The release of the franchise’s fourth film is reason to celebrate two decades of daredevilry that never fails to make me smile
Last week, the New York Times published an expansive and affectionate interview with Jason “Wee Man” Acuña, a 48-year-old skateboarder and celebrity who cut his teeth (and likely some other body parts) as a member of MTV’s notorious Jackass crew. It was the latest in a line of publicity ahead of the release of Jackass Forever, the fourth instalment in a film franchise that began in October 2002, when Jackass: The Movie cannonballed into cinemas. Last year, de facto leader Johnny Knoxville was on the cover of GQ and in an article for Vogue, culture writer Emma Specter reflected on the friendships at the heart of the show. With every new instalment, the Rotten Tomatoes score has increased; as reviews flooded in for Jackass Forever, critics were overwhelmingly positive. It is a generally accepted truth, as of 2022, that Jackass is good.
It’s a far cry from the outrage that the boys generated at the height of their fame; from the moment the television show first aired on 1 October 2000, notoriety and controversy have not been far behind. The stunts and pranks that Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera and co executed caught the imagination of hapless teens and young adults, who – despite the show’s myriad warning screens – sought to emulate their idols by undertaking outlandish (and often dangerous) skits of their own. Injuries, lawsuits and a letter to MTV’s parent company from a concerned state senator followed. The New York Times, back in 2002, seemed generally bemused by Johnny Knoxville.
Hannah Strong is digital editor at Little White Lies
