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Parents' Guide to

Jackass

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Crass, crude, and certainly not for kids.

TV MTV , MTV2 Comedy 2000
Jackass Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 3 parent reviews

quincy12
quincy12 Adult
April 4, 2019
age 17+

Jackass is meant for a mature audience

Parents need to know that much like Ridiculousness, Jackass is a show about men attempting stunts out of peer pressure. The name implies it all, and the cast certainly live by that name. Because the stunts in Jackass are so dangerous, viewers under 17 should refrain from watching them, especially with the idea of performing them at home. Do not copy any of the stunts shown here, as they can lead to injury or even death. This reality show may be for risk-takers, but the same cannot be said for younger viewers. This show is rated TV-MA for a reason. Nudity, language, and fatal stunts; what parent would allow their child to watch Jackass?
Marioginfante
Marioginfante Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
August 30, 2014
age 18+

Ugly and disgusting

Not acceptable
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Witness a man getting attacked by police dogs that he purposefully taunts; see someone drink to oblivion and throw up all over the place; view a melee played for all it's worth, with everyone's arms swinging and hitting. These are just some of the pratfalls and antics deemed worthy of this MTV series following Johnny Knoxville and his motley crew of fearless, shameless thrill-seekers. Inspired by a Finnish show called The Dudesons, JACKASS has also earned a big-screen movie of its own and is one of MTV's most popular -- if not highest quality -- offerings.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (32 ):

If this show were to have another title, it probably ought to be Men Behaving Badly. Or insanely. Or both. In short, Jackass makes no bones about appealing to the adolescent boy in everyone -- and in many ways, it's brilliant at what it does: hooking viewers.

Jackass certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea. In fact, it's probably not advisable viewing for anyone under 15, considering the strong language, nudity, and general craziness. Most kids are much too young and much too impressionable to filter through it all and appreciate the laughs without mimicking the guys' sometimes-dangerous audacity. And no one wants to have their teenager chased down by guard dogs simply because they're trying to replicate what they see on TV.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what drives people to do stunts like these, when they'll most likely get hurt and at the very least end up looking like complete fools. What's the attraction? Is the rush from performing these silly, wacky, and outrageous derring-dos worth the trouble? Families can also discuss the difference between daring and bad taste. Where do you draw the line? And what about when other people are involved? What's the difference between playing a funny practical joke and being cruel?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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