Growing up, the Naked Gun series was a staple in my household. I rented the movies so regularly that my parents gave me the trilogy on DVD for Christmas one year. These days, it’s easier to revisit old favorites through streaming services, but that box set still sits proudly in my media drawers. Even today, I find the straight-faced humor gut-bustlingly hilarious. While headliner Leslie Nielsen starred in some serious films like Forbidden Planet, The Poseidon Adventure and Prom Night, showcasing his dramatic acting, he became a deadpan comedy legend thanks to Airplane!, continuing that legacy with flicks like The Naked Gun franchise and Wrongfully Accused (a 1998 spoof of The Fugitive). The late great film critic Roger Ebert went so far as to refer to Nielsen as “the Olivier of spoofs”.
A reboot, or legacy sequel, titled The Naked Gun is slated to hit cinemas on Aug. 1. Liam Neeson takes the reins as Frank Drebin Jr., son of Frank Drebin Sr. (Nielsen). The all-star cast includes former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, veteran rapper Busta Rhymes (whose acting credits include kicking Michael Myers through a window in Halloween: Resurrection) and the always-on CCH Pounder. With The Naked Gun 2025 hitting the box office soon, I’m getting in the mood by rewatching the whole series. Here’s how to watch The Naked Gun franchise before the new movie hits theaters.
How many movies are in The Naked Gun series?
The Naked Gun series is comprised of three films, with the fourth -- the reboot -- coming out in August:
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
The Naked Gun 33 ⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
The Naked Gun (2025)
The movies are based on the character of Lieutenant Frank Drebin from the TV series Police Squad!, which is disappointingly unavailable for streaming anywhere. So if you want to explore the roots of the franchise, you’ll need to cop the show on DVD or Blu-ray.
Do you need to watch all The Naked Gun trilogy before the 2025 film?
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