
Jackass
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Crass, crude, and certainly not for kids.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Jackass
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Jackass is meant for a mature audience
Ugly and disgusting
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?
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
- Premiere date: April 12, 2000
- Cast: Bam Margera , Johnny Knoxville , Steve-O
- Networks: MTV , MTV2
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 26, 2023
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate