On October 1, 2000 Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze, and Jeff Tremaine launched an MTV television program called Jackass. The show, which featured Knoxville and his friends playing pranks on each other and the public, became a bona fide hit. Jackass' dangerous slapstick antics had a mass appeal and the show ran for three seasons before ending in October 2002. Subsequently, the show spawned three feature films the last of which, JACKASS 3D, hit theaters nine years ago. Aside from 2013's BAD GRANDPA (which was a Jackass Presents feature), things have been pretty quiet for Bam Margera, Wee Man, and Steve-O.
Until now.
Paramount Pictures just announced their intentions to create a fourth JACKASS film which will drop in Spring 2021. That means Knoxville and his band of misfits will once again bring their signature dangerous slapstick to the big screen. Stores carrying toilets, crash helmets, tasers, and baseball bats better prepare.
While Jackass came out just before I turned twenty-two, I never saw the appeal. It was literally a bunch of jackasses playing pranks on each other and the public, in an effort to see who could be grosser or more outrageous. Slapstick in my opinion is the lowest form of comedy. However, that's not a judgment by any stretch, just an opinion. I completely understand that their brand of humor has a broad appeal and has provided millions of people countless hours of hilarity over the years. Furthermore, the franchise has been immensely profitable, with the three previous films raking in $335 million worldwide against a total budget of only $36 million.
JACKASS 4 pranks its way into theaters March 5, 2021.