When I was finally old enough to watch MTV and stay up past 10 pm, like most millennials, I was introduced to Jackass (2000-2007). Known for its crude humor and backyard budget stunts, this ragtag group of friends went from filming themselves hitting each other in the crotch to B-list, big-screen celebrities, at most. Though some stars like Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O have transcended the series to go on to write books, host podcasts, and be featured in a number of other shows and movies.
Jackass as a franchise is not for everyone, plain and simple. Truthfully, I couldn’t tell you why I enjoy these guys’ antics so much, but the same stunts and bits continuously get me to laugh. Even still, I’m sure if you were to ask anyone who grew up in the early days of flip phones, everyone would have at least one story where they filmed themselves or a friend doing a stupid at-home stunt thanks to this series, despite the warning that plays before each film and TV episode.
The film series, of which there are five feature films and another five spinoff films, stemmed from the original TV series, which consisted of only 24 episodes that were released across three seasons. MTV would go on to spawn two spinoff shows in Viva La Bam (2003-2006) and Wildboyz (2003-2006).
Over 25 years later, the series is (supposedly) coming to a conclusion with the final intended film in the franchise: Jackass: Best and Last (2026). So, we did a lookback at the film series to offer our list of films, going from worst to best.
For simplicity’s sake, I will not be including the .5 films as additions or the Bad Grandpa films. As a disclaimer, we neither condone nor uplift the stunts that negatively involve animals or that poke fun at specific groups of people.
Jackass Forever (2022)
This film brought Jackass back to the mainstream for most people after a hiatus; however, it was also marred by controversy and injuries that all but put Knoxville into retirement. Not to mention, it was missing original cast members and fan favorites Bam Margera, due to alleged contract breaches, and the late Ryan Dunn, who passed in 2011.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed filming. The time jump is actually visual as you witness many of the cast members, Johnny Knoxville most notably, go through physical changes to their appearance. It’s almost poetic, in one of the final films, to see the original cast age in real time.
This film also receives criticism from fans online due to the addition of new, younger cast members, which include Zack Holmes, Davon Wilson, Rachel Wolfson, Eric Manaka, and Sean McInerney, a.k.a. Poopies.
Personally, I have nothing against the new cast (though I wouldn’t have recommended Poopies as a stage name). That being said, it simply comes down to it being very difficult to root for new cast members when we see very little about them, both via the stunts and in the comedic bits. Compared directly next to the original cast, even in their older state, it’s hard to put them on the same playing field with so little material.
There are a handful of really great bits in this film, and it’s till very enjoyable to the average Jackass fan; however, it has the opposite of recency bias, where the latest piece of media is often viewed as the best simply because it’s so new. This is simply low on the list because it features too little of the original cast in their prime, is missing major players, and we don’t get enough of the new cast to feel like they are fully suitable replacements for the originals.
Jackass 3D (2010)
Jackass 3D was my first introduction to the series, so I’m actually disappointed myself to objectively put it this far down on the list. It happened to be on TV late one night and I watched it, without parental permission, of course. It led me down a really weird rabbit hole of Jackass media, to be sure.
For me, I think part of the reason this one falls down is that most of the bits (intended to be in 3D) don’t translate as well in a regular medium. However, the introduction of the phantom camera is absolutely superb in this film. If the Jackass cast is going to do one thing, it’s that they’re going to make the most of an increased budget.
You can also tell this is the point when the cast starts to become a bit more reserved, though not by a lot. Still, it’s enough to land this one lower. At the same time, I also feel that this one put Jackass for certain in the cultural lexicon. Even to this day, the “High Five” and “Poo Cocktail Supreme” have been seen by nearly everyone, even people who haven’t fully watched a single episode or Jackass film.
Jackass: The Movie (2002)
As the first film in the franchise, it is obviously notable and gave us the iconic shopping cart introduction that so many viewers remember. However, you can also really tell it’s the first film in the series. Some of the stunts are literally just the guys throwing themselves at lighting fixtures. That’s it. It’s funny, but you can tell they had the smallest budget based on the level of complexity of some of the bits.
However, it also features one of the funniest, grossest, and most iconic stunts in the entire series: the “Toy Car.” In the rare case that you haven’t seen it, I’ll let you search this one up at your own risk. It also has the hairclipper prank that was even included in a Family Guy (1999- ) bit.
Overall, this film shows its age in a lot of ways. It is also possibly one of the grosser films in the series, so if you’re squeamish, maybe just look up highlight clips.
Jackass: Best and Last (2026)
Yes, I did pay money to see this film in theaters. And yes, it didn’t dawn on me what I could possibly be watching in a room full of strangers until the film began. I’m almost certain one of the audience members was trying not to puke for half of this film.
In part, I think what makes this film so enjoyable is that it really does tie a nice bow on a series that has been going on for so long and is finally coming to an end. You also really can appreciate after watching the way many of these guys have stuck by each other, matured, and built life-long careers and connections from something that is, in reality, extremely stupid.
I could put this lower on the list as many of the stunts are, of course, just reused from prior movies, though there are a handful of new bits as well. As much as I hate to write this, Poopies also shines in this film. Who would’ve guessed?
Truthfully, what places this new film so high on the list is that it touches on the franchise’s most iconic moments while building something new at the same time. I’m not sure we’ll see any future media with the new cast, but it certainly shows one hell of a run for the Jackass guys over the span of more than 25 years.
Jackass Number Two (2006)
The second Jackass film is perhaps the most aggressive in the franchise and features some of the most iconic (and poorly aged) stunts throughout the entire series. It is a moment captured in time in a way that shouldn’t have happened then and certainly wouldn’t happen now.
What places this film so high up, however, is the balance it provides between reasonable backyard stunts and full-blown stunts with a higher budget. It builds from what worked in the first film and steps it up without going too overboard (kind of).
For the last few decades, America has fallen in love with a bunch of punk skateboarders who don’t know when to quit, myself included. Jackass may not be the classiest piece of media ever produced, but it really captures a moment in time when people were just able to start capturing funny moments with their friends without fears of a digital footprint or lawsuits hanging over their heads.
For better or for worse, the cast of Jackass has been iconic for decades, and this end of an era feels like the end of a simpler time of our lives, as well.
Finally, of course, few quotes are more iconic or recognizable than Knoxville’s, “Hi, I’m Johnny Knoxville. Welcome to Jackass!” It will surely be missed.
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