Rotten Tomatoes’ published ranking places Police Squad! first, followed by The Naked Gun (2025), the 1988 original, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. One important scope note: the franchise’s five screen entries are one six-episode television series and four feature films—not five movies.
This order reflects Rotten Tomatoes’ editorial guide, updated September 2, 2025, rather than an objective or permanent consensus. Its Tomatometer percentages are a snapshot and may change. The original three films star Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin; the 2025 film introduces Frank Drebin Jr., played by Liam Neeson.
![Naked Gun Trilogy Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kTro3z-5L._SL160_.jpg)
![THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD! [4K UHD + BLU-RAY + DIGITAL]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41CWM4DwZyL._SL160_.jpg)
1. Police Squad! (1982)
Tomatometer: 91%. The six-episode television series is the franchise’s starting point: it introduces Nielsen’s Frank Drebin and establishes the deadpan police-procedural parody that the films would carry forward. Rotten Tomatoes’ guide highlights its visual gags, wordplay, and slapstick. Its compact run makes it an easy entry point, though it offers less story than a feature-length film.
2. The Naked Gun (2025)
Tomatometer: 88%. Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., following in his father’s footsteps, with Akiva Schaffer directing. Paramount lists the film as PG-13 and 85 minutes. It is the pick for viewers curious about how the franchise’s familiar comic approach works with a new lead and in a new era. Paramount’s film page provides the studio’s details.
#1 Best Overall
![The Naked Gun: 4 Film Collection + Police Squad Complete Series (5 Discs) [Region Free] [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514OpBngLQL._SL160_.jpg)
- Blu-ray Disc – Region Free playback (compatible with US Blu-ray players)
- Official Australian manufactured release
- Includes Police Squad! (1982) complete television series
- Includes The Naked Gun trilogy and 2025 Naked Gun feature film
- Starring Leslie Nielsen and Liam Neeson
3. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
Tomatometer: 88%. The first theatrical feature brings Frank Drebin from the series to the big screen. Its plot has Drebin stumble into a mind-control scheme targeting Queen Elizabeth, giving the original film a suitably absurd crime story to parody. Paramount lists it as PG-13 and 85 minutes. It is the natural starting point for the Nielsen film trilogy. See Paramount’s page for the 1988 film.
4. The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
Tomatometer: 77%. Drebin returns to thwart energy industrialists seeking to undermine President George H.W. Bush’s environmental policy. Its lower position reflects the Rotten Tomatoes guide’s weaker score and editorial consensus, not a guarantee that viewers will find its sequel gags less enjoyable.
5. Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)
Tomatometer: 66%. Drebin comes out of retirement to infiltrate a terrorist group targeting the Academy Awards. The guide treats it as a comedown from the earlier entries while still recognizing Nielsen’s performance; last place does not mean it has nothing to offer fans of his comic timing.
How to use this ranking
The list puts the series first, then sorts the films by the guide’s editorial order and September 2, 2025 Tomatometer snapshot. The percentages summarize critical reviews, not a direct measure of how funny each entry will be to you. For the original Drebin, start with Police Squad! or the 1988 film; for the newer take, try the 2025 movie. Watching chronologically means beginning with the 1982 series, followed by the 1988, 1991, 1994, and 2025 entries.
Recommended Free Tools
Where the films have been available
Availability depends on region and date. About Amazon’s franchise guide described the 1988 and 1991 films as rentable or purchasable on Prime Video or available through an MGM+ add-on, the 1994 film through a Paramount+ add-on, and the 2025 film as rentable or purchasable. These are options stated in that guide, not a guarantee of today’s catalog; check the service in your region before subscribing or renting. Read About Amazon’s franchise guide.
Paramount announced on September 29, 2025 that The Naked Gun would arrive on Paramount+ on September 30 in the United States and Canada, and named the three original Leslie Nielsen films in the announcement. That is a dated release notice, not confirmation of current availability. Paramount also reported that the three Nielsen films saw a combined 84% lift in viewership on Paramount+ during the first month of the 2025 reboot’s theatrical window; the figure applies to that platform and period. See Paramount Press Express’s announcement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Naked Gun Collection - 4-Disc Set ( The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! / The Naked G
- The Naked Gun Collection - 4-Disc Set
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! / The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear / Naked Gun 33?
Sources
- Rotten Tomatoes’ September 2, 2025 editorial ranking, for the order, Tomatometer snapshots, and consensus descriptions.
- Paramount’s 2025 film page and 1988 film page, for film details.
- About Amazon’s franchise guide, for plot summaries and the viewing options it listed.
- Paramount Press Express, for the dated streaming announcement and viewership figure.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
