Jackass has always felt like home and Jackass: Best and Last may actually be the last and full of happy tears but it certainly showcases why they’re the best. A goodbye to friends, a goodbye to what gave us laughs, and full of many bodily fluids, the best time in a theater that demands to be experienced with the best of friends. 

If I was in a coma, the only two things that could bring me out are the intro to Lady Gaga’s ‘Heavy Metal Lover’ and Johnny Knoxville saying, “Hi, I’m Johnny Knoxville and welcome to Jackass.” All of us have early memories of a form of media that felt part of your life, the characters became your family. For me, that wasJackass; in the early aughts, while I was in elementary school, I’d stay up late, (unsuccessfully) hiding it from my parents, and tune in to Knoxville and Co. I was so young I was scared of cursing in front of my parents, my best friend, Kendra, and I would call it ‘Donkey’ thinking my parents had no idea what we were staying up laughing at. My dad had showcased Buster Keaton and I knew of Evel Knievel, but this was my own entry point to the world of stunts (the thank you to Keaton made me cry). The boys felt like family watching them torment each other but consistently laughing at themselves, running to check to make sure their friends were ok and continuing to laugh. At some point, these men so unafraid of anything other than not being around each other became the highlight of my week. As the first movie came out in 2002, the world was quite a different place when the show ended, just weeks before 9/11. But Jackass: The Movie not only felt like a return to that world we knew before, but bigger and better than ever before. The movies felt freed from the constraints Knoxville, director/editor/producer Jeff Tremaine, and the rest of the crew famously felt from MTV. When Jackass Number Two, the best of the franchise, came out next, it felt overwhelming how much they were willing to go to the limit, not just to make each other laugh or entertain audiences, but how much they really loved each other. What has always drawn me to Jackass was not the laughs, the disgusting stunts but how openly they love each other. Chosen family has always allowed people to connect with people who aren’t their legal or blood family, but Jackass personifies the idea of chosen family. These aren’t just friends, it’s the Olive Garden life, when you’re here, you’re family. Jackass has always felt like home and Jackass: Best and Last may actually be the last and full of happy tears but it certainly showcases why they’re the best. A goodbye to friends, a goodbye to what gave us laughs, and full of many bodily fluids, the best time in a theater that demands to be experienced with the best of friends. 

Jackass: Best and Last is an emotional ride that showcases the bond between this legendary (and new) crew with its important, lasting impact. While it’s primarily composed of (unseen) footage from previous films and the TV show, the new footage brings a touch of earnest closure to the franchise. Seeing Knoxville and Steve-o emotional at the end of the iconic ride feels overwhelming as a long-term fan. They never make it seem more important than it may be to others, you can just feel and sense the gratitude they have for what they’ve created over the years alongside the rest of the crew. Given how much has changed over the years, the mix of old and new footage feels like a perfect blend to allow us to honor the best and embrace the last. It may sound silly to anyone who wasn’t raised sneaking in the late-night new episodes, but this franchise (show and movies) is a part of so many growing up. That iconic Knoxville laugh, mischievous Steve-o disbelief and pan across the crew ‘are we really doing this’ are all familiar touchstones that never really leave you and feel properly honored here. The old footage is a mix of previously unseen footage (the infamous hardware bit or the test footage that led to the show’s origin) and iconic stunts, High Five or Poo Cocktail Supreme, mixed together to showcase the best of the franchise. The opening including the footage of a very young Knoxville so earnestly shooting himself in the chest to immediately ask to watch the tape on feels so incredibly sweet and earnest at what the show would blossom into. These types of moments blended with the present-day footage allow for the legacy of Jackass to wash over you. The emotional impact of what this crew, this family, has delivered over the last two-plus decades is palpable without feeling force fed due to the everlasting connection between Tremaine and this crew, Tremaine is one of them and even before the sweet ending note in the credits, the film never lets you forget that. Jackass is an emotional thing for me and many people my age, but this film easily allows unfamiliar audiences to join in on the laughs. It’s an easy entry point that will allow you to want to circle back to those best moments or just enjoy this last hurray on its own. 

Jackass has always been for the girls and the gays. Growing up, these guys always felt like the manliest men yet never like they were pumping to be masculine. There’s a safety to their masculinity due to how secure and confident they are. If you think about this in the lens of the 2000s, it wasn’t common for ‘bros’ to be naked and caring for one another on TV. While it’s easy to dismiss they’re doing these wild stunts, they were combating a time in history of pop culture when male sexuality was embracing Spike TV, beer and boobs, not friendship with other men and being comfortable being naked around one another in close quarters. Jackass was balancing a homoeroticism through the female gaze; in present day terms, this franchise confronts the faux issue of ‘male loneliness’ as it shows these men found love and security through their friendship allowing them not only to be confident themselves but seek joy in those around one another. The bliss they display from being attacked by bulls, their dicks stung by bees and the poo cocktail is palpable and contagious. Year after year, I always felt myself rewatching my archaic boxed set due to the comfort this group of misfits brought me. When Jackass Forever came out, I was at a transitional period in life; I had just had a baby, ended my marriage, and figuring out how to start over. Jackass has always felt like coming home and seeing these boys back at it in a theater again was the best way to feel a sense of comfort and understanding in life again. Chosen family was the way forward and the Jackass boys have always been the best at highlighting how powerful that love is, which is beautifully highlighted in the end credits. It’s a beautiful ending (if you’re a fan, you’ll easily be moved to tears) of the best moments with this crew. Ryan Dunn gets ample moments on display, not just the iconic x-ray, but that all too familiar bright smile and love for the guys (mostly Bam) is given a beautiful tribute. Jackass: Best and Last could just be marked up as a cheesy highlight reel, but the love these guys have for each other and the franchise doesn’t let it fall into that. There’s a moment where Steve-o asks Knoxville if this is really the end and Knoxville gets choked up, it’s easy to see why. We’ve watched these guys grow old on screen, testing their bodies and pushing themselves to the limit. They’ve quite literally bared it all for us and none of us would have it any other way.

Watching a montage reminding me how much I grew up with these men was always going to knock me out emotionally. Jackass: Best and Last highlights how far not only these men have come but the audience too. I was a kid in elementary school, had never owned a cell phone, and had to sneak into a movie theater to see the first film. Now, I’m in my thirties, a mom and in a different state and feel the same sense of joy and comfort watching my Jackass family on screen. Jackass: Best and Last is like one last ride, one last trip home and was worth every minute in the theater.

Grade: A

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: None

Release Date: June 26, 2026
Where to Watch: In Theaters