Jackass 4's Titles Change Is Right For Its R Rating | Screen Rant
Jackass 4's titles change is right for its R rating - and hints at a new level of mayhem from the stunt crew. The fourth main installment in the Jackass movie series, Jackass 4 will mark the franchise's swansong as it reunites the zany genius of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Wee Man, Danger Ehren, and Preston Lacy for one last hurrah. Jackass Forever's final, chaotic trailer was unveiled January 1oth, 2022, one month before the film's release, and granted audiences a more detailed look at several stunts and a changed Jackass disclaimer for the upcoming movie.
This last Jackass Forever trailer ends with the warning: ‘The stunts in this movie were performed by professionals, so neither you nor your dumb little buddies should attempt anything from this movie,’ marking a return to the franchise's original disclaimer used in Jackass: The Movie and Jackass Number Two, as well as earlier seasons of the MTV series. However, as far back as 2001, this rather flippant introductory message was changed following the controversy surrounding the series' stunts attracting copycats across the country. The new message took a far sterner tone, reading: "Warning: The following show features stunts performed either by professionals or under the supervision of professionals. Accordingly, MTV and the producers must insist that no one attempt to recreate or re-enact any stunt or activity performed on this show." This new disclaimer version was used on the movie Jackass 3, as well as newer episodes of the TV show, which incidentally was also moved to a later slot over content concerns at the time.
As a result, the familiar Jackass 4 pre-stunt titles are good news for its current R rating, with the final movie in the franchise bringing back the original "dumb little buddies" disclaimer of old. This reversion hints that the gloves are off in Knoxville and co.'s latest outing, with Jackass Forever promising to outdo its already infamous reputation one last time. This original message is also far more appropriate to be married to an age-restricted, cinema-exclusive film that is far less likely to influence young audiences than the original MTV series did in the early 2000s.
Eliminating the audience section (with its R rating) that needs a potential disclaimer to avoid physical harm means Jackass Forever is primed to deliver a zenith of carnage and mayhem for the franchise. Knoxville, Steve-O, and most of the original Jackass crew (minus Bam Margera) have stated this film will be their last in the series, meaning there is more than a touch of finality about this entry even as new Jackass recruits such as Jasper Dolphin wait in the wings. The original crew using Jackass 4 as a swansong means they will likely be looking to outdo any stunts that have gone before and leave the franchise on a high note.
In this way, Jackass Forever's R rating and titles change are good indicators that it will be the most shocking and memorable edition of Jackass yet. Reverting to the "dumb little buddies" disclaimer not only harks back to the golden days of the Jackass franchise but also displays the crew's reckless abandon armed with the knowledge their journey is coming to an end. While bringing back the original stunt warning may stoke the ire of the franchise's detractors, Jackass 4's titles change is nothing but good news for the R-rated finale's prospects.