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The Naked Gun

The Naked Gun is an American crime spoof comedy franchise based on the 1982 television series Police Squad!.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Naked Gun is an American crime spoof comedy franchise based on the 1982 television series Police Squad!. It began with a 1988 film starring Leslie Nielsen as Detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin and later expanded to include three sequel films and a 2025 legacy sequel starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr.

Origins

The Naked Gun grew out of Police Squad!, a short-lived 1982 television parody of police procedurals. The franchise was created by the comedy trio Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.

Film series

The film series began in 1988 and continued with sequels in 1991 and 1994. In 2025, a fourth film revived the series with a new lead character, Frank Drebin Jr.

Characters

The best-known character is Detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen in the original run. The 2025 film introduces his son, Frank Drebin Jr., played by Liam Neeson.

Reception and legacy

The franchise has been described as critically praised and financially successful. It is widely associated with police-parody humour and slapstick comedy.

Key facts

  • The franchise centers on a bumbling police detective who solves cases in a comedic way.
  • Leslie Nielsen played Frank Drebin in the television series and the first three films.
  • The original film series includes The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.
  • A fourth film, The Naked Gun, was released in 2025 and stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr.
  • The franchise is associated with Paramount Pictures and was commercially successful.
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Canadian context

The franchise has been widely distributed in Canada through major home-entertainment and streaming platforms, and it is part of the North American comedy film canon often referenced by Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Naked Gun?
It is an American crime spoof-comedy franchise that began with Police Squad! and expanded into four films.
Who created The Naked Gun?
It was created by the comedy filmmaking trio Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker.
Who plays Frank Drebin?
Leslie Nielsen played Frank Drebin in the television series and the first three films.
How many films are in the franchise?
There are four theatrical films in the franchise, including the 2025 film.
What is the 2025 Naked Gun film?
It is a legacy sequel directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Gun
    Supports: Franchise origin, creators, film count, character names, and overall description.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Gun_(2025_film)
    Supports: 2025 film as the fourth installment, director, cast, and premise.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Gun:_From_the_Files_of_Police_Squad!
    Supports: 1988 film details and franchise continuation.
  4. Radio Times — https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/naked-gun-films-in-order/
    Supports: Series context and 2025 film release information.