Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slightly less offensive Jackass movie with more heart.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say the movie blends cleverly crafted pranks with a heartwarming storyline, featuring both crude humor and genuine public reactions, but opinions vary greatly on its comedic value and appropriateness for younger audiences. While many found it hilarious, others viewed it as disappointing and criticized its weak narrative and excessive inappropriate content.
- hilarious pranks
- crude humor
- weak narrative
- audience divisiveness
- inappropriate content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The 86-year-old Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) has just become a widower and is very happy to be free. His grandson Billy (Jackson Nicoll) seems to be a nice kid who loves fishing. When Billy's mom is sent to prison for drugs, grandpa agrees to drive Billy from Nebraska to live with Billy's no-good, pot-smoking dad in North Carolina. While on their drive, grandpa and Billy get into all kinds of mischief, from creating disturbances in bingo parlors or convenience stores to running over plaster penguins. Billy often must find his grandpa after his drunken misadventures. Eventually they even enter a disguised Billy in a child beauty pageant. After their time together, grandpa realizes how much he loves Billy and decides to keep him.
Is It Any Good?
It's interesting the way the filmmakers took several hidden camera-style pranks and stunts and incorporated them into the loose framework of a fairly entertaining road movie. The pranks are far from seamless, and it's often easy to guess how they were done. And for the first half of the movie, the humor relies mostly on the shock of seeing an old man (Knoxville in makeup) and a child (Jackson Nicoll) involved in such rude behavior. But after a time, the characters start to bond with one another and form a genuinely likeable team. There are even some tears at the climax when they initially part. And while most of the jokes are just throwaways based on sex or alcohol, the movie saves its biggest inspiration for the climax: the child beauty show. It reveals and then destroys the fine line between Billy's stripper-like dance and the quasi-sexualized children at these creepy pageants. It's a bit of Borat-worthy satire.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of practical jokes. Why is it funny to watch others being fooled? Do any of these jokes cross the line? How?
What is funny about an old man and a young boy doing all these bad things?
This movie doesn't have the usual "Jackass" disclaimer about not trying these stunts at home. Do you suppose these jokes, pranks, and stunts are safer to try?
Why isn't it a good idea for children to drink alcohol? Why is this moment in the movie so shocking (to us and to passersby)?
What kinds of stereotypes does the movie use as jokes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 25, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : January 28, 2014
- Cast : Jackson Nicoll , Johnny Knoxville , Spike Jonze
- Director : Jeff Tremaine
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong crude and sexual content throughout, language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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