Film Review – Jackass: The Greatest and Final (2026)

      Jackass: Best and Last, 2026.

      Directed by Jeff Tremaine.

      Starring Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuña, Dave England, Preston Lacy, Ehren McGhehey, Bam Margera, Sean McInerney, Davon ‘Jasper’ Wilson, Zach Holmes, Jeff Tremaine, Lance Bangs, Sean Cliver, Dimitry Elyashkevich, Paul Walter Hauser, Greg Iguchi, Rick Kosick, Eric Manaka, Trip Taylor, Compston Wilson, Rachel Wolfson, Spike Jonze, Loomis Fall, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Dunn.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The film tracks the Jackass crew as they undertake their final set of extreme stunts and pranks, signaling the conclusion of the franchise. At one point, Johnny Knoxville, the group's ringleader, is humorously questioned about how anyone can accept this claimed final chapter of the stunt series that explores the limits of human capability (which covers a very wide range), titled Jackass: Best and Last (again directed by the long-time collaborator and friend of the team, Jeff Tremaine). Johnny acknowledges that this is the end, especially since he made similar claims about the previous installment, yet here they are. In his defense, he provides a strong rationale and appears genuinely committed to concluding the series as it has been, embracing their aging more than ever alongside the remarkably reckless antics on display.

      This includes pranks like prostate exams and other precautionary health measures, accompanied by amusing behind-the-scenes segments where Knoxville remarks that this is what Jackass looks like with jackasses in their 50s. One prank features a game of Twister on super laxatives (used to prep for the prostate exam) that is both incredibly disgusting and hilariously funny.

      Essentially, the entire cast returns for one final outing (except for Bam Margera, who is still recovering from alcoholism, and the sadly deceased Ryan Dunn, who, despite not being present, appears in archival footage, much to the audience's delight) doing what brought them fame; Steve-O spends arguably more time nude than dressed this time, even allowing a robot to put its metal hand up his rear, and humor continues to arise from the group confronting their fears or finding ways to inflict harm on one another. Nearly every substance imaginable is involved, including massive quantities of feces and vomit (even the cameraman sometimes finds it hard to hold back).

      What sets this film apart is its title, incorporating a "best" component that revisits memorable highlights from previous pranks and gags spanning the show and films, including adjacent material like Johnny Knoxville as Bad Grandpa (some clips may indeed be sourced from that film rather than the show). This approach proves to be highly effective when presenting previously unseen material, such as their first stunt ever filmed, which MTV had rejected, involving a self-inflicted bullet wound to the chest while protected by a Kevlar vest and adult magazines. Another skit even led to an arrest and caused MTV to be banned from filming in a specific location for a decade.

      Throughout these movies, there always comes a moment where, despite their humor, one feels a saturation point, as these segments were meant to be enjoyed in 20-minute episodes featuring commercial breaks, not as full-length films. This sentiment arises again, particularly because the team's aging and the previously unseen footage draw out these highlights, displaying some of the most absurd and perilous stunts. Many moments remain funny (including the X-ray with a toy car, which I won't elaborate on for those who haven't seen it), yet this tends to dampen the momentum of watching the group (which also includes Wee Man, Chris Pontius, and the returning newer members) give it their all one last time.

      They clearly put in genuine effort for Jackass: Best and Last, which reflects an organic progression of past stunts with a unique twist related to aging. As entertaining as the physical mishaps and the abundance of bodily fluids are, there's also something poignant about witnessing the team's camaraderie before each act, as they confront aging while preparing for something utterly foolish, fully aware that this is the conclusion. The fact that these pain-loving and foolish individuals are still mostly friends is heartwarming in itself. Perhaps even more remarkable than the stunts is the emotional depth present during this final farewell.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder