The Naked Gun’ Returns: First Reactions From the Premiere
Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson in “The Naked Gun.” ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Liam Neeson leads a new era of laughs in this reboot of the iconic spoof franchise, and the first reactions are hilariously promising.
It’s been over 30 years since the last installment of The Naked Gun franchise, but the wait may have been worth it. On Monday night, Paramount Pictures hosted the New York City premiere of the long-awaited reboot, and based on the first wave of social media reactions, this latest outing is landing all the right punches—and punchlines.
The film stars Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., son of the late Leslie Nielsen’s legendary Police Squad detective. Neeson, known for his dramatic gravitas in action hits like Taken and The Grey, gets to flex his comedy chops in a way audiences haven’t seen since Life’s Too Short. Joining him in the chaos are Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Cody Runnels, and CCH Pounder.
Directed by Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and produced by Seth MacFarlane, the film brings a fresh but familiar tone to a franchise that defined the spoof genre. The script leans into absurdity, slapstick, and sharp visual gags reminiscent of the original team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker.
While full critic reviews are embargoed until Wednesday, the early buzz from press and fans lucky enough to attend the premiere has been overwhelmingly positive. Several praised the film’s balance of nostalgia and newness, with Neeson’s deadpan delivery earning particular acclaim. Anderson reportedly steals several scenes with self-aware hilarity, and Schaffer’s direction updates the style without losing the soul of the series.
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The reboot follows the legacy of the 1982 TV series Police Squad! and its three film adaptations: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult(1994). The comedy landscape has changed dramatically in the decades since, but this reboot seems to prove there’s still a hunger for the genre’s mix of irreverence and outrageous set pieces.
With a theatrical release set for August 1, The Naked Gun is poised to be one of the summer's biggest comedy crowd-pleasers. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the franchise, early reactions suggest you'll be laughing out loud—possibly from start to finish.
Watch The Naked Gun Trailer:
