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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Early reviews of Akiva Schaffer’s 2025 The Naked Gun reboot followed a notably consistent pattern: most critics welcomed its rapid-fire absurdist comedy and deadpan performances, while some objected to the plot and pacing, especially in the third act. The praise was widespread in Rotten Tomatoes’ opening-period roundup, not unanimous—and it should not be confused with a single verdict from audiences.
What early critics agreed on
Rotten Tomatoes’ first-reviews roundup, published around the film’s July 2025 theatrical opening, said most critics recommended the reboot. The recurring appeal was its commitment to fast, absurdist jokes and the spoof style associated with the original films. The roundup is an editorial selection of early reviews, not a census of every critic, but its pattern makes “broadly positive” a fair description of the initial response. Rotten Tomatoes’ first-reviews roundup collects both the enthusiasm and the reservations.
![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! / The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cp+gojdJL._SL160_.jpg)
Several critics described the comedy in emphatic terms. Rachel Leishman of The Mary Sue called it “one of the funniest movies in recent history,” while David Gonzalez of The Cinematic Reel praised its audacity and the laughs at his press screening. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter was more measured, writing that there was “enough inspired nonsense” to keep comedy-starved theatrical audiences engaged. Those excerpts appear in the roundup; they illustrate the range of praise rather than prove that every early reviewer shared the same enthusiasm.
Where the reviews diverged
Jokes versus story and pacing
The roundup also recorded complaints about the plot and pacing, particularly in the third act. That distinction matters: critics could appreciate the gag rate and comic tone while finding the story less effective as it progressed. The early pattern was therefore more consistent about the film’s comedic intent than about how well every part of the film worked.
#1 Best Overall
Liam Neeson versus the original’s legacy
The reboot puts Liam Neeson in the role of Frank Drebin Jr., a legacy continuation of Leslie Nielsen’s comic detective. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman contrasted the films by calling the original hilarious and the new one “amusing.” That response captures a key reservation: a critic could recognize the reboot’s jokes while judging them less memorable than the original’s.
Jake Coyle’s Associated Press review was a clearer negative counterpoint. He described the film as “spirited but just off-the-mark,” arguing that Neeson’s commitment was not the problem but that the role did not feel quite right for him. Coyle suggested the reboot might instead send viewers back to the original. The AP review awarded two stars out of four. Read Coyle’s Associated Press review.
Rank #2
![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
What the reboot is—and when it arrived on streaming
Schaffer directed the 2025 film, with Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. and Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser among the cast. Paramount’s release also names CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu and Danny Huston; Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins produced. Paramount announced a September 30, 2025, Paramount+ streaming arrival in the United States and Canada. The film is rated PG-13 for crude or sexual material, violence or bloody images, and brief partial nudity. Paramount’s release lists the cast, rating and streaming details.
Streaming and rental listings can change by date and territory. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Paramount+ and Prime Video streaming, plus Fandango rental or purchase options; check the film’s Rotten Tomatoes page or the relevant service for current availability.
Critic reaction is not the same as audience response
Rotten Tomatoes keeps critic and audience summaries separate, and its ratings and reviews can change as more are added. An undated score should not be treated as a fixed measure of either group’s response. The early-review roundup supports a description of the initial critical pattern, but it does not establish that audiences reacted the same way or that there is one representative audience verdict. Rotten Tomatoes’ film page displays the current critic and audience information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Paramount’s 84% figure measures
Paramount reported that viewership for the three original Naked Gun films combined on Paramount+ increased 84% during the first month of the reboot’s theatrical window. This is a studio-reported, service-specific figure about the original trilogy. It is not the reboot’s box office, a measure of the reboot’s own streaming audience, or an independent measure of interest across platforms. Paramount’s release provides the figure and its context.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
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