Jay and Silent Bob, the Mallrats from Clerks are back for more trouble as their new movie Jay and Silent Bob Reboot hits theaters this month. It’s hard to imagine that these characters have been around since 1994. When Kevin Smith created the View-Askewniverse, it was probably doubtful that these characters would ever come back in any shape or fashion in 2019.
When Kevin Smith almost died from a heart attack last year, he pretty much set in motion for the characters to be resurrected. Smith has said in interviews that the film is a culmination of his life’s work. So, here is every Jay and Silent Bob Appearance, ranked, but not including Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
SCREAM 3 (2000)
This was more of a cameo than anything else. Weirdly enough, it wasn’t the first time that Jay and Silent Bob were in the Scream universe. In the first Scream released in 1996, a VHS copy of Clerks can be seen in Stu’s house. Later on, Wes Craven returned the favor by appearing in Jay and Silent Bob Stike Back as one of the many cameos that were in that film.
In Scream 3, It just so happens that Jay and Silent Bob were visiting Sunrise Studios before they run into Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and mistake her for Connie Chung.
FANBOYS (2009)
This is another interesting cameo but it isn’t actually Jay and Silent Bob. Both men are more a facsimile of their characters. The scene takes place outside a gas station bathroom where Jay Baruchel’s character and Kevin Smith are waiting to use it. Jason Mewes comes storming out and says he’s not going to do this anymore. It’s heavily implied in the scene that Kevin Smith is Jason Mewes’ pimp. Jay Baruchel’s character just looks on in horror at what’s he’s witnessed.
It’s quite a hilarious scenario and a twisted version of the Jay and Silent Bob relationship.
THE FLASH (2018)
In the 2018 The Flash episode, Null and Annoyed, while technically not Jay and Silent Bob, it could be said that this is the DC version with them playing security guards. While the characters were unnamed and moving special artifacts in a warehouse, it’s quite clear that this was another version of them. Since the multiverse exists in DC on TV, there’s nothing stopping them from doing security guard versions of Jay and Silent Bob.
While not a memorable cameo, it’s still remarkable that after 25 years, the characters are still well known to the wider audience. It also helped that Kevin Smith directed the episode.
CLERKS: THE ANIMATED SERIES (2000)
This very short-lived animated series had potential but didn’t live on beyond 6 episodes. While the show premiered on ABC in 2000, it was canceled after 2 episodes. While the show did air all 6 episodes on Comedy Central, later on, it didn’t grow beyond that other than getting a special edition DVD release.
As a series, it didn’t do much for the characters, but it had the original actors from the film. There is no doubt that it had potential but probably was before its time. At the same time, Jay and Silent Bob were depicted more like good-natured idiots rather than affable stoners.
CHASING AMY (1997)
Some critics argue that this is Kevin Smith’s best film, but in terms of screen time, this is the least amount of time for Jay and Silent Bob. The film features Ben Affleck’s character who is a comic book artist and is in love with Joey Lauren Adams’ character.
In a pivotal scene, during lunch between Affleck and the duo, Silent Bob imparts some serious wisdom about letting go of a former love because he couldn’t deal with her past. The scene is actually very good, but the characters seem detached from their usual type. While mature, it doesn’t rank high in entertainment value.
MALLRATS (1995)
The second film from Kevin Smith felt like a movie that was by the numbers. While this film introduced the audience to a sleazy Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, it felt like a low budget, studio-made film. It had all the trappings of a Kevin Smith film with several pop culture references including Batman and even an appearance by Stan Lee.
The film was a financial flop with it earning only $2.1 million against a $6 million budget, but it became a hit on home video. It’s been known that Kevin Smith has apologized for this film, and for the most part, it was a studio-made product.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
At the time, this film served another studio-made product that is full of cameos and ridiculous, over-the-top humor. With that said, there are interesting interludes in the film. The scene where Jay believes that the chimp that is accompanying them is a prelude to a Planet of the Apes world. This scene serves as a direct parody, complete with the Statue of Liberty.
Moreover, the film is another love-letter to Star Wars with Mark Hamill in a fight scene that is one for the ages. In the words of Chris Rock, George Lucas was certain to sue someone, if the film within the film saw the light of the day.
CLERKS 2 (2006)
The only reason Clerks 2 got made was because Kevin Smith made a promise to Jason Mewes that he would make the film only if he got sober. And the love for the characters that started it all showed in the film. With Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson reprising their roles as Dante and Randal respectively, the film has a lot of heart.
In essence, the film was about growing up and the major characters showed that. Even Jay is basically a reformed drug addict and has a hilarious homage to Silence of the Lambs, that not many other actors, other than Jason Mewes could accomplish.
DOGMA (1999)
This was probably up there in terms of Kevin Smith’s abilities as a writer. He gave an interesting point of view on religion and mixing up Catholicism with raunchy humor, excellent dialogue and of course, Jay and Silent Bob as protectors of the Messiah. Jay and Silent Bob were a side addition to the film and were ridiculously hilarious in the parts they have.
The film itself is an epitome of what Kevin Smith was capable of as he mixed up action, comedy, and drama all rolled into a weird movie of biblical proportions. This deserves to be rated in the top three.
CLERKS (1994)
The original Clerks film is still Kevin Smith’s best film. There is no doubt about it. His subsequent films have ranged from bad to good and this one is top-tier. This film also introduced the world to Jay and Silent Bob with Jason Mewes saying things that no one on Earth ever would. Moreover, even Kevin Smith’s advice to Dante at the end of the film is fantastic, which adds more layers to the character.
Jay and Silent Bob are American icons as they have entertained movie audiences for over 25 years. While some may not care for them, others will always find value in them, in the years to come.
