surprisingly provides assistance, highlighting a moment of unexpected camaraderie amidst the chaos.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Dracup Maximum Security Prison
  10. Home Sweet Chaos

    Upon returning home, Ernest is shocked to find his living space revamped in a flashy Lounge Lizard style. His amusing exclamation about being vandalized by Elvis reflects his comedic character and sets a tone for the outrageous events that follow.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Ernest's home
  11. Nash's Plan Unfolds

    Meanwhile, Nash plots to blow up the bank vault with a time bomb while holding Charlotte and Chuck hostage. Charlotte's growing suspicion about Nash's identity begins to take form as they share a tense moment in the bank.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust
  12. Climactic Showdown

    As Ernest confronts Nash, a chaotic and explosive battle ensues. With his newfound powers, Ernest faces electrocution once again but also gains the ability to fly, escalating the stakes of their confrontation.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust
  13. The Spectacular Escape

    In a grand finale, Ernest soars through the bank's skylight with the bomb, resulting in a spectacular explosion. His dramatic landing onto Nash reveals the truth and shocks everyone present, changing the course of events drastically.

    When
    Day
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust
  14. Truth Revealed

    As the smoke clears, the warden and guards come to realize Ernest's innocence and the convoluted mix-up that led to this chaotic day. Exhausted but triumphant, Ernest humorously declares his experience with the utterance, 'I came, I saw, I got blowed up.'

    When
    Day
    Where
    Howard County Bank and Trust

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 09:31

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Timeline questions answered

Ernest Goes to Jail Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Ernest Goes to Jail (1990): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Ernest confused for death row inmate Felix Nash?

Convict Rubin Bartlett recognized that Ernest P. Worrell closely resembles death row inmate Felix Nash. This resemblance was the key to the scheme, Bartlett and his accomplice Lyle orchestrated the identity swap to help Nash escape prison while Ernest took the fall. The physical similarity was so striking that it convinced the conspirators Ernest was the perfect patsy.

  • felix nash
  • ernest
  • identity swap
  • resemblance
  • rubin bartlett
Q2

How did Ernest get sentenced to death row?

During jury duty, Bartlett manipulated the jury into getting a tour of Dracup Maximum Security Prison. Once there, Bartlett and Lyle kidnapped Ernest and forced him to swap identities with the actual death row inmate, Felix Nash. Despite Ernest's protests of innocence, no one believed him and he was sentenced to death in Nash's place.

  • death row
  • sentenced
  • identity swap
  • prison
  • ernest
Q3

How did Ernest gain superpowers in jail?

When Ernest was placed in the electric chair for execution, the electrocution went horribly wrong, but instead of killing him, it transformed him into a superhuman. He gained the ability to shoot lightning bolts from his hands, later discovering he could also fly. This absurd turn of events is what allowed him to escape from prison.

Foreshadowing: Ernest's earlier mishap with the magnetized floor polisher foreshadows his electrical theme.

  • electric chair
  • superpowers
  • electrocution
  • electrorman
  • escape
Q4

Why did Felix Nash switch places with Ernest?

Nash wanted to escape death row and continue his criminal activities. By swapping identities with Ernest, who looked exactly like him, Nash could walk free while Ernest took the death sentence. Nash then went to Ernest's home and impersonated him, using the opportunity to plot a bank robbery with a time bomb.

  • felix nash
  • escape
  • switch identities
  • bank robbery
  • bomb
Q5

What happened to Ernest's house while he was in prison?

When Ernest returned home after escaping from prison, he discovered that Nash had completely redecorated it in a flashy Lounge Lizard style. Ernest humorously exclaimed that he'd been 'vandalized by Elvis.' The identity swap meant Nash had been living in Ernest's home while impersonating him.

  • house
  • lounge lizard
  • home
  • nash
  • redecorated
Q6

How did Ernest escape from prison after being executed?

After the botched electrocution gave him superpowers, Ernest used his new ability to shoot lightning bolts from his hands to blast through the prison gates. Lyle, who recognized that Ernest was not like other prisoners, surprisingly helped him escape rather than stopping him.

  • escape
  • prison
  • lightning
  • superpowers
  • electrorman
Q7

How did Charlotte realize Nash wasn't the real Ernest?

Charlotte grew suspicious when Nash (posing as Ernest) accidentally revealed his true identity during the bank hostage situation. She noted that Nash's behavior was completely different from the real Ernest, specifically pointing out how improbable it was that Ernest could successfully pull off cleaning up the bank mess or acting like a smooth operator. Nash's lies didn't add up.

  • charlotte
  • nash
  • impostor
  • realization
  • bank
Q8

How did Ernest stop Nash's bank robbery?

Ernest confronted Nash at the bank while Charlotte and Chuck were being held hostage. When Nash tried to kill Ernest with the electric chair again, Ernest gained the power of flight. He flew through the bank's skylight carrying the time bomb, causing it to explode mid-air before crashing back down through the skylight onto Nash, defeating him.

  • bank
  • nash
  • bomb
  • fight
  • flight
  • explosion
Q9

Why did Rubin Bartlett help orchestrate the identity swap?

Bartlett was a convict at Dracup Maximum Security Prison who recognized Ernest's resemblance to Felix Nash. He conspired with Nash and Lyle to manipulate the jury into granting a prison tour, which provided the opportunity to kidnap Ernest and force the identity swap. Bartlett's motivation was to help Nash escape in exchange for some benefit, likely reduced sentences or assistance with his own plans.

  • rubin bartlett
  • nash
  • conspiracy
  • plot
  • prison
Q10

Why did the electric chair give Ernest powers instead of killing him?

The electric chair malfunctioned in an unexpected way, the botched execution somehow rewired Ernest's body, granting him electrical superpowers. This is played for absurd comedy, as the film never explains the science behind it. The malfunction turned a potentially fatal punishment into a comedic superpower origin story typical of the Ernest franchise's slapstick style.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scene where Ernest gets magnetized by the floor polisher hints at his electrical destiny.

  • electric chair
  • powers
  • malfunction
  • electrorman
  • comedy

Movie threads

More Movies Like Ernest Goes to Jail, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Ernest Goes to Jail tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Mistaken Identity Comedies like Ernest Goes to Jail

Ordinary lives hilariously upended by a case of wildly implausible mistaken identity. If you liked the chaotic identity swap in Ernest Goes to Jail, you'll enjoy these movies where mistaken identity causes hilarious turmoil. These films feature bumbling protagonists, escalating absurdity, and lighthearted escapes from implausible situations, offering a similar blend of slapstick and fast-paced fun.

  • slapstick
  • absurd
  • chaotic
  • lighthearted
  • whimsical
  • farcical
  • Tone: light, humorous
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a simple but effective pattern: an unassuming character is thrust into a high-stakes world after a ridiculous mix-up. The plot is driven by the protagonist's bumbling attempts to survive the chaos, often leading to escalating slapstick scenarios before a triumphant resolution that restores order.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared foundation in a farcical premise. They share a light tone, fast pacing, and a focus on physical comedy and verbal gags arising directly from the central case of mistaken identity, ensuring a consistently humorous and energetic viewing experience.

Superpowered Slapstick Movies like Ernest Goes to Jail

Bumbling underdogs gain unexpected powers, leading to riotous, chaotic action sequences. Fans of Ernest's electrically-charged jailbreak will love these movies that mix superpowers with physical comedy. These films feature ordinary characters gaining unusual abilities, resulting in fast-paced, humorous adventures filled with chaotic action and lighthearted fun, perfect for viewers seeking a silly super-powered romp.

  • slapstick
  • superpowers
  • chaotic
  • humorous
  • lighthearted
  • underdog
  • Tone: lighthearted, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey typically involves a protagonist gaining a specific, often ridiculous, power that perfectly suits their comedic predicament. The narrative uses this power as a catalyst for a series of escalating, chaotic action sequences, where the fun comes from the clumsy, inventive, and humorous application of the ability to overcome obstacles.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films by their unique blend of superhuman elements with a foundation of physical comedy. The shared experience is one of lighthearted, high-energy fun where the stakes feel real but never threatening, and the primary goal is laughter through spectacularly silly power-based antics.

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Every angle

Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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