TheNaked Gunseries continues to be one of the strongest comedy franchises going. With the Liam Neeson-starringThe Naked Gunbringing comedy back to the box office, the franchise is continuing to bring its over-the-top antics in a manner that is digestible and entertaining to all audiences. Leslie Nielsen became Frank Drebin all the way back in 1982 whenPolice Squad!first aired, with his stoic take on a bumbling police officer making him one of the funniest protagonists in a comedy. Although the films have a repeatable structure, each film has enough creative gags and a quick pace to keep them engaging from start to finish.
With four films releasing in 37 years, the franchise continues to go strong with each iteration. Whether it’s Nielsen in the lead or Neeson, each film finds its own way to stand out among the plethora of comedies released. Unlike most long-running franchises, there are no bad films in the series.
Here are all 4Naked Gunfilms ranked from funny to even funnier.
4’Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult' (1994)
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Although this is where the franchise’s renowned structure starts to feel weightless,Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insultis still a laugh riot from start to finish. Leslie Nielsen always delivers as the titular police detective, and this film is no different. The relationship he builds with the antagonist, Rocco, played by Fred Ward, makes for some of the funniest chemistry in the entire franchise. The third act bomb sequence at the Academy Awards also made for one of the most memorable sequences in the series, where the filmmakers were able to poke fun at a wide range of filmmakers while making fun of what is deemed an “Oscar movie.” WhileDavid Zucker’s directing is sorely missed,in both this film andThe Naked Gun, and seeing Priscilla Presley be taken hostage feels stale at this point in the franchise, it is still an extremely fun movie with many franchise-best moments.
The ‘Naked Gun’ Series Has the Best Opening Credits Sequences
One of the strongest aspects of theNaked Gunfranchise is the opening credits, which sees a cop’s car driving on patrol. Instead of going after criminals, the car is driven in the most absurd places. From a pinball machine to being birthed by a woman, the opening credits get some of the biggest laughs of the entire series. Arguably, the best opening credits sequence is inNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.The film places the police car in impossible yet hilarious circumstances, including a hockey game and blowing up the Death Star inStar Wars. The opening credits not only set the tone of the films perfectly, but convey the creativity that is on display in the franchise.
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3’The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear’ (1991)
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fearperfectly recaptures the first film’s tone while leaning further on absurdity. Priscilla Presley and Leslie Nielsen’s electric chemistry continues in the sequel, digging further into their sensual relationship. The love-making sequences have always been a joy to watch, but the one in this film is arguably one of the best sex scenes in film. Instead of showing the two actors' passion for each other, the film uses a barrage of clips to convey the idea of having sex, which brings the film’s funniest and somehow most artful moment in the entire series. As well as two of the funniest deaths in the series involving a fire hose and a lion,Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fearis an extremely worthy sequel that lives up to the highs of the first film.
They Handle O.J. Simpson Beautifully in Hindsight
The inclusion of O.J. Simpson in this franchise may seem like it aged like milk, but it actually works much better in the context of the present day. In every film, O.J. Simpson’s character, Nordberg, is constantly getting beaten up. In the first film, in particular, he has no role outside of getting hit by flying objects, being shot by criminals, and falling down a baseball stadium. With a criminal record stating how he wasn’t the greatest person, seeing him used as a butt-end of a joke throughout the franchise is extremely satisfying.The Naked Gunalso throws shade at him in the movie,with the trailer showing his character’s son failing to say he missed himwhen all of his coworkers were crying about their fathers. Although most older comedies have aspects that are dated, theNaked Gunfranchise has successfully found ways to remain relevant without even realizing it.
2’The Naked Gun' (2025)
The Naked Gun
The Naked Gunis a surprisingly great legacy sequel that feels just like the original trilogy despite coming out over 30 years afterNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.Director Akiva Schaffer fully understands the source material, recreating amazing sequences from the previous films while making many all-time funny scenes for the franchise. Seeing Liam Neeson in a comedy role like this is a dream come true, perfectly carrying on the legacy of Leslie Nielsen while making the role his own. Pamela Anderson also gives a shockingly great performance, taking what could’ve been a stale female love interest and making it into one of the strongest characters in the whole franchise. From an incredible snowman sequence to an outrageous windshield gag,The Naked Gunstands as not only one of the best films in the series, but one of the best studio comedies released in a long time.
Comedy Legacy Sequels Are Hard To Get Right
Happy Gilmore 2is one of many recentexamples of how polarizing legacy sequels are, especially ones in the comedy genre.The Naked Gunstands among the best comedy legacy sequels by sticking to what works for the franchise and reinvigorating the slapstick comedy. Too often do comedy sequels rehash what came before them, and while there are some moments inThe Naked Gunthat certainly engage in such indulgences, it does just enough to keep the film fresh and innovative for the normal moviegoer.
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The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squadstands as a classic of the genre for a reason. Its ability to parody the cop genre with the addition of Looney Tunes-like gags makes for a fully engaging experience that is far unlike any other comedy. Leslie Nielsen is the perfect actor for Frank Drebin, portraying a dim-witted cop with gravitas and true love of filmmaking. The mile-a-minute jokes make for an always entertaining experience while giving the film a quick pace. With an all-time baseball scene and amazing use of Priscilla Presley,The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squadstands as one of the best comedies of the ’80s and the best film in the franchise.
We Need More Live-Action Slapstick Comedies
TheNaked Gunfranchise proves that live-action slapstick can work, and 2025’sThe Naked Gunshows that it can still be achieved today. Too often does slapstick humor occur solely in animated projects, when live-action films can be just as effective. WithThe Naked Gunreceiving outstanding reactions from critics, let’s hope it drives more studios to make live-action comedies with slapstick humor. Doing this would not only bring back a lost time in filmmaking, but could be the key to getting Hollywood back on its feet again. In an era of big blockbuster spectacles, small-scale slapstick comedies are exactly what the film industry needs right now.
