Also in this issue

• The Man Who Makes the Future
• How to Spot the Future
• The Rise of the Robot Reporter

The trio of films from the Jackass crew has grossed more than $334 million globally (emphasis on grossed). But they haven’t cornered the global market on smart-stupid stunts. There are plenty of insane clown posses eager for fame. Who’s got the goods? We asked Jackass star Steve-O for his take. (See stunts from these daredevils in the video gallery above.)

• The Dudesons

  Four childhood BFFs from Seinäjoki, Finland
  Signature stunt: The Human Dartboard
  Stateside success: The 2010 MTV series Dudesons in America, produced by Jackass’ Dickhouse Productions
  Steve-O says: “There’s one prank where they set a sleeping guy’s blanket on fire. It was downright immoral, but the receiver loved it.”

• The Misfits Stunt Crew

  A pair of mohawked crazies from Melbourne
  Signature stunt: Hanging a framed photo from a Misfit’s scrotum—using a hammer and nail
  Stateside success: None yet, though they were in the semis of Australia’s Got Talent
  Steve-O says: “What they do seems like just wanton self-mutilation. I don’t see much personality or substance.”

• The Tokyo Shock Boys

  A foursome who met in 1990 as roadies on a Paul McCartney tour
  Signature stunt: Wearing a diaper packed with lit firecrackers
  Stateside success: A 1997 off-Broadway show
  Steve-O says: “I like that they do gnarly stuff, but it’s not overly dark. Thumbs up.”

• Dirty Sanchez

  A quartet of hedonistic Brits named after a gross-out sexual maneuver
  Signature stunt: Rolling around near-naked in stinging nettles
  Stateside success: Their movie screened at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
  Steve-O says: “The Dirty Sanchez guys bring too much testosterone. They’re like Slayer; I’m looking for Spinal Tap.”

• Nitro Circus

  A seven-person American crew led by X Games motorsports champ Travis Pastrana
  Signature stunt: Jumping motorbikes into the Grand Canyon and parachuting to safety
  Stateside success: A 2009 MTV reality series produced by Dickhouse; a 3-D theatrical release due out this summer
  Steve-O says: “Travis was the first guy ever to do a double backflip on a motorcycle. That’s a legit stunt—not like the trivial shit that we do.”