Jackass Forever (2022)
Director: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Preston Lacy, Dave England, Ehren McGehey, Jason “Wee Man” Acuña, Spike Jonze
Cinema often promises escape: unfamiliar places, fantastical spectacles and high-budget thrills. Jackass Forever offers a different kind of escape—no CGI set-pieces or stunt-driven blockbusters, but a raw, unvarnished showcase of physical comedy and outrageous stunts performed by a familiar cast. The film returns to the simple premise that made the franchise a cultural phenomenon: a tight-knit group of performers pushing the limits of pain and absurdity in the service of laughter.
More than two decades after their breakout on MTV, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and the rest of the crew are back. Their goal is not reinvention but refinement: preserving the spirit of the original material while acknowledging the passage of time. The result is a movie that blends nostalgia with a surprisingly human perspective. The performers are older and more aware of consequences, but they still embrace the chaos that defines their work.
Director Jeff Tremaine returns to helm the project, reuniting much of the original creative team. The film maintains the vignette structure that has always suited the group—short, escalating sketches that alternate between startlingly inventive pranks and deliberately shocking physical comedy. Spike Jonze is again involved in a production role, supporting a cast and crew who know how to balance risk with safety, and daring with craft.
What stands out in this installment is a quieter maturity. Steve-O, who has been open about his past struggles with addiction, appears healthier and more grounded. The sense of invulnerability that marked their younger years is replaced by a more measured energy: the stunts still deliver thrills, but there is a visible awareness of physical limits and potential harm. That awareness adds depth to the proceedings, turning what could be reckless antics into a series of staged gambits performed by people who understand the cost.
The film also introduces new contributors who support rather than overshadow the original core. Zach Holmes and other newcomers slot into the established dynamic, bringing fresh energy while allowing Knoxville and company to remain the focus. This balance keeps the movie from feeling like a forced reboot; instead it plays like a passing of the torch done with respect and restraint.
One of the film’s strengths is how it navigates cultural change. The original series and early movies thrived in an era that celebrated shock value and boundary-pushing humor. Returning now meant negotiating a different social climate—one more conscious of consent, safety and mental health. Jackass Forever acknowledges these changes without losing the franchise’s essential identity. The segments still aim to provoke and entertain, but there is a clearer emphasis on precautions and responsible staging, ensuring that the spectacle doesn’t come at the expense of participants’ well-being.
At times the humor is crass, visceral and deliberately uncomfortable: that is integral to the brand. Yet the film often pairs its gross-out elements with moments of genuine camaraderie. Watching the group work together—laughing at one another’s failures, offering support after painful mishaps—adds a human warmth that complements the shock tactics. The cast’s long friendship and shared history give the film its emotional backbone.
Technically, the movie delivers effective, well-edited sequences that maximize both comedy and tension. The pacing is brisk across its roughly 96-minute runtime, and the variety of stunts keeps the audience engaged. Fans of the franchise will appreciate callbacks to classic bits, while new viewers who enjoy extreme physical comedy will find plenty of memorable moments.
Ultimately, Jackass Forever is less about reinvention and more about affirmation. It demonstrates that the franchise can evolve—acknowledging age, safety and cultural shifts—while still delivering the crude, inventive humor that drew audiences in the first place. For longtime fans, it’s a satisfying reunion; for newcomers, it’s an unfiltered example of extreme sketch comedy.
18/24
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