The new comedy reboot of The Naked Gun, starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, premiered this week amidst strong competition and is generating promising box office results. The film, released by Paramount, has garnered excellent reviews from both critics and audiences, helping sustain its momentum during opening weekend.
Strong Reception and Box Office Expectations
The Naked Gun reboot currently holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score near 80%, signaling broad favorability. Critics have praised the film for blending slapstick humor with Liam Neeson’s distinctive gravitas, which suits the deadpan style of his character, Frank Drebin Jr. Aidan Kelley from Collider called the movie
“one of the funniest movies of the decade.”
Directed by Akiva Schaffer, known for his work with The Lonely Island comedy trio, and produced by Seth MacFarlane, the reboot benefits from the involvement of creators with experience in successful comedy and franchise filmmaking.
The film is expected to gross more than $15 million domestically over its opening weekend, a solid performance especially given the rarity of theatrical releases in this comedy subgenre recently. The positive reception suggests The Naked Gun is resonating with audiences who appreciate its return to the original trilogy’s unique blend of humor.
Legacy of The Naked Gun Series and Audience Ratings
This reboot draws on the legacy of the original 1988 film, which starred Leslie Nielsen and was itself adapted from the Police Squad television series. The original Naked Gun was a major commercial success, earning over $150 million worldwide and spawning two sequels that also performed well internationally. The reboot’s opening-day CinemaScore of A- places it among highly regarded comedies and surpasses the B+ scores of more recent releases such as The Lost City, Violent Night, and One of Them Days.
Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson Aim for Career Resurgence
The Naked Gun marks a potential comeback for Liam Neeson, whose last major opening in a live-action lead role was Taken 3, released more than ten years ago. Neeson has established himself as a prominent action star since the first Taken film in 2008, yet recent years have seen fewer box office hits for him. This film may signal a shift back towards comedic roles, demonstrating his versatility. Pamela Anderson also features prominently alongside Neeson, adding to the film’s appeal and star power.
This isn’t Neeson’s first collaboration with Seth MacFarlane, and the strong critical and audience response should create positive momentum as the movie continues to play in theaters. The success of The Naked Gun reboot contributes to Paramount’s ongoing track record with comedy franchises and reflects growing audience enthusiasm for R-rated humor.
Going forward, the film’s performance will be closely watched as an indicator of the viability of nostalgic comedies and the potential for Liam Neeson to embrace new directions in his acting career.
