Ernie & Emma

The film follows Ernie Tyler, a widowed pear salesman who sets out on a journey to scatter his late wife Emma's ashes in locations she specified before her death. Along the way, Ernie reflects on their life together and confronts his grief, ultimately finding a renewed sense of purpose.

• Bruce Campbell as Ernie Tyler
• Cerina Vincent as Judy
• Robin McAlpine as Emma
• Ted Raimi as Dance Instructor

The film was written, directed, and produced by Bruce Campbell, alongside producer Ida Gearon. It was filmed in Southern Oregon, particularly in the Rogue Valley region, and features local landmarks such as the Rogue River and Table Rock.^[2]

In August 2025, Campbell had an interview with The Horror Zine, where he talked about a new project that he directed, and produced with his wife Ida, Ernie & Emma, a comedy film about a salesman who goes on a roadtrip across the country with his late wife's ashes; he stars as the titular Ernie in the film.^[3]

Campbell developed the project as a more personal, character-driven story, intentionally moving away from the horror genre that defined much of his earlier career.^[2]

On February 4, 2026, he released a trailer for it via YouTube^[3].

It premiered at the Holly Theatre in Medford, Oregon on February 14. Following its premiere, the film received a limited theatrical release, with a wider release planned for later in 2026.^[4]

In March 2026, Campbell revealed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer that he described as “treatable but not curable.”^[5] Despite the diagnosis, he continued working on the promotional campaign for Ernie & Emma, stating that he intended to prioritize completing the film's press obligations and tour schedule where possible.^[6] Campbell indicated that while he would reduce public appearances to focus on treatment, he remained committed to supporting the film's release and promotion.^[7]

The film explores themes of:

• Grief and healing
• Marriage and memory
• Personal reinvention later in life

Early audience response to Ernie & Emma at its February 2026 premiere in Medford, Oregon was generally positive, with attendees describing the film as a heartfelt and humorous character-driven road movie. Several premiere attendees highlighted its strong local identity and emotional tone, particularly its balance of comedy and grief.^[8]

Viewers at early screenings noted that the film leaned toward a “sweet and humorous” tone while maintaining emotional depth, with some describing it as a “simple but funny and emotional character study.” Others emphasized the film's strong sense of place, pointing to its Southern Oregon locations and community-oriented premiere atmosphere.^[8]

Online fan discussions echoed similar sentiments, with viewers praising the film as a “labor of love” and noting Campbell's continued popularity as both a filmmaker and performer, particularly in contrast to his long-running association with the Evil Dead franchise.^[9]

As of April 2026, the film has not yet received aggregated critic scores from major review platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes, but early reception has largely been based on festival and premiere screenings rather than wide theatrical release.^[10]