I really wasn't expecting much from "The Naked Gun," initially. These kinds of franchise reboots and legacy sequels frequently turn out to be real duds. So, after heading into the movie theater over the summer with low expectations, I was thrilled to leave my screening with my belly aching from all the laugh-out-loud antics on screen.
I don't throw that "funniest movie of the year" label around lightly, but I really do mean it here: "The Naked Gun" is a blast. And if you were skeptical when it was on the big screen, Paramount confirmed just yesterday that the old-school Liam Neeson-led comedy would be available to stream on Paramount Plus in the U.S. and Canada from today (September 30), giving you the perfect opportunity to check it out at home.
Not sure whether you want to stream "The Naked Gun" on Paramount Plus? Here's a little more info about the streaming service's new arrival, and why I think it belongs on your watchlist.
What is 'The Naked Gun' (2025) about?
"The Naked Gun" is a legacy sequel that follows on from the trilogy of "Naked Gun" crime spoof movies that starred Lieutenant Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin, released between 1988 and 1994 (which was itself borne out of the ABC comedy series, "Police Squad!").
In Akiva Schaffer's 2025 sequel, we meet Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr. (Neeson), who has continued to fight crime as a member of Police Squad, just like his father. Here, Drebin puts his very particular set of skills to the test against a new bad guy and his nefarious P.L.O.T. ("Primordial Law Of Toughness") device.
In addition to Liam Neeson, "The Naked Gun" also stars Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston and CCH Pounder, and includes cameos from the likes of Cody Rhodes, Busta Rhymes and, of course, "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Should you stream 'The Naked Gun' on Paramount Plus?
Short answer: absolutely. I saw "The Naked Gun" on the big screen, and I can't remember the last time I laughed at a movie so hard, or quite so frequently, for that matter. It features a script that's packed with all kinds of jokes and silliness that's expertly steered and navigated by Liam Neeson and his femme fatale foil, Pamela Anderson, who both turn in confident comic performances.
Granted, I say this all as someone who is very much on board with the "Naked Gun" brand of silly spoof gags, one-liners and out-there non-sequiturs; it's every bit as chaotic as the rest of the franchise. If the original movies, or something like "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" is your kind of laugh-fest, "The Naked Gun" will be up your alley; if not, you might want to look elsewhere.
I'll hedge my bets that this has the chance to be a real crowdpleaser on the streamer, though: as I said, even if one joke falls flat, a fresh one is right around the corner, so you'll be in stitches within seconds regardless. Basically, if you're in the mood for pure entertainment, "The Naked Gun" is the movie you need at the top of your Paramount Plus watchlist.
Don't just take my word for it, either: this new sequel comes well-recommended, too. At the time of writing, it holds an 88% approval rating from critics on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads: "With Liam Neeson's gravelly gravitas proving to be a perfect fit for Frank Drebin's deadpan buffoonery, "The Naked Gun" revives the original trilogy's daffy sense of humor like it never went out of style."
RogerEbert.com's Brian Tallerico gave it a 3/4-star rating, writing: "The main reason that 'The Naked Gun' is consistently smile-inducing is because of how wonderfully Neeson’s deadpan gravitas works with the material — a performer who can be so deadly serious doing things that are so deadly stupid."
Similarly, Empire's John Nugent offered a 4/5-star score, calling "The Naked Gun" "a film that has a better chance of producing a belly laugh than any in recent memory: one that deserves, as Drebin would say, '20 years for man’s laughter.'"
In short, then? You should absolutely go and stream "The Naked Gun" now that it's available to stream on Paramount Plus in the US and Canada.
Already seen "The Naked Gun?" Not sold on "The Naked Gun's" style of comedy? We can still help you find your next watch: be sure to check out our round-up of the best movies and shows on Paramount Plus for tons more streaming recommendations.
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