--- title: "The Naked Gun: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun" critics_score: 83 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Naked Gun (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 83 from 13 reviews: 12 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are warm and unusually close together. Most critics agree that this reboot works because it does what the originals did: it throws jokes at the screen without pause and trusts the cast to keep a straight face. Liam Neeson’s deadpan Frank Drebin Jr draws the most praise, several reviewers noting he mocks his own thriller persona as much as he honours Leslie Nielsen, and Pamela Anderson is singled out almost as often for stealing scenes. Akiva Schaffer’s direction is credited with keeping the pace brisk and the gag density high. Reservations are mild and scattered: The Hollywood Reporter finds the structure uneven and the plot shaky, Den of Geek thinks it runs out of steam before the end, and The Guardian misses something of the first film’s innocence. The one clear dissenter is NME, which argues the timing wobbles and the padding lowers the hit rate, though even there the leads and the film’s committed silliness are welcomed. ## Little White Lies — Charles Bramesco Rating 4/5/5. 30 July 2025. The critic hails it as not just another reboot but a machine that extracts laughter through a barrage of gags, with inspired casting of Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson delivering brilliant comic turns. They single out the smart stupidity and commitment to making everything funny at all times. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-naked-gun) ## Time Out — Hanna Flint Rating ★★★★★. 30 July 2025. The critic calls it a comedy masterclass and the funniest film of the year, praising the laugh-a-minute script, sight gags, and excellent cast including Neeson and Anderson fully committing to the bits. They single out the inspired casting and direction that makes the comedy sing. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/news/review-liam-neesons-the-naked-gun-is-the-funniest-film-of-the-year-073025) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2025. The critic calls it one of the stupidest films ever seen and loves it for its hilarity that makes audiences physically crumple with laughter. They highlight how director Akiva Schaffer and writers recapture the original trilogy's comedic relentlessness and high gag quality with fresh jokes in nearly every line. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/the-naked-gun-liam-neeson-review/) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2025. The 2025 Naked Gun is an affectionately silly requel that captures the original series' parody hallmarks while updating the targets, delivering a high density of visual gags, wordplay and surreal moments that produce more belly laughs than most recent comedies. Neeson's deadpan performance as the tougher Drebin Jr. leads a cannily cast ensemble in skewering modern cop tropes. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-naked-gun-2025/) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating 4/5. 31 July 2025. The critic describes it as an expert dumb comedy where Neeson proves a worthy successor to Nielsen through slapstick action and deadpan style. They single out the mad scramble of pop-culture tropes from across eras, smartly folded in with nods to modern life, as landing with aplomb. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/da5f033e-867d-43f4-a24e-a715ba60faba) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 4/5. 1 August 2025. The critic finds it an affectionate celebration of the past with a cavalcade of laughs, noting Neeson's performance blending Nielsen's style with self-mockery of his own action roles. They single out the jokes themselves as the stars, many fresh and quotable. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-naked-gun-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 4/5. 30 July 2025. The critic praises the reboot as a lot of fun thanks to its outrageous gags and Neeson's impeccable deadpan performance as Frank Drebin Jr. They single out the film's amiably ridiculous and guilelessly crass spoof elements, including memorable pop-culture riffs, while noting it may lack the original's eerie innocence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/30/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-spoof-reboot) ## The Times Rating 4/5. 30 July 2025. The review finds Neeson and Anderson irresistible in their chemistry and deadpan delivery amid a cavalcade of sight gags and buffoonery. It praises the director for sticking to the original's high volume of jokes while noting the film feels like its predecessors, which is more than enough. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-and-pamela-anderson-are-irresistible-wbmhgfg5g) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating B-. 30 July 2025. The film unloads a dense barrage of gags that mostly land thanks to a game cast and brisk pacing. Pamela Anderson is highlighted for stealing scenes with her ridiculous straight-faced delivery. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-naked-gun-review) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich 30 July 2025. The review calls it the funniest American movie in years and a laugh-a-minute legacy sequel that proves comedies belong in theaters. Liam Neeson is praised for living up to Leslie Nielsen's legacy. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-naked-gun-movie-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-2025-1235141714/) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 31 July 2025. The critic calls it Liam Neeson’s best career move since Schindler’s List, a giddy and riotous comedy that reinvigorates him by letting him mock his thriller persona. She highlights how the film careens around merrily, hitting all the touchstones of the first movie with a loony love montage and clever cameos. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-07-31/naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-paul-walter-hauser-danny-huston) ## Screen Daily 30 July 2025. The critic describes it as a pleasingly reverential and wonderfully stupid sequel that pulls off a consistently amusing facsimile of the originals with dopey gags and one-liners. They single out the smart direction keeping the silliness zipping along and the leads' deadpan sincerity. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-and-pamela-anderson-headline-pleasingly-reverential-comedy-sequel/5207405.article) ## Sight and Sound 5 August 2025. The critic praises the film's refreshingly silly and expertly paced comedy, highlighting Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson's committed performances in this cop caper that resurrects Hollywood comedy. They single out the tight 85-minute runtime and volume of gags as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/naked-gun-delightfully-stupid-cop-caper-resurrects-hollywood-comedy) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 30 July 2025. The critic finds the reboot delivers enough laughs to succeed as dumb fun despite an uneven structure and shaky plot. Neeson and Anderson's chemistry and comic timing are singled out as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-1236333409/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 31 July 2025. The critic finds the reboot a chip off the old blockhead, with Liam Neeson gamely stepping into Leslie Nielsen’s role as the blissfully silly hero who generates disaster. She praises the brisk timing, ludicrous and bountiful jokes, and how the film embraces obviousness and maximalism in the spirit of the originals. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/movies/the-naked-gun-review.html) ## Variety 30 July 2025. The critic describes an engaging goofball grab bag of a reboot that skewers clichés and delivers vintage terrible puns and inspired gags, but rarely shocks you into laughter. It notes the script honors the spirit of the originals while starring Liam Neeson in the bumbling detective role. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-1236472418/) ## Vulture 30 July 2025. The critic hails the reboot as fall-out-of-your-seat hilarious and potentially restorative for studio comedies, with a high hit rate of jokes in the classic ZAZ style. Neeson's physical comedy and the film's commitment to crude, silly gags are praised. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-the-naked-gun-might-save-the-studio-comedy.html) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 9/10. 30 July 2025. The critic praises the film as one of the funniest of the decade, highlighting its rapid-fire jokes and Liam Neeson's powerhouse comedic performance as Frank Drebin Jr. They single out the action sequences for being well-directed and the overall balance of nods to the original with new material. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-naked-gun-review-2025-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson/) ## /Film — Ethan Anderton Rating 9/10. 30 July 2025. The critic calls it the funniest movie of the year, praising its relentless, gut-busting jokes and gags that riff on crime thrillers and action hits while staying true to the original's slapstick spirit. They single out the cast's straight-faced performances, especially Liam Neeson's, for making the absurdity work. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1925863/naked-gun-review-2025-reboot/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2025. The critic lauds the film's dedication to packing jokes densely, calling it a spiritually pure update that honors the original's absurdism. They single out the lean, aggressive pacing and specific gags like the "Cold Cases" sign for praise, while noting supporting performances. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2025/08/01/movies/naked-gun-reboot-review-liam-neeson) ## NME — Paul Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2025. The reboot tries too hard to be both the same and different from the originals, with timing issues and padding that cause the hit rate to drop, though Neeson and Anderson deliver solid performances and the film's committed silliness is welcome. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-3881755) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 30 July 2025. The critic finds the reboot a welcome return to rapid-fire gag comedy that succeeds more often than not thanks to a game cast playing it straight. Neeson and Anderson are perfectly cast in the lead roles. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/07/naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-comedy-reboot-1236473708/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3 out of 5. 30 July 2025. The critic finds it a gratifying study in guffaws with more jokes landing than not, praising Liam Neeson's deadpan performance as Frank Drebin Jr., but notes it runs on fumes by the end and some gags miss. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-has-killer-deadpan/) ## Paste — Jesse Hassenger Rating 7.8. 30 July 2025. The critic commends Liam Neeson's impeccable deadpan performance as Frank Drebin Jr., noting how he maintains a stone face while delivering silly jokes. They praise the film's commitment to parody and running gags, though noting some wobbles in what it's parodying, ultimately celebrating the return of the laugh-a-minute spoof. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/akiva-schaffer/the-naked-gun-2025-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson-akiva-schaffer) ## The Wrap 30 July 2025. The film is very funny and does exactly what a Naked Gun movie should by lampooning cop movies while alternating between straight-faced tone and gags. Neeson’s self-mockery and the leads’ chemistry are highlights. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-pamela-anderson/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun.md