Every ‘Jackass’ Movie Ranked From Rotten to Certified Fresh on the Tomatometer

Few franchises in Hollywood history have pulled off the trick of getting critically better with age, but the ‘Jackass‘ series has somehow managed exactly that. What started as an MTV prank show turned theatrical gamble has become a genuinely beloved franchise, with critics warming to its absurdist brotherhood over the course of six films and more than two decades.

The Tomatometer tells a fascinating story here, tracking the evolution of public and critical taste around Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the rest of the crew. From divisive beginnings to a tearful, gonzo send-off, here is every ‘Jackass’ movie ranked from the bottom of the Rotten Tomatoes barrel straight to the top.

‘Jackass: The Movie’ (2002)

The original film was produced on a modest budget of approximately $5 million, featuring the core Jackass cast including Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Dave England, Ryan Dunn, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, and Danger Ehren. Despite landing the number one spot at the box office on its opening weekend, the critical reception was decidedly mixed.

On Rotten Tomatoes, just 49% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 92 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. Many traditional critics at the time simply were not equipped to process what they were watching. Some were not even considering it a real movie because of its lack of plot and narrative storytelling, while many were turned off by the film’s outrageous and dangerous stunts.

‘Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa’ (2013)

This spinoff took a different approach by wrapping its prank format around an actual narrative. The film stars Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll, and uses a loose story to connect its stunts and pranks, in a manner reminiscent of Borat, as opposed to the three original Jackass films which did not have a story. It also made franchise history by earning an Oscar nomination, with head makeup artist Stephen Prouty being nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 86th Academy Awards.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 61% based on 109 reviews, with an average rating of 5.40/10, and the critics consensus reads that it is never quite as funny as it wants to be, but still offers viewers the timeless pleasures of seeing an old man get his privates stuck in a vending machine. The narrative ambition was admirable, but the departure from the ensemble chaos that defined the core films left some fans and critics cold.

‘Jackass Number Two’ (2006)

The sequel is widely regarded by fans as the creative high-water mark of the franchise, even if the Tomatometer does not quite reflect that reputation. The film starred the regular Jackass cast of Knoxville, Bam Margera, Dave England, Ryan Dunn, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Steve-O, Preston Lacy, and Danger Ehren, and filming took place across locations including India, Australia, England, Moscow, and Argentina.

The film currently holds a 66% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critical consensus stating that it is better than any sequel to a movie of a television show has a right to be, and dares you not to laugh. The New York Times awarded it a Critic’s Pick, writing that despite being debased, infantile, and reckless in the extreme, it makes for some of the most fearless, liberated, and cathartic comedy in modern movies.

‘Jackass 3’ (2010)

The third entry arrived at the peak of the theatrical 3D craze and became the highest-grossing film in the franchise. Released in the United States in the 3D format on October 15, 2010, by Paramount Pictures, it marked the tenth anniversary of the Jackass television series. This was also the last film to feature Ryan Dunn as a full cast member before his death in 2011.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 67% based on 111 reviews, and the website’s critical consensus reads that the Jackass gang might be running out of gross-out stunts, but the installment contains plenty of brilliantly brain-dead comedy and the 3D adds a pungent new dimension. The movie came out at the height of the 3D movie craze and audiences evidently agreed the gimmick paid off handsomely at the time.

‘Jackass Forever’ (2022)

The fourth mainline entry caught critics almost entirely off guard. The film notched a solid 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ CinemaScore from audience members, with ticket buyers being overwhelmingly male at 68% and 67% between 18 and 34. The franchise had managed something rare, returning after twelve years and earning its best reviews yet.

The critical consensus calls it a gleefully gonzo franchise revival that will make you worry more than ever for the cast’s health and safety, but not enough to hold back the laughter. Some critics called it a cinematic masterpiece, with one writer declaring at The Ringer that it might be the most necessary movie of the year, and another saying the film is a celebration of the blurry line between youth and adulthood.

‘Jackass: Best and Last’ (2026)

The fifth and final main installment is directed by Jeff Tremaine and produced by Tremaine, Spike Jonze, and Johnny Knoxville, with the film being a mix of old and new footage, bringing back the biggest stunts and pranks from the franchise alongside never-before-seen material. Johnny Knoxville announced this will be the last Jackass movie, saying that this is the natural place to end.

Critics describe it as a proper send-off full of gleeful mayhem and a bit of nostalgia, with one reviewer writing that while it might be nothing new for die-hard fans, it is a fitting end to the film series and, ironically, a great introduction for anyone who has not seen it before. The film currently holds an 87% on the Tomatometer, with reviewers noting that despite the compilation aspect, the crew’s infectious camaraderie, genuine affection, and commitment to glorious stupidity make for a heartfelt and hilariously entertaining farewell.

With the gang now firmly in their fifties and the tears reportedly real on set, ‘Jackass: Best and Last’ closes the book on one of cinema’s most unlikely success stories. Whether you think ‘Jackass: Best and Last’ truly earns the top spot on this list or whether ‘Jackass Forever’ remains the franchise’s finest hour is a debate worth having in the comments.