The Bare Gun collection continues to be one of many strongest comedy franchises going. With the Liam Neeson-starring The Bare Gun bringing comedy again to the field workplace, the franchise is continuous to carry its over-the-top antics in a way that’s digestible and entertaining to all audiences. Leslie Nielsen turned Frank Drebin all the best way again in 1982 when Police Squad! first aired, together with his stoic tackle a bumbling police officer making him one of many funniest protagonists in a comedy. Though the movies have a repeatable construction, every movie has sufficient inventive gags and a fast tempo to maintain them partaking from begin to end.
With 4 movies releasing in 37 years, the franchise continues to go sturdy with every iteration. Whether or not it is Nielsen within the lead or Neeson, every movie finds its personal strategy to stand out among the many plethora of comedies launched. Not like most long-running franchises, there aren’t any dangerous movies within the collection.
Listed here are all 4 Bare Gun movies ranked from humorous to even funnier.
4
‘Bare Gun 33 1/3: The Last Insult’ (1994)
Though that is the place the franchise’s famend construction begins to really feel weightless, Bare Gun 33 1/3: The Last Insult remains to be amusing riot from begin to end. Leslie Nielsen at all times delivers because the titular police detective, and this movie is not any totally different. The connection he builds with the antagonist, Rocco, performed by Fred Ward, makes for among the funniest chemistry in your entire franchise. The third act bomb sequence on the Academy Awards additionally made for probably the most memorable sequences within the collection, the place the filmmakers have been in a position to poke enjoyable at a variety of filmmakers whereas making enjoyable of what’s deemed an “Oscar film.” Whereas David Zucker’s directing is sorely missed, in each this movie and The Bare Gun, and seeing Priscilla Presley be taken hostage feels stale at this level within the franchise, it’s nonetheless an especially enjoyable film with many franchise-best moments.
The ‘Bare Gun’ Collection Has the Finest Opening Credit Sequences
One of many strongest elements of the Bare Gun franchise is the opening credit, which sees a cop’s automotive driving on patrol. As an alternative of going after criminals, the automotive is pushed in probably the most absurd locations. From a pinball machine to being birthed by a girl, the opening credit get among the greatest laughs of your entire collection. Arguably, the perfect opening credit sequence is in Bare Gun 33 1/3: The Last Insult. The movie locations the police automotive in inconceivable but hilarious circumstances, together with a hockey sport and blowing up the Loss of life Star in Star Wars. The opening credit not solely set the tone of the movies completely, however convey the creativity that’s on show within the franchise.
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3
‘The Bare Gun 2 1/2: The Scent of Concern’ (1991)
The Bare Gun 2 1/2: The Scent of Concern completely recaptures the primary movie’s tone whereas leaning additional on absurdity. Priscilla Presley and Leslie Nielsen’s electrical chemistry continues within the sequel, digging additional into their sensual relationship. The love-making sequences have at all times been a pleasure to look at, however the one on this movie is arguably the most effective intercourse scenes in movie. As an alternative of exhibiting the 2 actors’ ardour for one another, the movie makes use of a barrage of clips to convey the thought of getting intercourse, which brings the movie’s funniest and one way or the other most suave second in your entire collection. In addition to two of the funniest deaths within the collection involving a hearth hose and a lion, Bare Gun 2 1/2: The Scent of Concern is an especially worthy sequel that lives as much as the highs of the primary movie.
They Deal with O.J. Simpson Fantastically in Hindsight
The inclusion of O.J. Simpson on this franchise could seem to be it aged like milk, but it surely truly works a lot better within the context of the current day. In each movie, O.J. Simpson’s character, Nordberg, is continually getting overwhelmed up. Within the first movie, specifically, he has no function exterior of getting hit by flying objects, being shot by criminals, and falling down a baseball stadium. With a felony file stating how he wasn’t the best particular person, seeing him used as a butt-end of a joke all through the franchise is extraordinarily satisfying. The Bare Gun additionally throws shade at him within the film, with the trailer exhibiting his character’s son failing to say he missed him when all of his coworkers have been crying about their fathers. Though most older comedies have elements which can be dated, the Bare Gun franchise has efficiently discovered methods to stay related with out even realizing it.
2
‘The Bare Gun’ (2025)
The Bare Gun
- Launch Date
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August 1, 2025
- Producers
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Erica Huggins
The Bare Gun is a surprisingly nice legacy sequel that feels similar to the unique trilogy regardless of popping out over 30 years after Bare Gun 33 1/3: The Last Insult. Director Akiva Schaffer totally understands the supply materials, recreating superb sequences from the earlier movies whereas making many all-time humorous scenes for the franchise. Seeing Liam Neeson in a comedy function like it is a dream come true, completely carrying on the legacy of Leslie Nielsen whereas making the function his personal. Pamela Anderson additionally provides an incredibly nice efficiency, taking what might’ve been a stale feminine love curiosity and making it into one of many strongest characters in the entire franchise. From an unbelievable snowman sequence to an outrageous windshield gag, The Bare Gun stands as not solely the most effective movies within the collection, however the most effective studio comedies launched in a very long time.
Comedy Legacy Sequels Are Onerous To Get Proper
Completely happy Gilmore 2 is certainly one of many current examples of how polarizing legacy sequels are, particularly ones within the comedy style. The Bare Gun stands among the many greatest comedy legacy sequels by sticking to what works for the franchise and reinvigorating the slapstick comedy. Too usually do comedy sequels rehash what got here earlier than them, and whereas there are some moments in The Bare Gun that definitely have interaction in such indulgences, it does simply sufficient to maintain the movie recent and progressive for the conventional moviegoer.
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1
‘The Bare Gun: From the Recordsdata of Police Squad’ (1988)
The Bare Gun: From the Recordsdata of Police Squad stands as a traditional of the style for a cause. Its means to parody the cop style with the addition of Looney Tunes-like gags makes for a completely partaking expertise that’s far not like another comedy. Leslie Nielsen is the proper actor for Frank Drebin, portraying a dim-witted cop with gravitas and real love of filmmaking. The mile-a-minute jokes make for an at all times entertaining expertise whereas giving the movie a fast tempo. With an all-time baseball scene and superb use of Priscilla Presley, The Bare Gun: From the Recordsdata of Police Squad stands as the most effective comedies of the ’80s and the perfect movie within the franchise.
We Want Extra Stay-Motion Slapstick Comedies
The Bare Gun franchise proves that live-action slapstick can work, and 2025’s The Bare Gun reveals that it might nonetheless be achieved at this time. Too usually does slapstick humor happen solely in animated tasks, when live-action movies will be simply as efficient. With The Bare Gun receiving excellent reactions from critics, let’s hope it drives extra studios to make live-action comedies with slapstick humor. Doing this could not solely carry again a misplaced time in filmmaking, however may very well be the important thing to getting Hollywood again on its ft once more. In an period of massive blockbuster spectacles, small-scale slapstick comedies are precisely what the movie trade wants proper now.