Anyone need a laugh?
The news cycle has been an unrelenting wave of negativity, but at least there’s one person who stands for truth, justice, and the American way. Frank Drebin is back, and boy, thank goodness. The Naked Gun is scheduled to be released in theatres on Aug. 1.
Admit it. We all collectively rolled our eyes at the original announcement of this reboot. Here was yet another example that there are no new ideas in Hollywood. It’s an IP merry-go-round of remakes, sequels, prequels, and spinoffs. What we didn’t anticipate is the current state of the world and how badly we could use comic relief.
Comedy is an endangered species at the movie theatre. So far, of the top 25 highest-grossing films domestically in 2025, only one is a true comedy. One of Them Days, and that’s it. Studios would rather send those directly to streaming services because they’ve lost faith in the box-office power of comedies. If The Naked Gun succeeds, that might change their thinking.
People go to theatres together for superhero movies and Mission: Impossible films because they want to enjoy a shared fun experience. Why can’t this apply to comedy? Well, comedy is subjective. Depending on your age, political leanings, and religious beliefs, what one person finds humorous might bother someone else. However, the type of comedy that The Naked Gun franchise excels at doesn’t focus on potentially divisive issues. It was created as a spoof of crime show dramas.
Bringing The Naked Gun back with Liam Neeson and replacing the late Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin seems right. It fills an enormous void. We hope it will honor the original as an all-gas-no brakes-comedy with silly gags, puns, homages, and unexpected cameos. The Naked Gun (1998) was a tremendous success because we were all in on the jokes, and it remains rewatchable.
In many ways, Neeson is the perfect successor to Nielsen. Neeson has had one of the more interesting acting careers. He has been an Oscars nominee in serious dramas. He has been a part of legacy franchises. He has reinvented himself as an action hero in his 60s and 70s. But we’ve never seen him as a star lead in a comedy. The delightful twist is that you can easily imagine Neeson as Drebin. He could almost be a ridiculous version of his Bryan Mills character from Taken. That works— so does having Pamela Anderson as his love interest. Anderson is enjoying a resurgence with her critically acclaimed role in The Last Showgirl.
The key question is: will Neeson’s The Naked Gun put butts in theatres? Many people weren’t born when the last installment in the franchise — Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult — came out in 1994. There’s reason for optimism. The early reviews are positive, and the marketing has been terrific.
There have been too many complaints about the state of comedy, most of it is from older comedians who don’t know how or are reluctant to navigate evolving social norms. It’s encouraging that Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers) is the director. As a member of The Lonely Island, his comic chops are unquestioned.
A lot is riding on The Naked Gun. Maybe a reboot will lead to the comedy renaissance we’ve been waiting for.