485BPOS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2018.
1933 Act Registration No. 333-68105
1940 Act Registration No. 811-09121
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933			[X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [  ]			[  ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 55			[X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940			[X]
Amendment No. 57			[X]
JNL VARIABLE FUND LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1200, Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (312) 338-5801
225 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Mailing Address)
with a copy to:
Susan S. Rhee, Esq.		Ropes & Gray LLP
JNL Variable Fund LLC		32nd Floor
Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary		191 North Wacker Drive
1 Corporate Way		Chicago, Illinois  60606
Lansing, Michigan 48951		Attn:  Paulita A. Pike, Esq.
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
[X]	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[  ]	on _________________pursuant to paragraph (b)
[  ]	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[  ]	on _________________pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[  ]	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[  ]	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
[  ]	This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Part C.
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 is filed for the sole purpose of submitting the XBRL exhibit for the risk/return summary first provided in Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to the Fund’s Registration Statement.

EXHIBIT LIST
Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, the Fund certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Lansing and the State of Michigan on the 16th day of May, 2018.
JNL VARIABLE FUND LLC
/s/ Susan S. Rhee
Susan S. Rhee
Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Eric O. Anyah
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Michael Bouchard
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Ellen Carnahan
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
William Crowley
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Michelle Engler
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
John W. Gillespie
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
William R. Rybak
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Mark S. Wehrle
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Edward C. Wood
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Patricia A. Woodworth
Manager
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Mark D. Nerud
Manager, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Susan S. Rhee *	May 16, 2018
Daniel W. Koors
Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
* By Susan S. Rhee, Attorney In Fact

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital DowSM Index Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The investment objective of the Fund is total return through a combination of capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.19%	0.19%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.17%	0.17%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.66%	0.36%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.31%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	67	211	368	822
Class I	32	111	197	451

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	1	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

1.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the thirty securities which comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average (“DJIA”), with the weight of each security in the Fund substantially corresponding to the weight of such security in the DJIA. The thirty securities are adjusted from time to time to conform to periodic changes to the identity and/or relative weightings in the DJIA.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities beyond a certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies , to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the financial services sector.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Limited management, trading cost and rebalance risk – Investing primarily according to specific, mechanical criteria applied on a specific date each year may prevent a Fund from responding to market fluctuations or changes in the financial condition or business prospects of the selected companies during the year.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Information for Class I shares is not shown because Class I shares commenced operations on September 25, 2017.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2009): 19.61%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -28.70%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

19.61%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(28.70%)

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	27.64%	16.05%	7.98%
Dow Jones Industrial Average (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	28.11%	16.37%	9.28%

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital MSCI World Index Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The investment objective of the Fund is to match the performance of the MSCI World Index. The Fund is constructed to mirror the index to provide long-term capital growth by investing in international equity securities attempting to match the characteristics of each country within the index.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.19%	0.19%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.17%	0.17%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.66%	0.36%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.31%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	67	211	368	822
Class I	32	111	197	451

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	142	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

142.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks included in the MSCI World Index or derivative securities economically related to the MSCI World Index. The Fund seeks to match the performance and characteristics of the MSCI World Index.

To implement this strategy, the Fund may invest up to 50% of its net asset value in financial futures, a type of derivative, to obtain exposure, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective. In addition, the Fund may use foreign currency forward contracts, a type of derivative, to maintain the approximate currency exposure of the MSCI World Index.

The Fund does not employ traditional methods of active investment management, which involves the buying and selling of securities based upon security analysis. Indexing may offer a cost-effective approach to gaining diversified market exposure over the long term.

The Fund may obtain exposure to non-U.S. companies through investment in depositary receipts such as American, Global, and European Depositary Receipts (ADRs, GDRs, and EDRs).

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the financial services sector.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Depositary receipts risk – Depositary receipts, such as ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, may be issued in sponsored or un-sponsored programs. In a sponsored program, a security issuer has made arrangements to have its securities traded in the form of depositary receipts. In an un-sponsored program, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks as direct investments in foreign securities. These risks include: fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; and speculation. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political and social upheaval, and economic instability. Investments in depositary receipts that are traded over the counter may also subject a Fund to liquidity risk.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• European investment risk – Investing in Europe involves many of the same risks as investing in foreign securities. In addition, Europe includes both developed and emerging markets and investments by the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with investments in such markets. Performance is expected to be closely tied to social, political, and economic conditions within Europe and to be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended departure from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Forward and futures contract risk – The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Sub-Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risks including, but not limited to: (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Sub-Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• License termination risk – The Fund may rely on licenses from a third party (licensor) that permit the Fund to use that party’s intellectual property in connection with the Fund’s name and/or investment strategies. The license may be terminated by the licensor, and as a result the Fund may lose its ability to use the licensed name or strategy, or receive important data from the licensor. Accordingly, a license may have a significant effect on the future operation of the Fund, including the need to change the investment strategy.

• Portfolio turnover risk – Active trading, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or in instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may increase transaction costs, which may reduce performance.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Performance information prior to September 25, 2017 shown reflects the Fund’s results when managed by the sub-adviser utilizing a different investment strategy. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Information for Class I shares is not shown because Class I shares commenced operations on September 25, 2017.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 29.32%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.34%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

29.32%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.34%)

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	21.24%	8.36%	2.69%
MSCI World Index (Net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	22.40%	11.64%	5.03%

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Nasdaq® 100 Index Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The investment objective of the Fund is total return.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.18%	0.18%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.19%	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.67%	0.37%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		0.32%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	68	214	373	835
Class I	33	114	203	463

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	6	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

6.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in the securities which comprise the NASDAQ 100 Index® (“Index”). The Fund seeks to invest under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the Index in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund does not employ traditional methods of active investment management, which involves the buying and selling of securities based upon security analysis. The Fund attempts to replicate the Index by investing all or substantially all of its assets in the securities that make up the Index. The Index includes 100 of the largest non-financial domestic and international companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Index reflects companies across high-growth industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology.

The securities are adjusted from time to time by BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation (“BNYM AMNA”) (“Sub-Adviser”) to conform to periodic changes in the identity and/or relative weights of the securities in the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies , to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund may invest in the securities of non-U.S. issuers.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreignwithholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Large-capitalization investing risk – Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, which may cause the Fund to underperform funds that focus on other types of stocks.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The performance information shown prior to April 25, 2016 reflects the Fund’s results when utilizing a different investment strategy. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	32.09%	19.30%	10.49%
Class A | Nasdaq 100 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	32.99%	20.68%	13.05%
Class I	32.42%	19.57%	10.72%
Class I | Nasdaq 100 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	32.99%	20.68%	13.05%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 16.02%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.02%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

16.02%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.02%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 16.05%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.01%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

16.05%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.01%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

[3] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital S&P® SMid 60 Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.19%	0.19%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.17%	0.17%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.66%	0.36%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.31%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	67	211	368	822
Class I	32	111	197	451

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above , affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	82	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

82.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by identifying small and mid-capitalization companies with improving fundamental performance and sentiment. BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation (“BNYM AMNA”) (“Sub-Adviser”) attempts to select small and mid-capitalization companies that are likely to be in an earlier stage of their economic life cycle than mature large-capitalization companies.

The Fund invests in 30 of the securities that comprise the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index (“S&P MidCap 400”) and 30 of the securities that comprise the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index (“S&P SmallCap 600”) (each an “Index”, collectively the “Indexes”). The 60 securities are selected on each Security Selection Date. The Security Selection Date will be on or about January 1 of each year. The Sub-Adviser selects the 60 securities according to a screening process that considers average daily dollar trading volume, price to book ratio, 3-month price appreciation, and ratio of cash flow per share to stock price. The Sub-Adviser will choose only one share class of a security to be represented in the Fund if the security selection model selects multiple shares classes of the same security. The 30 securities selected from the S&P MidCap 400 are given twice the weight of the 30 securities selected from the S&P SmallCap 600.

The Sub-Adviser generally uses a buy and hold strategy, trading only around each Security Selection Date, when cash flow activity occurs in the Fund and for dividend reinvestment. The Sub-Adviser may also trade for mergers or acquisitions if the original stock is not the surviving company.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the financial services sector.

The Fund may invest in the securities of non-U.S. issuers.

The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income.

The Fund may invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to assist with fund re-balances and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Limited management, trading cost and rebalance risk – Investing primarily according to specific, mechanical criteria applied on a specific date each year may prevent a Fund from responding to market fluctuations or changes in the financial condition or business prospects of the selected companies during the year.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Securities lending risk – Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of broad-based securities market indices which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	(2.21%)	12.07%	9.72%
Class A | S&P MidCap 400 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.24%	15.01%	9.97%
Class A | S&P SmallCap 600 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	13.23%	15.99%	10.43%
Class I	(1.88%)	12.32%	9.93%
Class I | S&P MidCap 400 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.24%	15.01%	9.97%
Class I | S&P SmallCap 600 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	13.23%	15.99%	10.43%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 43.87%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2011): -26.40%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

43.87%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.40%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 43.91%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2011): -26.28%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

43.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.28%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital JNL 5 Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The investment objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.17%	0.17%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.63%	0.33%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	64	202	351	786
Class I	34	106	185	418

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	89	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

89.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in the securities that are identified by a model based on 5 different specialized strategies:

• 20% in the DowSM 10 Strategy, a dividend yielding strategy;

• 20% in the S&P® 10 Strategy, a blended valuation-momentum strategy;

• 20% in the Global 15 Strategy, a dividend yielding strategy;

• 20% in the 25 Strategy, a dividend yielding strategy; and

• 20% in the Select Small-Cap Strategy, a small capitalization strategy.

Each of these strategies above is the same as the principal investment strategy of the similarly named strategy described in the statutory prospectus. The DowSM 10 Strategy invests in the ten securities included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average which have the highest indicated annual dividend yields. The S&P® 10 Strategy invests in the ten securities selected from a pre-screened subset of the securities listed in the S&P 500® Index. The Global 15 Strategy invests in the securities of certain dividend-paying companies which are components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Financial Times Ordinary Index and the Hang Seng Index. The 25 Strategy invests in the securities of 25 dividend-paying companies selected from a subset of the securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Select Small-Cap Strategy invests in a portfolio of securities of 100 small capitalization companies selected from a pre-screened subset of the securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market. BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation (“Sub-Adviser”) will choose only one share class of a security to be represented in each of the 5 listed strategies of the Fund if the specific stock selection model selects multiple shares classes of the same security.

The securities for each strategy are selected only once annually on each Security Selection Date. The Security Selection Date will be on or about January 1 of each year.

The Sub-Adviser generally uses a buy and hold strategy, trading only around each Security Selection Date, when cash flow activity occurs, and for dividend reinvestment. The Sub-Adviser may also trade for mergers if the original security is not from the surviving company.

The Fund may invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to assist with fund re-balances and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective. In addition, the Fund may use foreign currency forward contracts, a type of derivative, to maintain appropriate currency exposures.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in , or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters . Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Forward and futures contract risk – The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Sub-Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risks including, but not limited to: (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Sub-Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

• Limited management, trading cost and rebalance risk – Investing primarily according to specific, mechanical criteria applied on a specific date each year may prevent a Fund from responding to market fluctuations or changes in the financial condition or business prospects of the selected companies during the year.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Portfolio turnover risk – Active trading, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or in instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may increase transaction costs, which may reduce performance.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Effective April 24, 2017, the Fund was combined with JNL/Mellon Capital S&P® 24 Fund (“Acquired Fund”) with the Fund as the surviving Fund. The performance shown is the Fund’s historic performance and does not reflect the performance of the Acquired Fund.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	16.93%	13.27%	6.05%
Class A | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	21.83%	15.79%	8.50%
Class I	17.24%	13.51%	6.27%
Class I | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	21.83%	15.79%	8.50%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 20.27%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.89%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

20.27%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.89%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 20.61%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.97%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

20.61%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(26.97%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Consumer Discretionary Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.18%	0.18%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.64%	0.34%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.29%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	65	205	357	798
Class I	30	104	186	426

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	8	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

8.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) assets in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $63.49 million to $617.57 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-re lated securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	22.10%	16.50%	12.23%
Class A | MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	22.90%	17.08%	13.01%
Class I	22.44%	16.75%	12.45%
Class I | MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	22.90%	17.08%	13.01%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2009): 17.87%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -20.50%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

17.87%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(20.50%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2009): 17.89%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -20.39%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

17.89%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(20.39%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Energy Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.18%	0.18%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.64%	0.34%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.29%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one yea r. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	65	205	357	798
Class I	30	104	186	426

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	7	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

7.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Energy Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $148.05 million to $320.92 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	(2.98%)	1.25%	0.19%
Class A | MSCI USA IMI Energy Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	(2.35%)	1.68%	0.60%
Class I	(2.73%)	1.47%	0.40%
Class I | MSCI USA IMI Energy Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	(2.35%)	1.68%	0.60%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 12/31/2010): 20.87%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2008): -25.64%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

20.87%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(25.64%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 12/31/2010): 20.91%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2008): -25.60%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

20.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(25.60%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Financial Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.18%	0.18%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.64%	0.34%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.29%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	65	205	357	798
Class I	30	104	186	426

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	9	%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the securities in the MSCI USA IMI Financials Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $123.12 million to $406.44 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), the Bank Holding Company Act of 1953, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1896, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information s hown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	19.32%	17.16%	4.89%
Class A | MSCI USA IMI Financials Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.13%	17.79%	5.08%
Class I	19.60%	17.40%	5.10%
Class I | MSCI USA IMI Financials Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.13%	17.79%	5.08%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 29.17%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -33.22%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

29.17%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(33.22%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 29.24%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -33.15%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

29.24%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(33.15%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Healthcare Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.17%	0.17%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.63%	0.33%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.28%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year . Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	64	202	351	786
Class I	29	101	180	413

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	6	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

6.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the securities in the MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $46.45 million to $348.60 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of fo cus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-re lated securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-re lated securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	22.63%	17.27%	10.89%
Class A | MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	23.46%	18.06%	11.65%
Class I	22.91%	17.49%	11.11%
Class I | MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	23.46%	18.06%	11.65%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2013): 15.81%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -13.55%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2013

Highest Quarterly Return

15.81%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(13.55%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2013): 15.80%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -13.49%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2013

Highest Quarterly Return

15.80%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(13.49%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Information Technology Sector Fund

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.18%	0.18%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.64%	0.34%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.29%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	65	205	357	798
Class I	30	104	186	426

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	4	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

4.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $190.47 million to $920.03 bi llion.

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	36.31%	19.67%	10.95%
Class A | MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	37.24%	20.54%	11.86%
Class I	36.62%	19.92%	11.18%
Class I | MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	37.24%	20.54%	11.86%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 21.91%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -25.72%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

21.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(25.72%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 22.11%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -25.63%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

22.11%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(25.63%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Prospectus [Line Items]

Risk/Return [Heading]

JNL/Mellon Capital Telecommunications Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses [Table]

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND		Class A	Class I
Management Fee		0.21%	0.21%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.30%	none
Other Expenses	[1]	0.16%	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[2]	0.67%	0.37%
Less Waiver/Reimbursement	[3]		(0.05%)
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement	[2]		0.32%

Expense Example [Heading]

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year . Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example, With Redemption [Table]

Expense Example - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND - USD ($)	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	68	214	373	835
Class I	33	114	203	463

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	27	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

27.00%

Strategy [Heading]

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Telecommunication Services 25/50 Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $5.42 million to $109.65 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, thi s may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Securities lending risk – Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Table Heading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Performance [Table]

Average Annual Total Returns - JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A	3.53%	10.91%	6.15%
Class A | MSCI USA IMI Telecommunications Services 25/50 Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	3.73%	11.90%	7.04%
Class I	3.77%	11.13%	6.34%
Class I | MSCI USA IMI Telecommunications Services 25/50 Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	3.73%	11.90%	7.04%

Classes | Class A

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2010): 19.85%; Worst Quarter (ended 3/31/2008): -18.69%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

19.85%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(18.69%)

Classes | Class I

Prospectus [Line Items]

Bar Chart [Heading]

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart [Table]

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2010): 20.38%; Worst Quarter (ended 3/31/2008): -18.55%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

Sep. 30, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

20.38%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

Mar. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

(18.55%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Document Type

dei_DocumentType

485BPOS

Document Period End Date

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Dec. 31, 2017

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

JNL VARIABLE FUND LLC

Central Index Key

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

0001072428

Amendment Flag

dei_AmendmentFlag

false

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

jvf

Document Creation Date

dei_DocumentCreationDate

Apr. 26, 2018

Document Effective Date

dei_DocumentEffectiveDate

Apr. 30, 2018

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Apr. 30, 2018

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital DowSM Index Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The investment objective of the Fund is total return through a combination of capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	1	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

1.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the thirty securities which comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average (“DJIA”), with the weight of each security in the Fund substantially corresponding to the weight of such security in the DJIA. The thirty securities are adjusted from time to time to conform to periodic changes to the identity and/or relative weightings in the DJIA.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities beyond a certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies , to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the financial services sector.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Limited management, trading cost and rebalance risk – Investing primarily according to specific, mechanical criteria applied on a specific date each year may prevent a Fund from responding to market fluctuations or changes in the financial condition or business prospects of the selected companies during the year.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Information for Class I shares is not shown because Class I shares commenced operations on September 25, 2017.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.19%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.66%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 67

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

211

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

368

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 822

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(46.03%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

15.87%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

24.66%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

17.98%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

11.26%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

30.52%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

9.80%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(0.64%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

15.82%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

27.64%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

27.64%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

16.05%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.98%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.19%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.36%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.31%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 32

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

111

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

197

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 451

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND | Dow Jones Industrial Average (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

28.11%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

16.37%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

9.28%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Telecommunications Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	27	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

27.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year . Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Telecommunication Services 25/50 Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $5.42 million to $109.65 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, thi s may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Securities lending risk – Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.21%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.67%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 68

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

214

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

373

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 835

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(39.64%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

25.59%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

22.53%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(3.19%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

20.34%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

21.02%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

5.52%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

2.73%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

23.53%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

3.53%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

3.53%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

10.91%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.15%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.21%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.37%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.32%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 33

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

114

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

203

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 463

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(39.64%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

26.12%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

22.55%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(3.18%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

20.83%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

21.34%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

5.74%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

2.92%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

23.69%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

3.77%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

3.77%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

11.13%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.34%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Telecommunications Services 25/50 Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

3.73%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

11.90%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.04%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Telecommunications Services 25/50 Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

3.73%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

11.90%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.04%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Consumer Discretionary Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	8	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

8.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) assets in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $63.49 million to $617.57 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-re lated securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.64%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 65

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

205

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

357

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 798

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(31.29%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

33.14%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

22.76%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

6.53%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

23.47%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

41.11%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

10.81%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

5.90%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

6.16%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

22.10%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.10%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

16.50%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

12.23%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.34%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.29%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 30

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

104

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

186

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 426

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(31.20%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

33.41%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

22.92%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

6.79%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

23.72%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

41.38%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

11.00%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

6.14%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

6.34%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

22.44%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.44%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

16.75%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

12.45%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.90%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.08%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

13.01%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.90%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.08%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

13.01%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Healthcare Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	6	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

6.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year . Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the securities in the MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $46.45 million to $348.60 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of fo cus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-re lated securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-re lated securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.17%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.63%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 64

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

202

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

351

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 786

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(23.20%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

20.97%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

3.88%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

10.88%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

18.47%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

40.99%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

25.14%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

6.58%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

(3.82%)

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

22.63%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.63%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.27%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.89%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.17%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.33%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.28%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 29

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

101

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

180

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 413

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(23.05%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

21.12%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

4.13%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

11.13%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

18.77%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

41.20%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

25.39%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

6.82%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

(3.67%)

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

22.91%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.91%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.49%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

11.11%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

23.46%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

18.06%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

11.65%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

23.46%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

18.06%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

11.65%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Financial Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	9	%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the securities in the MSCI USA IMI Financials Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $123.12 million to $406.44 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), the Bank Holding Company Act of 1953, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1896, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information s hown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.64%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 65

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

205

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

357

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 798

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(50.64%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

18.62%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

13.49%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(12.89%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

26.12%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

33.35%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

13.06%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(1.12%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

24.10%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

19.32%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

19.32%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.16%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.89%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.34%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.29%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 30

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

104

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

186

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 426

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(50.54%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

18.80%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

13.68%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(12.76%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

26.56%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

33.52%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

13.32%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(0.88%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

24.32%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

19.60%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

19.60%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.40%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.10%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Financials Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

20.13%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.79%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.08%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Financials Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

20.13%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

17.79%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.08%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Energy Sector Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	7	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

7.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one yea r. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Energy Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $148.05 million to $320.92 billion .

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.64%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 65

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

205

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

357

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 798

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(37.80%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

19.97%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

19.11%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

3.27%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

4.35%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

25.34%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

(10.36%)

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(23.36%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

27.21%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

(2.98%)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.98%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.25%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.19%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.34%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.29%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 30

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

104

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

186

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 426

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(37.70%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

20.22%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

19.37%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

3.50%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

4.53%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

25.62%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

(10.18%)

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(23.11%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

24.47%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

(2.73%)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.73%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.47%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.40%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Energy Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.35%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.68%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.60%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Energy Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.35%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.68%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

0.60%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Information Technology Sector Fund

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	4	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

4.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index (“Index”) in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by utilizing a replication investment approach, called indexing, which attempts to replicate the investment performance of the Index. Indexing may offer a cost-effective investment approach to gaining sector exposure over the long term. Indexing may eliminate the chance that a Fund will outperform the Index, but also may reduce some of the risk of active management, such as poor security selection. As of December 31, 2017 , the market capitalization range of the Index was $190.47 million to $920.03 bi llion.

The Fund’s ability to achieve significant correlation with the performance of the Index may be affected by changes in shareholder flows, securities markets and changes in the composition of the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may also invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and cash to maintain correlation to its index, to assist with index re-balances, and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Concentration risk – The Fund may concentrate its investments in certain securities. To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors, issuers, types of investment or limited number of securities from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse economic, business or political developments in the area of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Sector risk – Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the risk that securities of companies within specific sectors of the economy can perform differently than the overall market. For example, this may be due to changes in the regulatory or competitive environment or changes in investor perceptions regarding a sector. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain sectors than others, the Fund’s performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund. In addition, the Fund could underperform other funds investing in similar sectors or comparable benchmarks because of the investment manager’s choice of securities within such sector.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.64%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 65

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

205

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

357

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 798

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(43.42%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

63.82%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

12.11%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(0.33%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

11.23%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

26.18%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

20.61%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

4.41%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

13.30%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

36.31%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

36.31%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

19.67%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.95%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.34%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.29%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 30

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

104

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

186

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 426

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(43.31%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

64.21%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

12.26%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(0.18%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

11.57%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

26.46%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

20.79%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

4.75%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

13.44%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

36.62%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

36.62%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

19.92%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

11.18%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

37.24%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

20.54%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

11.86%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND | MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

37.24%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

20.54%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

11.86%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital MSCI World Index Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The investment objective of the Fund is to match the performance of the MSCI World Index. The Fund is constructed to mirror the index to provide long-term capital growth by investing in international equity securities attempting to match the characteristics of each country within the index.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	142	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

142.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks included in the MSCI World Index or derivative securities economically related to the MSCI World Index. The Fund seeks to match the performance and characteristics of the MSCI World Index.

To implement this strategy, the Fund may invest up to 50% of its net asset value in financial futures, a type of derivative, to obtain exposure, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective. In addition, the Fund may use foreign currency forward contracts, a type of derivative, to maintain the approximate currency exposure of the MSCI World Index.

The Fund does not employ traditional methods of active investment management, which involves the buying and selling of securities based upon security analysis. Indexing may offer a cost-effective approach to gaining diversified market exposure over the long term.

The Fund may obtain exposure to non-U.S. companies through investment in depositary receipts such as American, Global, and European Depositary Receipts (ADRs, GDRs, and EDRs).

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the financial services sector.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Depositary receipts risk – Depositary receipts, such as ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, may be issued in sponsored or un-sponsored programs. In a sponsored program, a security issuer has made arrangements to have its securities traded in the form of depositary receipts. In an un-sponsored program, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks as direct investments in foreign securities. These risks include: fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; and speculation. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political and social upheaval, and economic instability. Investments in depositary receipts that are traded over the counter may also subject a Fund to liquidity risk.

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• European investment risk – Investing in Europe involves many of the same risks as investing in foreign securities. In addition, Europe includes both developed and emerging markets and investments by the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with investments in such markets. Performance is expected to be closely tied to social, political, and economic conditions within Europe and to be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended departure from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Forward and futures contract risk – The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Sub-Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risks including, but not limited to: (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Sub-Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• License termination risk – The Fund may rely on licenses from a third party (licensor) that permit the Fund to use that party’s intellectual property in connection with the Fund’s name and/or investment strategies. The license may be terminated by the licensor, and as a result the Fund may lose its ability to use the licensed name or strategy, or receive important data from the licensor. Accordingly, a license may have a significant effect on the future operation of the Fund, including the need to change the investment strategy.

• Portfolio turnover risk – Active trading, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or in instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may increase transaction costs, which may reduce performance.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. Performance information prior to September 25, 2017 shown reflects the Fund’s results when managed by the sub-adviser utilizing a different investment strategy. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Information for Class I shares is not shown because Class I shares commenced operations on September 25, 2017.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.19%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.66%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 67

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

211

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

368

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 822

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(48.52%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

31.06%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

14.69%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(8.26%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

22.91%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

13.30%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

10.86%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(8.25%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

6.95%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

21.24%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

21.24%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

8.36%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

2.69%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.19%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.36%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.31%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 32

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

111

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

197

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 451

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND | MSCI World Index (Net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

22.40%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

11.64%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.03%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital Nasdaq® 100 Index Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The investment objective of the Fund is total return.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	6	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

6.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in the securities which comprise the NASDAQ 100 Index® (“Index”). The Fund seeks to invest under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the stocks in the Index in proportion to their market capitalization weighting in the Index. The Fund does not employ traditional methods of active investment management, which involves the buying and selling of securities based upon security analysis. The Fund attempts to replicate the Index by investing all or substantially all of its assets in the securities that make up the Index. The Index includes 100 of the largest non-financial domestic and international companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Index reflects companies across high-growth industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology.

The securities are adjusted from time to time by BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation (“BNYM AMNA”) (“Sub-Adviser”) to conform to periodic changes in the identity and/or relative weights of the securities in the Index.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies , to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund may invest in the securities of non-U.S. issuers.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreignwithholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Index investing risk – The Fund’s indexing strategy does not attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term periods of poor stock performance. Fund performance may not exactly correspond with the performance of the relevant index for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: the timing of purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, changes in the composition of the index, and the Fund’s expenses. Certain regulatory limitations, such as Fund diversification requirements, may limit the ability of a Fund to completely replicate an index.

• Large-capitalization investing risk – Large-capitalization stocks as a group could fall out of favor with the market, which may cause the Fund to underperform funds that focus on other types of stocks.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The performance information shown prior to April 25, 2016 reflects the Fund’s results when utilizing a different investment strategy. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.19%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.67%

^[3]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 68

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

214

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

373

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 835

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(41.51%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

34.11%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

17.20%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

1.98%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

19.66%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

41.10%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

18.44%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

1.43%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

7.94%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

32.09%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

32.09%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

19.30%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.49%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.18%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.19%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.37%

^[3]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.32%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 33

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

114

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

203

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 463

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(41.41%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

34.34%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

17.48%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

2.27%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

19.75%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

41.44%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

18.67%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

1.65%

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

8.18%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

32.42%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

32.42%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

19.57%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.72%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND | Nasdaq 100 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

32.99%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

20.68%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

13.05%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND | Nasdaq 100 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

32.99%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

20.68%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

13.05%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital JNL 5 Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The investment objective of the Fund is total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	89	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

89.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in the securities that are identified by a model based on 5 different specialized strategies:

• 20% in the DowSM 10 Strategy, a dividend yielding strategy;

• 20% in the S&P® 10 Strategy, a blended valuation-momentum strategy;

• 20% in the Global 15 Strategy, a dividend yielding strategy;

• 20% in the 25 Strategy, a dividend yielding strategy; and

• 20% in the Select Small-Cap Strategy, a small capitalization strategy.

Each of these strategies above is the same as the principal investment strategy of the similarly named strategy described in the statutory prospectus. The DowSM 10 Strategy invests in the ten securities included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average which have the highest indicated annual dividend yields. The S&P® 10 Strategy invests in the ten securities selected from a pre-screened subset of the securities listed in the S&P 500® Index. The Global 15 Strategy invests in the securities of certain dividend-paying companies which are components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Financial Times Ordinary Index and the Hang Seng Index. The 25 Strategy invests in the securities of 25 dividend-paying companies selected from a subset of the securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Select Small-Cap Strategy invests in a portfolio of securities of 100 small capitalization companies selected from a pre-screened subset of the securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market. BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation (“Sub-Adviser”) will choose only one share class of a security to be represented in each of the 5 listed strategies of the Fund if the specific stock selection model selects multiple shares classes of the same security.

The securities for each strategy are selected only once annually on each Security Selection Date. The Security Selection Date will be on or about January 1 of each year.

The Sub-Adviser generally uses a buy and hold strategy, trading only around each Security Selection Date, when cash flow activity occurs, and for dividend reinvestment. The Sub-Adviser may also trade for mergers if the original security is not from the surviving company.

The Fund may invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to assist with fund re-balances and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective. In addition, the Fund may use foreign currency forward contracts, a type of derivative, to maintain appropriate currency exposures.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in , or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters . Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Forward and futures contract risk – The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Sub-Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risks including, but not limited to: (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Sub-Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

• Limited management, trading cost and rebalance risk – Investing primarily according to specific, mechanical criteria applied on a specific date each year may prevent a Fund from responding to market fluctuations or changes in the financial condition or business prospects of the selected companies during the year.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Portfolio turnover risk – Active trading, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or in instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may increase transaction costs, which may reduce performance.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of a broad-based securities market index which has investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Effective April 24, 2017, the Fund was combined with JNL/Mellon Capital S&P® 24 Fund (“Acquired Fund”) with the Fund as the surviving Fund. The performance shown is the Fund’s historic performance and does not reflect the performance of the Acquired Fund.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.17%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.63%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 64

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

202

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

351

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 786

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(42.39%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

23.47%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

17.11%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(2.07%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

18.04%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

31.68%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

11.32%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(3.02%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

12.18%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

16.93%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.93%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

13.27%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.05%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.17%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.16%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.33%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 34

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

106

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

185

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 418

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(42.35%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

24.19%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

17.27%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(1.85%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

18.25%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

31.96%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

11.59%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(2.88%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

12.40%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

17.24%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

17.24%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

13.51%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.27%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

21.83%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

15.79%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.50%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

21.83%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

15.79%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.50%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JNL/Mellon Capital S&P® SMid 60 Fund 

Class A 

Class I

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective.

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Expenses.

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

The expenses do not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover (% of average value of portfolio).

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Expense Example above , affect the Fund’s performance.

Period
1/1/2017 - 12/31/2017	82	%

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

82.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense Example.

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Also, this example does not reflect the expenses of the variable insurance contracts or the separate account through which you indirectly invest in the Fund, whichever may be applicable, and the total expenses would be higher if they were included. The table below shows the expenses you would pay on a $10,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period and (3) that the Fund operating expenses remain the same. This example also assumes that the Class I administrative fee waiver is discontinued after one year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by identifying small and mid-capitalization companies with improving fundamental performance and sentiment. BNY Mellon Asset Management North America Corporation (“BNYM AMNA”) (“Sub-Adviser”) attempts to select small and mid-capitalization companies that are likely to be in an earlier stage of their economic life cycle than mature large-capitalization companies.

The Fund invests in 30 of the securities that comprise the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index (“S&P MidCap 400”) and 30 of the securities that comprise the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index (“S&P SmallCap 600”) (each an “Index”, collectively the “Indexes”). The 60 securities are selected on each Security Selection Date. The Security Selection Date will be on or about January 1 of each year. The Sub-Adviser selects the 60 securities according to a screening process that considers average daily dollar trading volume, price to book ratio, 3-month price appreciation, and ratio of cash flow per share to stock price. The Sub-Adviser will choose only one share class of a security to be represented in the Fund if the security selection model selects multiple shares classes of the same security. The 30 securities selected from the S&P MidCap 400 are given twice the weight of the 30 securities selected from the S&P SmallCap 600.

The Sub-Adviser generally uses a buy and hold strategy, trading only around each Security Selection Date, when cash flow activity occurs in the Fund and for dividend reinvestment. The Sub-Adviser may also trade for mergers or acquisitions if the original stock is not the surviving company.

Certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in certain securities in excess of certain percentage limitations.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies in the financial services sector.

The Fund may invest in the securities of non-U.S. issuers.

The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income.

The Fund may invest in a combination of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to assist with fund re-balances and to meet redemption or purchase requests.

The Fund may invest in financial futures, a type of derivative, that may be used to obtain market exposure consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, to provide liquidity for cash flows, to hedge dividend accruals or for other purposes that facilitate meeting the Fund’s objective.

The Fund is “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act and may invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks associated with investing in the Fund include:

• Derivatives risk – Investments in derivatives, which are financial instruments whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indices, can be highly volatile and may be subject to transaction costs and certain risks, such as unanticipated changes in securities prices and global currency investment. Derivatives also are subject to leverage risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, market risk, counterparty risk, and credit risk. They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, interest rate or index. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Certain derivatives transactions may subject the Fund to counterparty risk.

• Equity securities risk – Common and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile, and equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. The price of equity or equity-related securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity or equity-related securities. The value of equity or equity-related securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in decline or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, they may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or generally adverse investor sentiment.

• Exchange-traded funds investing risk – An investment in an ETF generally presents the following risks: (i) the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies; (ii) the risk that an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective; (iii) price fluctuation, resulting in a loss to the Fund; (iv) the risk that an ETF may trade at a discount to its net asset value; (v) the risk that an active market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (vi) the risk that an ETF may no longer meet the listing requirements of any applicable exchanges on which that ETF is listed. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

• Financial services risk – An investment in issuers in the financial services sector may be adversely affected by, among other things: (i) changes in the regulatory framework or interest rates that may negatively affect financial service businesses; (ii) exposure of a financial institution to a non-diversified or concentrated loan portfolio; (iii) exposure to financial leverage and/or investments or agreements which, under certain circumstances, may lead to losses (e.g., sub-prime loans); and (iv) the risk that a market shock or other unexpected market, economic, political, regulatory, or other event might lead to a sudden decline in the values of most or all companies in the financial services sector.

• Foreign regulatory risk – The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential plc, a publicly traded company incorporated in the United Kingdom and is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Through its ownership structure, the Adviser has a number of global financial industry affiliates. As a result of this structure, and the asset management and financial industry business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, the Adviser and the Fund may be prohibited or limited in effecting transactions in certain securities. Additionally, the Adviser and the Fund may encounter trading limitations or restrictions because of aggregation issues or other foreign regulatory requirements. Foreign regulators or foreign laws may impose position limits on securities held by the Fund, and the Fund may be limited as to which securities it may purchase or sell, as well as the timing of such purchases or sales. These foreign regulatory limits may increase the Fund’s expenses and may limit the Fund’s performance.

• Foreign securities risk – Investments in, or exposure to, foreign securities involve risks not typically associated with U.S. investments. These risks include, among others, adverse fluctuations in foreign currency values, possible imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes on income payable on the securities, as well as adverse political, social and economic developments, such as political upheaval, acts of terrorism, financial troubles, or natural disasters. Many foreign securities markets, especially those in emerging market countries, are less stable, smaller, less liquid, and less regulated than U.S. securities markets, and the costs of trading in those markets is often higher than in U.S. securities markets. There may also be less publicly available information about issuers of foreign securities compared to issuers of U.S. securities. In addition, the economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to issues such as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

• Limited management, trading cost and rebalance risk – Investing primarily according to specific, mechanical criteria applied on a specific date each year may prevent a Fund from responding to market fluctuations or changes in the financial condition or business prospects of the selected companies during the year.

• Market risk – Portfolio securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally, such as real or perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment, among others. Adverse market conditions may be prolonged and may not have the same impact on all types of securities. The values of securities may fall due to factors affecting a particular issuer, industry or the securities market as a whole.

• Mid-capitalization investing risk – The prices of securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger, more established companies.

• Non-diversification risk – The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

• Securities lending risk – Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent.

• Small-capitalization investing risk – Investing in smaller companies, some of which may be newer companies or start-ups, generally involves greater risks than investing in larger, more established ones. The securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations often are less widely held and trade less frequently and in lesser quantities, and their market prices often fluctuate more, than the securities of companies with larger market capitalizations.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

An investment in the Fund is not guaranteed. As with any mutual fund, the value of the Fund’s shares will change, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Nondiversified Status [Text]

rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

The Fund is non-diversified, as defined by the 1940 Act, and as such may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer. Therefore, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the Fund may affect the Fund’s performance more than if the Fund were a diversified investment company.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance.

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The performance information shown provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compared with those of broad-based securities market indices which have investment characteristics similar to those of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The returns shown in the bar chart and table do not include charges that will be imposed by variable insurance products. If these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.19%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.66%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 67

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

211

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

368

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 822

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(30.22%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

61.59%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

20.76%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(7.72%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

13.85%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

36.89%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

3.50%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(5.05%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

34.40%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

(2.21%)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.21%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

12.07%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

9.72%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Management Fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.19%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.36%

^[2]

Less Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets

(0.05%)

^[3]

Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Waiver/Reimbursement

rr_NetExpensesOverAssets

0.31%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

$ 32

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

111

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

197

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

$ 451

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(30.10%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

61.79%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

20.81%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(7.42%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

13.96%

Annual Return 2013

rr_AnnualReturn2013

37.17%

Annual Return 2014

rr_AnnualReturn2014

3.79%

Annual Return 2015

rr_AnnualReturn2015

(4.81%)

Annual Return 2016

rr_AnnualReturn2016

34.42%

Annual Return 2017

rr_AnnualReturn2017

(1.88%)

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(1.88%)

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

12.32%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

9.93%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | S&P MidCap 400 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.24%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

15.01%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

9.97%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | S&P MidCap 400 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.24%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

15.01%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

9.97%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | S&P SmallCap 600 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

13.23%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

15.99%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.43%

JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | S&P SmallCap 600 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

13.23%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

15.99%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.43%

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL DOW INDEX FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2009): 19.61%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -28.70%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

19.61%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(28.70%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2010): 19.85%; Worst Quarter (ended 3/31/2008): -18.69%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

19.85%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(18.69%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2010): 20.38%; Worst Quarter (ended 3/31/2008): -18.55%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

20.38%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(18.55%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2009): 17.87%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -20.50%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

17.87%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(20.50%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 9/30/2009): 17.89%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -20.39%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

17.89%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(20.39%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2013): 15.81%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -13.55%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2013

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

15.81%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(13.55%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL HEALTHCARE SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2013): 15.80%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -13.49%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2013

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

15.80%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(13.49%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 29.17%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -33.22%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

29.17%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(33.22%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 29.24%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -33.15%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

29.24%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(33.15%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 12/31/2010): 20.87%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2008): -25.64%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

20.87%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(25.64%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL ENERGY SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 12/31/2010): 20.91%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2008): -25.60%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

20.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(25.60%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 21.91%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -25.72%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

21.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(25.72%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 22.11%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -25.63%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

22.11%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(25.63%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL MSCI WORLD INDEX FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 29.32%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.34%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

29.32%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.34%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/2017

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 16.02%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.02%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

16.02%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.02%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL NASDAQ 100 INDEX FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 3/31/2012): 16.05%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.01%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Mar. 31, 2012

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

16.05%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.01%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 20.27%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.89%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

20.27%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.89%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL JNL 5 FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 20.61%; Worst Quarter (ended 12/31/2008): -26.97%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

20.61%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.97%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | Class A

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class A

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 43.87%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2011): -26.40%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

43.87%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.40%)

Classes | JNL/MELLON CAPITAL S&P SMID 60 FUND | Class I

Risk Return Abstract

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Annual Total Returns as of December 31

Class I

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

Best Quarter (ended 6/30/2009): 43.91%; Worst Quarter (ended 9/30/2011): -26.28%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

43.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2011

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(26.28%)

[1] "Other Expenses" include an Administrative Fee of 0.15% which is payable to Jackson National Asset Management, LLC ("JNAM" or "Adviser").

[2] Expense information has been restated to reflect current fees.

[3] JNAM has contractually agreed to waive 0.05% of the administrative fees of the Class. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year from the date of the current Prospectus, and continue thereafter unless the Board of Managers approves a change in or elimination of the waiver. This fee waiver is subject to yearly review and approval by the Board of Managers.