Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Eighty-six-year-old Irving Zisman is on a journey across America with the most unlikely companion: his eight-year-old grandson Billy, in "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa". Jackass characters Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and Billy (Jackson Nicoll) will take movie audiences along for the most insane hidden camera road trip ever captured on camera. Along the way Irving will introduce the young and impressionable Billy to people, places, and situations that give new meaning to the term "childrearing". The duo will encounter male strippers, disgruntled child beauty pageant contestants (and their equally disgruntled mothers), funeral home mourners, biker bar patrons, and a whole lot of unsuspecting citizens. Real people in unreal situations, making for one really messed up comedy.
Despite a mid-range budget of $15.0M, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa became a box office phenomenon, earning $151.8M worldwide—a remarkable 912% return.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 win & 10 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) exemplifies strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Jeff Tremaine's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Irving Zisman sits in a waiting room at a fertility clinic, establishing him as a crude, inappropriate elderly man living his life without responsibility or consequence.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Irving's daughter is arrested and going to jail, forcing Irving to take responsibility for his grandson Billy and deliver him to his father in North Carolina, disrupting Irving's plans for freedom.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Irving and Billy fully commit to the road trip together, crossing into the adventure proper as they bond over pranks and mischief, transforming their journey from an obligation into a shared experience., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Billy performs in the beauty pageant with Irving's full support, marking a high point where Irving is fully invested in Billy's happiness and their bond appears strongest, but it raises the stakes for their impending separation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Irving delivers Billy to his deadbeat father Chuck, and the heartbreaking goodbye occurs. Irving walks away from Billy, having failed to protect him from a bad situation, symbolizing the death of their bond and Irving's return to loneliness., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Irving realizes he can't abandon Billy and decides to go back for him, choosing family and responsibility over his selfish freedom, synthesizing what he's learned about love and connection., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa against these established plot points, we can identify how Jeff Tremaine utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Irving Zisman sits in a waiting room at a fertility clinic, establishing him as a crude, inappropriate elderly man living his life without responsibility or consequence.
Theme
At his wife's funeral, someone mentions family responsibility and being there for loved ones, hinting at the theme of connection versus selfishness that Irving will confront.
Worldbuilding
Irving celebrates his wife's death and his newfound freedom, planning a life of debauchery. His daughter shows up with grandson Billy, revealing the dysfunctional family dynamics and Irving's complete lack of interest in family bonds.
Disruption
Irving's daughter is arrested and going to jail, forcing Irving to take responsibility for his grandson Billy and deliver him to his father in North Carolina, disrupting Irving's plans for freedom.
Resistance
Irving reluctantly prepares for the road trip with Billy, initially treating it as an inconvenience. They begin their journey with Irving trying to maintain his selfish lifestyle while dealing with his grandson.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Irving and Billy fully commit to the road trip together, crossing into the adventure proper as they bond over pranks and mischief, transforming their journey from an obligation into a shared experience.
Mirror World
Irving and Billy share genuine laughter and connection during their pranks, with Billy becoming Irving's partner in crime rather than a burden, showing Irving what real companionship feels like.
Premise
The fun and games of the road trip: Irving and Billy pull off elaborate pranks together, including the strip club scene, beauty pageant, and various public stunts, bonding as they go and Irving discovering joy in their relationship.
Midpoint
Billy performs in the beauty pageant with Irving's full support, marking a high point where Irving is fully invested in Billy's happiness and their bond appears strongest, but it raises the stakes for their impending separation.
Opposition
As they get closer to North Carolina and Billy's father, the reality of their separation looms. Irving begins to realize he doesn't want to give Billy up, while Billy expresses fear about living with his neglectful father.
Collapse
Irving delivers Billy to his deadbeat father Chuck, and the heartbreaking goodbye occurs. Irving walks away from Billy, having failed to protect him from a bad situation, symbolizing the death of their bond and Irving's return to loneliness.
Crisis
Irving drives away alone, processing the loss and recognizing that he has grown to genuinely love Billy and doesn't want to abandon him to a terrible father.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Irving realizes he can't abandon Billy and decides to go back for him, choosing family and responsibility over his selfish freedom, synthesizing what he's learned about love and connection.
Synthesis
Irving returns and rescues Billy from Chuck in a dramatic confrontation, crashes a funeral with Billy, and they complete their journey together, with Irving fully embracing his role as Billy's protector and family.
Transformation
Irving and Billy are together and happy, with Irving transformed from a selfish man celebrating freedom from family to someone who has chosen love and responsibility, finding true fulfillment in their grandfather-grandson bond.