Dave Franco is promising a throwback comedy experience with Idiots. The upcoming film stars Franco alongside O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Mason Thames. The story follows two unqualified men who take on a seemingly simple job that quickly turns chaotic.
During an appearance on Today, Franco discussed how the film brings back a type of comedy that “goes hard,” promising the outrageous energy that has become less common in recent years. The R-rated comedy hits theaters on August 28, 2026.
What to know about Idiots, Dave Franco & O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s new comedy movie
Idiots follows Mark (Franco) and Davis (Jackson Jr.), two desperate men hired to transport a wealthy, troubled teenager, Sheridan Kimberley (Thames), across the country to a rehab facility. What begins as a straightforward drive quickly turns into a chaotic road trip packed with crime, drugs, and dangerous escalations.
Franco sees Idiots as a return to the kind of R-rated comedy that was particularly popular in the 2000s. While talking about the film on Today, he compared it to several popular comedies of that era. He said, “This harkens back to the comedies from the early 2000s like ‘Harold & Kumar’; we got ‘The Hangover,’ ‘Superbad’ vibes, and ‘Pineapple Express,’ these comedies that go hard.”
The comparison shows the kind of comedy Idiots is going for. The R-rated film features wild situations, flawed characters, raunchy humor, and characters who keep getting in trouble. The chemistry between Franco, Jackson Jr., and Thames also plays an important role in the film.
The three actors revealed that they carpooled to set during shooting, giving them time to create a bond off-screen. Franco said, “I knew we would have that chemistry,” explaining how the real-life bond helped them create the dynamic seen in the film.
The film is directed and written by Macon Blair. He also produced the film alongside Franco, Ford Corbett, Mark Fasano, Joshua Harris, Brandon James, Nathan Klingher, and Alex Orr. It also features Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage in supporting roles. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival under its original title, The Shitheads.