The boys are back, and they're feeling it. Jackass: Best and Last opens in cinemas worldwide on Friday, June 26, marking what the franchise is calling its final chapter. Original cast members Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Jason "Wee Man" Acuña and Chris Pontius—all now in their fifties—share the screen with newer recruits picked up across previous sequels.
The film mixes fresh stunts with classic bits from earlier movies and never-aired segments too wild for MTV. There are references to prostate exams woven between the usual chaos, and the shadow of former cast member Ryan Dunn, who died in a car crash, hangs over the proceedings. The familiar onscreen warning—"do not attempt this, it's extra stupid and could kill you"—plays over footage of a young Knoxville shooting himself in the chest with a .38 revolver while wearing a bulletproof vest padded with magazines.
What's actually new this time
The framing is unusually heavy. The film carries what critics describe as "a melancholic awareness of its own mortality." Knoxville acknowledges that each previous instalment was supposed to be the last. This one really is. Footage from the early 2000s, when the crew resembled scrappy Tennessee skate kids, sits alongside bits where Pontius warms up naked and Steve-O gripes he never got to do the most iconic stunt.
The younger cast member Zach Holmes absorbs more punishment than most. The body remains the central prop. Songs from Bonnie Tyler and Frank Sinatra bookend the whole thing.
Background: how we got here
Jackass first aired on MTV in 2000. The premise was simple: a group of friends injuring themselves for the camera, edited into a half-hour of gross-out spectacle. Three theatrical sequels followed, plus a rotating cast of newcomers willing to absorb the punishment. Knoxville, born PJ Clapp, became the breakout face of the franchise. Over time, the stunts grew more ambitious and the injuries more serious—which is part of why this final chapter leans into the wear and tear.
Why this matters
For a franchise built on young men's disregard for their own skulls, ageing is the actual story now. The question isn't whether fans will show up—they will—but whether the self-aware "this might actually hurt forever" framing lands as poignant or as a marketing trick. A stunt film that knows it's ending can either earn its emotion or coast on it. If the gags still deliver, the elegy works. If they don't, it's just a long goodbye.
The trade-off cuts both ways. Audiences get closure and a genuine sense of finality. The franchise gets a dignified exit rather than a slow fade. But leaning into sentimentality risks diluting the anarchic spirit that made Jackass watchable in the first place. The winners here are longtime fans who want resolution. The losers are anyone hoping for one more sequel after this.
What to watch
Opening weekend numbers will tell us whether "this is the last one" resonates as genuine or just another tagline. A strong debut confirms the nostalgia bump has real purchasing power. A weak one suggests the franchise outlived its moment—and that the "Last" in the title was accurate after all.
Key takeaways
- Jackass: Best and Last opens in cinemas worldwide on Friday, June 26.
- Core cast members Knoxville, Steve-O, Acuña and Pontius are all in their fifties.
- The film mixes new stunts, archive clips and previously unaired footage, with an unusually reflective tone.
- The self-aware finality could land as heartfelt or hollow—it depends on whether the gags still work.
Frequently asked questions
When does Jackass: Best and Last come out?
It opens in cinemas worldwide on Friday, June 26.
Which original cast members are in the film?
Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Jason "Wee Man" Acuña and Chris Pontius, alongside newer recruits.
Is this actually the last Jackass film?
Knoxville says yes, noting that each previous film was also billed as the last—but this time, the tone suggests finality.
Is it suitable for a casual cinema night?
It's loud, crude and gross. Fine for a tolerant group, terrible for a first date.
Source: timeout.com
