The Naked Gun has returned to theaters, proving that broad comedies can still capture audiences in the streaming era. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and led by Liam Neeson, the reboot posted strong box office numbers in its second weekend, sparking hope for a comedy revival. Behind its success are producers Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins, who navigated industry doubts, studio hesitations, and changing audience tastes. Now, with Hollywood watching closely, the two are opening up about the film’s journey, challenges, and potential sequel plans.
Key Highlights
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The Naked Gun reboot has grossed $33 million domestically and $56.4 million worldwide after two weekends.
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Producers Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins faced skepticism over spoof comedy viability in modern theaters.
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Liam Neeson was cast in line with the franchise tradition of serious actors delivering comedic roles.
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Younger audiences made up nearly half the opening weekend demographic.
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Sequel discussions are already underway among the filmmakers and cast.
Box Office Momentum and Audience Response
The Naked Gun reboot has been a surprise beacon for theatrical comedy, dropping just 50 percent in its sophomore weekend and crossing the $33 million domestic mark. Worldwide, the film’s total now stands at $56.4 million, signaling that moviegoers are willing to come out for laughs. For producer Erica Huggins, the response has been tangible.
“I’ve gotten so many incoming calls and texts and emails from well-wishers, and that doesn’t always happen. For the first time, you can feel the goodwill from every single producer, all the agencies, from actors, from people who just want comedy.” – Erica Huggins
Seth MacFarlane shared a personal anecdote that spoke to the film’s cultural reach.
“I just got a text from a retired Family Guy writer… He said he was at a barber shop at Amherst, Massachusetts… and everybody was talking about The Naked Gun. If that isn’t a glowing review, I don’t know what is.” – Seth MacFarlane
Breaking Through the Greenlight Barrier
Securing a greenlight for the project wasn’t easy. Studios questioned whether a spoof comedy, absent from the mainstream for more than a decade, could resonate with today’s audiences. Huggins recalls budget debates and the challenge of determining the target demographic.
“The biggest thing to overcome was the question: ‘Will a movie like this — a spoof movie, that we haven’t seen in at least a decade — work for today’s audience?’ Then, the next question always became, ‘Who is the audience? Is it nostalgia only? Is it the older crowd? How do we get the younger crowd?’ And then it always came back to budget.” – Erica Huggins
Casting Liam Neeson was a deliberate choice rooted in the comedic style established by the original creators.
“One of the fundamental edicts of the Zucker Brothers was you played against the comedy. You cast people like Robert Stack, Peter Graves and Leslie Nielsen. There were no comics, and it just worked every single time when they stuck to that.” – Seth MacFarlane
Comedy’s Place in Modern Theaters
Nearly half of The Naked Gun’s opening weekend audience was aged 18 to 34, suggesting a cross-generational appeal. Huggins credits the PG-13 rating for drawing in younger viewers, while MacFarlane notes that this generation has had fewer defining comedy films. The marketing leaned heavily on the scarcity of theatrical comedies, positioning the film as a rare offering in a superhero-saturated market.
“It was an easy choice for the studio… There has not been a true, hard comedy in a long time. In the ’80s, you had shows like Cheers that were comedies… [Today] you see essentially dramas with a smattering of jokes in comedy categories. I think it was pretty easy for the studio to take that reality and say, ‘Hey, we know what you’re looking for. Here’s some water in the desert.’” – Seth MacFarlane
Testing, Risk, and the Future of the Franchise
MacFarlane describes audience testing as both valuable and limiting, while Huggins warns against overreacting to negative feedback. The larger challenge, they note, is convincing studios to invest in hard comedies when streaming has shifted habits toward home viewing. MacFarlane believes theatrical experiences remain unmatched.
“All the great comedies… they’re all theatrical. I can’t really think of a single streaming comedy that has that kind of collective hold on the zeitgeist… Streaming comedies… just kind of come and go. There’s a tendency to think of the theater as something that’s on its way out, but I really think that’s a mistake.” – Seth MacFarlane
Asked what lesson Hollywood should take from the film’s performance, MacFarlane’s answer was simple.
“Take risks. Make movies that aren’t just reboots… People want something that’s outside the usual fare. We’re just so deluged with superhero movies at this point… Anything different is good.” – Seth MacFarlane
As for a sequel, Huggins confirmed that talks are already in motion.
“Absolutely. We’ve now had enough conversations among the filmmakers, and certainly with Pam [Anderson] and Liam, too… yes, we were thinking about where it could go and what it could be.” – Erica Huggins
News in Brief: Naked Gun Reboot Producers’ Talk Risks
The Naked Gun reboot, directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson, has earned $33 million domestically and $56.4 million worldwide, with strong support from both older and younger audiences. Producers Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins overcame skepticism about spoof comedies, secured Neeson to honor the franchise’s tradition, and leaned into the rarity of theatrical comedies to market the film. Audience testing, risk-taking, and variety remain central themes in their message to Hollywood. Sequel discussions are underway.
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