The New Jackass Movie Does Something Hollywood Franchises Never Do: Actually Say Goodbye

Johnny Knoxville stated unequivocally to USA Today that “there is a zero percent chance there will ever be another ‘Jackass.’ We’re done. Period.”—a declaration that marks the release of Jackass: Best and Last on June 26, 2026, as the genuine end of a 25-year franchise. The fifth and final film in the reality slapstick comedy series arrives not as another installment in a seemingly endless cycle, but as a definitive closing chapter that explicitly refuses the Hollywood tradition of keeping franchises alive indefinitely.

A Franchise That Actually Ends

In an entertainment landscape where franchises routinely resurrect themselves years after supposed finales, the Jackass crew has chosen a radically different path. Director Jeff Tremaine, working alongside producers Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville, and Shanna Zablow Newton, crafted Jackass: Best and Last as what the filmmakers describe as a “proper goodbye” that recollects the franchise’s best moments and indirect history of chaos. The 1 hour 32 minute comedy marks the first time in recent memory that a major Hollywood franchise has released a final installment with absolutely no ambiguity about its status.

Knoxville and Steve-O directly addressed fan skepticism about whether this announcement was truly the end, acknowledging that the crew has announced conclusions before. This time, however, the commitment differs fundamentally. The filmmakers emphasized that after almost 26 years, there will absolutely never be another Jackass movie, closing the door on speculation that has haunted previous supposed finales.

The Irreplaceability of the Original Team

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Tremaine explained that the franchise cannot continue with a new cast, citing the irreplaceability of the original team and the cumulative trauma of brain injuries sustained by members throughout the series’ history. This reasoning distinguishes Jackass: Best and Last from typical franchise conclusions that leave room for reboots, spinoffs, or new casts carrying forward the brand.

The death of Ryan Dunn serves as the emotional and narrative catalyst for this final ending. Tremaine identified Dunn’s death as the “dividing line” in the Jackass story, noting that everything after his passing carried a fundamentally different tone. The crew recognizes that the original brotherhood that defined the franchise is irreplaceable, making continuation without those core members impossible. The new footage of Tremaine himself being traumatized and the ongoing health consequences facing the cast solidified the decision that now is the only appropriate time to close this chapter.

Critical Reception and Cultural Response

The film has resonated with both audiences and critics, holding an 87 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a 62 score on Metacritic. These scores reflect the audience and critical response to what many view as an ambitious farewell that blends jaw-dropping stunts with an emotional tribute to the crew’s 25-year brotherhood. The dual reception demonstrates that viewers appreciate both the continued spectacle of dangerous stunts and the genuine emotional weight of a farewell that refuses to compromise its integrity.

Paramount Pictures released the film globally beginning June 25, 2026, with the official United States release on June 26. The theatrical rollout underscores the studio’s commitment to honoring this finale as a major cultural event rather than a routine franchise installment. The film’s entire credits sequence functions as a farewell to the franchise’s quarter-century history, turning what could be perfunctory text into a meaningful artistic choice that honors the friendship, injuries, madness, and laughter shared by the crew across decades.

A Quarter-Century of Extreme Comedy

The Jackass franchise fundamentally changed entertainment by proving that audiences would embrace reality-based content built around dangerous stunts, physical comedy, and unscripted moments. What began as a television series evolved into five theatrical films that grossed hundreds of millions globally, creating a cultural phenomenon that influenced everything from social media content to mainstream comedy.

The franchise’s 25-year span encompasses an era of profound transformation in media consumption, from MTV-era television dominance through the streaming revolution. That Jackass maintained cultural relevance throughout this period, with Jackass Forever arriving in 2022 and now Jackass: Best and Last in 2026, demonstrates the durability of the franchise’s core appeal.

What Comes Next for the Crew

With the franchise officially concluded, attention now turns to what individual cast members will pursue. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, and other core members have decades of entertainment experience and established fan bases that will likely support future individual projects, whether in comedy, acting, or other entertainment ventures.

The release of Jackass: Best and Last establishes a rare precedent in modern Hollywood: a franchise that ended when its creators decided it should end, rather than when box office returns dictated continuation. This decision respects both the original vision of the series and the physical and emotional toll the stunts have extracted from the performers. The film arrives as a final statement that prioritizes artistic and personal integrity over franchise perpetuation, a choice that may inspire other long-running series to consider whether indefinite continuation truly serves their legacy or their audiences.