Jackass Movies: The Surprisingly Consistent Comedy Franchise

When it comes to discussing the most consistent comedy movie series, you'd be surprised to realize that Jackass might top the list. It's difficult to find many consistently strong movie franchises because the longer they go on, the more likely it is that one or two entries will miss the mark.

That's certainly true with the comedy genre. Scary Movie, The Hangover, Home Alone, Rush Hour, and Dumb and Dumber are all examples of franchises with at least one lackluster installment. However, since its inception in 2002, the Jackass movies have delivered what fans want every single time.

The Jackass Movies Have All Been Consistently Good

After finding major success as a TV series on MTV, Jackass: The Movie hit the big screen in 2002. It grossed $60 million on a budget of $5 million and received middling reviews but fans of the series loved it. That was just the start of what Jackass was bringing to the movie world.

Jackass Number Two received better reviews and grossed a bit more money before Jackass 3D nearly raked in $200 million and even featured a better use of the era's popular 3D technology than movies with far bigger budgets. This franchise was doing something pretty remarkable.

While none of those films were considered great by critics, they all produced exactly what Jackass fans want and are mostly in line with each other in terms of quality. Nobody expected another film, yet Jackass Forever arrived in 2022 and was another success both critically and commercially.

Even when the Jackass movies are at their worst, they're still pretty enjoyable. Not many people have gone to see these films and left disappointed. The format helps because something new is always coming your way. If you don't like one stunt, there are many more coming that you'll probably laugh at.

That simple formula has helped Jackass remain strong and timeless despite the films being around for more than two decades. Not many other franchises can make that same claim.

Even The Jackass Spin-Off Films Are Good

The popularity of Jackass meant that the franchise wasn't just going to stick to the mainline movies. For starters, they film so many stunts that plenty don't make the final cut. Thankfully, the producers have made sure those stunts see the light of day with interval films.

Jackass 2.5, Jackass 3.5, and Jackass 4.5 are all movies that sit in between the major theatrical releases. Two were put straight to home video while Jackass 4.5 received a premiere on Netflix. While these films weren't really covered by major critics, audience scores reveal that they've still hit with fans.

The franchise also released 2013's Bad Grandpa, a spin-off movie starring Johnny Knoxville in old man makeup as Irving Zisman. Unlike the mainline Jackass films, Bad Grandpa has a story connecting all the gags and pranks. Again, the film received solid reviews and was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

The Jackass Movies Are Somehow Getting Better

As tough as it is to find a long-running movie franchise with consistently good releases, it's even more difficult to find one that gets better. Looking at the Rotten Tomatoes scores, each subsequent Jackass movie is better than the previous one.

Jackass: The Movie sits at 49%, Jackass Number Two is at 66%, Jackass 3D moved up to 67%, and Jackass Forever has an astounding 86% certified fresh score. Jackass Forever also has the highest audience score at 91%. In fact, no entry has lower than a 69% audience rating.

It's incredible that this is the case because Jackass seemed like an immature thing that people would grow out of. Indeed, even with its core audience in their 30s and 40s rather than in their teens like when the franchise began, Jackass is somehow still pleasing people.

Part of what made Jackass Forever so good was the way they incorporated new cast members to keep things fresh. It's understandable that the bodies of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and others have taken a beating over the years, so new blood was needed. The likes of Rachel Wolfson, Jasper Dolphin, and Poopies fit right in.

It helps that a lot of talented stars love Jackass and always pop up for cameos. Tyler, The Creator, Eric André, Tony Hawk, Machine Gun Kelly, Weezer, and Rip Taylor are just some of the stars who have appeared in these movies. It helps give them each a unique feel that makes them stand out.

A New Jackass Film Was Announced For 2026

Once again, the people behind Jackass have surprised everyone. On January 8, 2026, Johnny Knoxville posted the franchise logo on his Instagram and announced a new theatrical film for June 26, 2026. Not much is known about this new installment other than the date and Knoxville's involvement.

An official title and a cast list are unannounced as of now but some reports say it will bring back classic stunts to go along with new ones and that Bam Margera will appear in archived footage. Whatever the new Jackass movie ends up being, it'll likely keep up the franchise's impressive streak of quality entertainment.