Leslie Nielsen’s iconic spoof series is back in the spotlight as a new generation discovers Frank Drebin’s clumsy brilliance
The dumbest detective in Hollywood history is trending again — and no, it’s not a reboot (yet). It’s Lieutenant Frank Drebin, the deadpan disaster in a badge, returning to screens thanks to a new wave of streaming-fueled nostalgia and one very unexpected revival.
After more than 30 years since the original trilogy left fans gasping for air between laughs, The Naked Gun films are surging in popularity again. All three movies are back on streaming, just in time for a new legacy sequel starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson to spark fresh interest. So, if you’re wondering how to revisit Drebin’s chaos properly — yes, there is an order — here’s the rundown.
A spoof that shouldn’t have worked, but totally did
Back in 1988, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! felt like an underdog. It was a movie based on a failed TV show that barely lasted six episodes. The budget wasn’t huge. The premise was absurd. But that was kind of the point.
Created by the chaotic trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker — the same crew behind Airplane! — the film turned out to be pure comedy gold. Leslie Nielsen, once a stone-faced dramatic actor, reinvented himself completely. His Frank Drebin character was clueless, clumsy, and committed to the bit — which made him strangely lovable.
Audiences didn’t just laugh; they came back in droves.
The right way to watch the madness unfold
If you’re jumping in, you’ll want to stick to release order — trust us. Each film builds off the last, and while the plots are loose (and, let’s face it, bonkers), there’s some sense of continuity. Here’s how to watch them:
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The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
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The Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
The movies are available on Paramount+ in the U.S., and in other countries via various licensing deals. In most regions, they’re grouped together under the franchise banner, making them easy to binge in one sitting — if you’re up for it.
What made Nielsen’s Drebin so unforgettable?
At a glance, Drebin is ridiculous. But watch closely, and there’s genius in the nonsense. He’s a parody of every TV cop from the ’70s and ’80s — stoic, clueless, immune to his own idiocy — and Nielsen played him totally straight.
He wasn’t winking at the camera or trying to be funny. That’s exactly why it was funny.
And then there’s the supporting cast: Priscilla Presley brought charm and comic timing as Jane Spencer. George Kennedy added heart as Drebin’s partner Ed. And, of course, O.J. Simpson — yes, that O.J. — as the perennially unlucky Nordberg, who spent most of his screen time getting accidentally shot, run over, or thrown off something.
Revisiting the trilogy — a quick breakdown of each movie
You don’t need to take notes, but here’s what to expect in each one.
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The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988): Drebin thwarts a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. Ricardo Montalban is the hypnotist villain. There’s a lot of baseball. It made $152 million.
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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991): Drebin investigates an eco-sabotage scheme. There’s a scene with exploding statues and a hostage tied to a bomb. Classic sequel chaos.
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The Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994): Drebin comes out of retirement to infiltrate a prison, foil a bomb plot, and crash the Oscars. It’s the wildest of the three — and probably the most divisive.
That last one also features a performance from Weird Al Yankovic and an infamous moment involving Anna Nicole Smith. No, we’re not kidding.
Liam Neeson steps in — yes, seriously
If this all sounds too wonderfully stupid to be real, well, it’s about to get stupider. Paramount is officially working on a new sequel, currently titled Naked Gun: Reloaded (title may change), with Taken star Liam Neeson in the lead role. It’s unclear if he’s playing Drebin or Drebin Jr., but either way — expectations are weirdly high.
Pamela Anderson is also attached to the project, which only adds to the intrigue. The film is rumored to hit theaters in late 2026, though no release date is locked in yet.
Fans are cautiously optimistic. The bar is high, and the slapstick genre isn’t easy to revive. Still, if anyone can deliver a serious face while doing something profoundly dumb, it might just be Neeson.
Streaming surge hints at something deeper
You might be wondering — why now? Why are people returning to a goofy, old-school comedy franchise in the middle of 2025?
Part of it is simple nostalgia. But there’s also this: people are exhausted. Between headlines, elections, and everything else, viewers want an escape that doesn’t take itself seriously. The Naked Gun movies don’t even take themselves seriously — which makes them perfect for a laugh without a lesson.
Even younger audiences — Gen Z, especially — have taken to TikTok and Reddit to share clips and reactions. The “banana in the tailpipe” of Police Squad! and Drebin’s insane one-liners (“Nothing to see here!” while a building explodes) are going viral again.
