After years of legal battles, public disagreements and uncertainty over whether he’d ever share the screen with the Jackass crew again, Bam Margera does make an appearance in Jackass: Best and Last. It’s just probably not the comeback some fans were imagining.
While the franchise’s farewell film reunites Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey and the rest of the gang for one last collection of outrageous stunts, Margera’s contribution comes entirely from the past.
The movie incorporates previously unreleased footage — including material originally filmed during the Jackass Forever production — giving longtime fans one final chance to see him alongside the crew.
Here’s what to know about Bam Margera’s role in Jackass: Best and Last.
Is Bam Margera In Jackass: Best and Last?
He is.
Margera appears exclusively through archival footage assembled for the film, rather than in any of the newly shot segments.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Paramount and the filmmakers had reached an agreement with Margera allowing them to use footage that had never been released, including scenes originally filmed for Jackass Forever before his departure from that production. Rather than bringing him back to shoot new material, the filmmakers chose to incorporate those previously unseen moments into what has been billed as the franchise’s final installment.
That approach fits with the movie’s larger concept. Alongside new stunts featuring the core cast, Jackass: Best and Last also revisits more than two decades of the franchise through rare behind-the-scenes clips, alternate takes, and footage that never found its way into earlier films.
Why Wasn’t Bam Margera Involved In The New Stunts?
Margera’s absence from the newly filmed material traces back to the events surrounding Jackass Forever.
He was removed from that production in 2021 after allegedly violating the terms of a wellness agreement, a decision that led to lawsuits against Paramount and several members of the creative team. Although those legal disputes were eventually resolved, Margera has since said he wasn’t interested in returning to film new material for another Jackass movie.
Instead, both sides agreed to let the filmmakers use previously shot footage, allowing Margera to be part of the franchise’s sendoff without returning to set.
What Has Steve-O Said About Bam Margera’s Return?
Steve-O has spoken positively about Margera’s inclusion in Jackass: Best and Last, explaining that the movie grew out of a massive collection of unused footage the team rediscovered while looking back on the franchise.
According to Steve-O, there was simply too much material that audiences had never seen, making a final movie built around those lost moments feel worthwhile. That includes footage featuring Margera that was left on the cutting-room floor during Jackass Forever.
Steve-O has also suggested fans are in for a surprise when they see some of Margera’s unreleased material, calling it some of the highlights of the film. His comments come after years of publicly discussing his complicated friendship with Margera, which has improved considerably since the fallout over Jackass Forever.
As for what he hopes Bam will do to mend his relationships with the Jackass crew, Steve-O says, “I just think if Bam could say, ‘Hey, you know what? I was in a really dark place with the disease, and I was really sick the last time around, and these guys tried to help me, and they couldn’t, but it was on me…’ that would go a long way.
How To Watch Jackass: Best and Last:
Jackass: Best and Last is now playing exclusively in theaters nationwide.
The film premiered on Friday, June 26, and isn’t yet available to stream on Paramount+, Netflix, Prime Video or any other subscription service.
As with previous Paramount releases, the movie is expected to arrive first on premium video-on-demand before making its way to Paramount+, though the studio has not announced an official streaming release date.
