
Ernie and Emma follows a pear salesman whose life changes after the death of his beloved. Left with an urn of ashes and a set of amusing responsibilities, he must navigate grief, love and a late coming-of-age experience in this 2026 comedy directed by Bruce Campbell.
Ernie and Emma is a 2026 comedy centered on love, loss and the disorienting responsibilities that can follow a death. Its central figure is a pear salesman who finds himself caring for an urn of ashes after losing the love of his life.
The film combines grief with an offbeat premise, using marriage, widowhood and late coming-of-age elements as the foundation for its story. Bruce Campbell directs and writes, while also playing Ernie, the film’s central character.
Ernie and Emma movie details
| Title | Ernie and Emma |
|---|---|
| Release date | |
| Runtime | 1h 28m |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Director | Bruce Campbell |
| Writer | Bruce Campbell |
| Country | United States of America |
| Status | Released |
Story without spoilers
After the death of the love of his life, pear salesman Ernie is left with an urn of ashes and a number of amusing duties. The situation forces him to confront loss while adjusting to circumstances that appear to extend beyond the conventional boundaries of marriage and mourning.
Set in Oregon, USA, the story brings together comedy, romance and grief. Ernie and Emma’s premise suggests a character-focused narrative about a widower dealing with an unexpected new phase of life without revealing how his situation develops.

What to expect
Ernie and Emma is identified as a comedy, but its premise is closely tied to grief, death, love and the experience of being a widower. The story also carries coming-of-age and late-coming-of-age elements, presenting personal change through an older character rather than a conventional youthful perspective.
The unusual image of an urn of ashes and the film’s tagline, “‘Til death do us part – and a little longer,” point to a humorous treatment of enduring attachment and the complications that follow a long-term relationship. The setting and supplied cast also suggest a supporting ensemble built around Ernie’s unusual circumstances.
Cast and creative team
Bruce Campbell leads the film as Ernie and serves as both director and writer. Cerina Vincent plays Judy, while Robin McAlpine provides the voice of Emma. Ted Raimi appears as a Persnickety Dance Instructor.
The supporting cast includes William Earl Ray as Neighbor Earl, Brian Gunter as Guy Drehobl, Eric Martin Reid as an Asshole Homeowner, P.K. Glazer as an Idiot on the Riverbank, Michael Kallio as a Surly Liquor Store Salesman and Mike Estes as a Budtender.
- Bruce Campbell as Ernie
- Cerina Vincent as Judy
- Ted Raimi as Persnickety Dance Instructor
- Robin McAlpine as Emma (voice)
- William Earl Ray as Neighbor Earl
- Brian Gunter as Guy Drehobl
- Eric Martin Reid as Asshole Homeowner
- P.K. Glazer as Idiot on the Riverbank
- Michael Kallio as Surly Liquor Store Salesman
- Mike Estes as Budtender
Release and production context
Ernie and Emma is a United States production with a listed release date of September 4, 2026. It has a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes and is classified as a comedy. The supplied metadata does not list a spoken language or production companies.
Movies Dock view
With its combination of an unusual post-loss responsibility, a pear salesman protagonist and a comedy framework, Ernie and Emma approaches grief from an unconventional angle. The film’s story, writing and direction all come from Bruce Campbell, with a supporting cast that includes Cerina Vincent, Ted Raimi and Robin McAlpine.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ernie and Emma about?
It is about a pear salesman who is left with an urn of ashes and amusing duties after losing the love of his life.
Who directed Ernie and Emma?
Bruce Campbell directed the film.
Who wrote Ernie and Emma?
Bruce Campbell wrote the film.
Who plays Ernie?
Bruce Campbell plays Ernie.
When is Ernie and Emma scheduled to be released?
The listed release date is September 4, 2026.















