Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Chris Pontius, Ehren McGhehey, Compston Wilson, Sean McInerney, Steve-O , Dave England, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Rachel Wolfson
Genre: Comedy, Documentary
Director: Jeff Tremaine
In Irish Cinemas: Now
Jackass: Best and Last knows exactly what its audience wants and never pretends to be anything else. The series has always thrived on a simple formula: make viewers laugh, recoil in horror, or feel slightly sick—and often all three at once. This farewell entry delivers that familiar mix in abundance, blending fresh acts of outrageous self-destruction with an extensive retrospective of the franchise’s most unforgettable moments. While the film celebrates the chaos created by the entire cast, Johnny Knoxville once again proves to be its beating heart, his boundless enthusiasm and mischievous grin making even the most painful stunts strangely infectious.
Positioned as the closing chapter in a franchise that began with 2002’s Jackass: The Movie, Best and Last arrives after more than two decades of outrageous success. Despite repeated claims over the years that each instalment would be the final one, this entry genuinely feels like the curtain call. With Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and the rest of the long-serving crew now well into middle age, the film leans into nostalgia without abandoning the reckless spirit that made the series famous.
Rather than relying solely on new material, the film revisits iconic moments from across the Jackass catalogue. Alternate camera angles, previously unseen footage and deleted gags offer longtime fans a fresh perspective on familiar set pieces. In contrast, legal restrictions that once kept certain footage off-screen have finally been lifted. Alongside these archive treasures are several new stunts that may not match the physical extremity of earlier films but still deliver plenty of humiliation, discomfort and absurd comedy.
The formula itself remains largely unchanged. Friends dare each other into increasingly ridiculous situations, endure spectacular failures and immediately burst into laughter at one another’s expense. What has always separated Jackass from simple prank videos is the chemistry between its cast. Beneath the bruises, broken bones and endless practical jokes lies a genuine affection that gives the mayhem an unexpectedly warm edge. The films continue to poke fun at macho bravado by having grown men willingly reduce themselves to complete fools.
Naturally, much of the humour still revolves around crude bodily gags and repeated assaults on the male anatomy. These jokes remain juvenile by design, but they’re softened by the group’s unwavering support for whoever happens to be today’s victim. Looking back across decades of dangerous stunts serves as a reminder of just how much punishment the cast has absorbed over the years, making every laugh carry a hint of disbelief at their willingness to keep going.
Director Jeff Tremaine once again captures the action with the same energetic style that has defined the franchise from the beginning. Clever editing, dramatic slow motion and well-timed reaction shots heighten both the comedy and the brutality, making viewers feel like they’re standing alongside the crew. Whether the cast are enduring electric shocks, suffering collisions with vehicles or submitting themselves to bizarre endurance challenges, every stunt embraces the gloriously pointless stupidity that has always been central to Jackass’s appeal.
Knoxville remains the film’s greatest asset. His charisma has always transformed reckless stupidity into oddly irresistible entertainment, and even after years of injuries, he retains the playful charm that holds everything together. Returning to classic moments—including expanded looks at some of the franchise’s most dangerous encounters—reinforces just how effective these stunts remain, even for audiences who know exactly what’s coming.
For all its outrageous comedy, however, Best and Last carries an unmistakable sense of closure. The cast openly reflect on the journey they’ve shared, acknowledging that age and accumulated injuries have finally caught up with them. One particularly emotional moment sees Knoxville contemplating the end of this extraordinary chapter of his life—appropriately while strapped into yet another absurdly painful contraption. It’s a fitting image for a series that has always found humour in suffering, and a surprisingly heartfelt goodbye to one of cinema’s most unconventional comedy franchises.
Overall: 7/10
Movie Reviewer
