‘Jackass: Best and Last’ Opens to Solid Previews, Proving the Franchise Still Has Fans After All These Years
‘Jackass: Best and Last’ kicked off its opening weekend with a respectable showing at the box office, earning $1.2 million in Thursday night previews. The result, flagged by box office tracker @Luiz_Fernando_J, suggests the beloved franchise still has a dedicated base willing to show up even for what is being billed as the final chapter.
After the Thursday preview numbers came in, the rowdy Paramount comedy is now projected to open between $10 million and $12 million for the full three-day weekend, which would land it in third place on the domestic chart. That projection would mark the lowest opening in franchise history, coming well below the $23 million debut of the previous installment, ‘Jackass Forever,’ in 2022.
The softer tracking is not entirely surprising given what the film is. ‘Jackass: Best and Last’ is positioned partly as a compilation of new and old stunts rather than a fully original outing, and that distinction appears to be giving some longtime fans pause before committing to a ticket purchase. Still, the Thursday figure is nothing to dismiss for a film opening against two much larger releases and with minimal promotional push.
The production budget on the fifth and final installment came in at just $10 million, meaning Paramount does not need blockbuster numbers to walk away profitable from this one. For context, the franchise high-water mark remains 2010’s ‘Jackass 3D,’ which launched to a staggering $50.3 million in its opening weekend. Even if this farewell outing lands at the lower end of projections, the math still works in the studio’s favor.
The competitive landscape this weekend is genuinely brutal for a mid-budget comedy looking for casual walk-up business. ‘Toy Story 5’ is tracking for another $80 million to $90 million in its second frame after opening to a franchise record $160 million the previous week, while ‘Supergirl’ is targeting a $45 million to $50 million debut of its own, leaving ‘Jackass: Best and Last’ to fight for whatever is left of the weekend audience.
The film promises a mix of all-new stunts alongside the greatest hits from the past 25 years of mischievous camaraderie, framed as a joyous celebration of everything the franchise has built with Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O and the rest of the crew. Whether audiences treat it as a proper farewell or a victory lap will likely determine where the final numbers land by Sunday evening.
The film is directed by Jeff Tremaine, who has shepherded the franchise since its MTV origins, and even the franchise’s lowest theatrical debut would still represent a commercially sound exit for a property that has reliably delivered returns on minimal investment for over two decades. Sometimes you don’t need to swing for a record when a solid, profitable goodbye is enough.
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