For nearly four decades, Leslie Nielsen played Lieutenant Frank Drebin with a deadpan delivery that became comedy gold. Now, Liam Neeson steps into the role—sort of. The 2025 reboot casts Neeson as Drebin’s son, Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., turning the familiar slapstick formula into something unexpectedly fresh. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the film arrives in theaters August 1, 2025, giving audiences a new reason to revisit the beloved Police Squad universe. You can watch the official trailer on the Paramount Pictures YouTube channel to see what Neeson brings to the bit.

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Release Date: August 1, 2025 · Director: Akiva Schaffer · Lead Actor: Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. · Co-Star: Pamela Anderson · Filming Location: Downtown Atlanta

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact streaming platforms post-theater run
  • Final MPAA runtime descriptor
  • International release variations outside US
3Timeline signal
  • Filming: 2024 in Downtown Atlanta (Wikipedia)
  • Premiere: July 28, 2025 at SVA Theater (Wikipedia)
  • Theatrical: August 1, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • VOD purchase: September 30, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Prime Video: December 29, 2025 (Wikipedia)
4What happens next
  • Physical media lands November 10, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Streaming exclusivity on Prime Video from late December (Wikipedia)
  • Digital purchase available from Paramount Movies (Wikipedia)

Key production details and release information for the film are summarized in the table below.

Detail Value
Director Akiva Schaffer
Writers Akiva Schaffer, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand
Stars Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson
Genre Action comedy parody
Release Date August 1, 2025
Filming Location Downtown Atlanta

Where can I watch the new Naked Gun movie?

The Naked Gun (2025) had its theatrical run first, then expanded to home viewing. Here’s where you can catch it now.

Streaming options

  • Prime Video became the primary streaming home December 29, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Available for digital purchase via Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango (Paramount Movies)
  • Not currently on Netflix—watch the original Police Squad! film on that platform instead (Wikipedia)

Theater release details

Cinemas opened Friday, August 1, 2025 with Paramount distributing across the US (Fandango). The world premiere took place July 28, 2025 at SVA Theater in Manhattan (Wikipedia).

Roku streaming guide

Roku users can access the film through the Prime Video channel after its December 29, 2025 debut on that platform.

Editor’s note

Streaming availability varies by region. US viewers gained Prime Video access by late December 2025, but international windows may differ based on regional licensing agreements.

What is The Naked Gun movie about?

The reboot hands the detective badge to Frank Drebin’s son, who inherits both the name and the mission—but with a modern twist.

Plot summary

Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. inherits his father’s improbable job: solving crimes while keeping Police Squad alive. The son faces the same bureaucratic threat that plagued his father’s unit, and the plot follows his attempt to crack a murder case and save the department from closure (Wikipedia).

Cast and characters

  • Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Wikipedia)
  • Pamela Anderson as Beth Davenport (Wikipedia)
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Capt. Ed Hocken Jr. (Wikipedia)
  • CCH Pounder as Chief Davis (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Kevin Durand as Sig Gustafson (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, Danny Huston in supporting roles (Official Website)
The paradox

An actor known for dark thrillers like “Taken” now plays slapstick comedy—and somehow it works, because Neeson commits fully to the bit (Rotten Tomatoes).

The implication: Neeson’s casting deliberately subverts audience expectations, turning his action-hero credibility into a comedic asset.

Where was Naked Gun 2025 filmed?

Production moved south for this reboot, trading the original’s Los Angeles setting for a different kind of Southern charm.

Primary locations

  • Downtown Atlanta served as the main filming location (Wikipedia)
  • Georgia’s film incentive program likely attracted the production

Production details

Akiva Schaffer directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (Wikipedia). The film is the fourth entry in the Naked Gun franchise, produced by Seth MacFarlane (Official Trailer). Filming wrapped in 2024, setting up the August 2025 release window.

What this means: Atlanta’s established film infrastructure made it a practical choice for a studio-backed comedy production seeking cost efficiencies.

Bottom line: The Naked Gun (2025) is a reboot that breathes fresh air into a 37-year-old franchise. Action fans: expect Neeson’s signature intensity mixed with genuine slapstick. Comedy fans: the deadpan DNA remains intact even with a new lead. Families: the PG-13 rating means some content requires caution before letting kids watch.

Is Naked Gun on Netflix?

Netflix carries the 1988 original “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” but not the 2025 reboot (Wikipedia). Streaming rights for the new film went to Prime Video.

Current availability

  • Watch The Naked Gun (1988) on Netflix (Wikipedia)
  • The Naked Gun (2025) streams exclusively on Prime Video from December 29, 2025 (Wikipedia)

Reasons for removal

Netflix regularly rotates its catalog, and Paramount controls distribution rights for the 2025 film. Studios often sell exclusive streaming deals to specific platforms rather than maintaining broad Netflix availability (Paramount Movies).

Editor’s note

Studios negotiate time-limited licensing deals, and when those expire, titles either return to different platforms or disappear from the service entirely. Paramount’s exclusive deal with Prime Video reflects a broader industry shift toward platform-specific releases.

What is the release date for The Naked Gun (2025)?

The film faced a minor scheduling shift before landing in theaters. Here’s the full release timeline.

Theater rollout

  • Originally scheduled for July 18, 2025 theatrical release (Wikipedia)
  • Final date confirmed: Friday, August 1, 2025 (Fandango)
  • World premiere: July 28, 2025 at SVA Theater, Manhattan (Wikipedia)

Trailer availability

The official trailer dropped June 16, 2025 on the Paramount Pictures YouTube channel (Official Trailer), featuring the tagline “Justice has a new Daddy.” Early promotion positioned Neeson as a new kind of Drebin while honoring the original deadpan spirit. The trailer accumulated hundreds of thousands of views ahead of the theatrical debut.

The upshot

The two-week release delay from mid-July to August 1 gave Paramount extra weeks for marketing push—visible in the trailer’s polished presentation and the studio’s confidence in placing Neeson front and center.

Timeline

Five milestones mark the film’s journey from production to your screen.

  • 2024: Filming in Downtown Atlanta (Wikipedia)
  • June 16, 2025: Official trailer released by Paramount Pictures on YouTube (Official Trailer)
  • July 28, 2025: World premiere at SVA Theater, Manhattan (Wikipedia)
  • August 1, 2025: US theatrical wide release (Wikipedia)
  • December 29, 2025: Added to Prime Video streaming (Wikipedia)
Editor’s note

Additional windows followed the theatrical run: VOD purchase opened September 30, 2025, with Prime Video becoming the primary streaming home by late December (Wikipedia).

What we know vs. what we don’t

High-confidence facts anchor the record, while some details remain uncertain.

Confirmed

  • Release date August 1, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Cast includes Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser (Wikipedia)
  • Directed by Akiva Schaffer (Wikipedia)
  • Produced by Seth MacFarlane (Official Trailer)
  • PG-13 rating for crude/sexual material, partial nudity, violence (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Runtime: 1 hour 25 minutes (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Worldwide gross $102 million (Wikipedia)
  • US box office gross $52.6 million (Rotten Tomatoes)

Unclear

  • Exact streaming platforms beyond Prime Video
  • International release dates outside US
  • Full budget figures
  • Confirmed cameos beyond main cast

What people are saying

Police-procedural reboot is refreshingly silly.

— Akiva Schaffer, director (Rotten Tomatoes review)

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson fully committing to the bit.

— Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus (Rotten Tomatoes)

Justice has a new Daddy.

— Paramount Pictures, official trailer tagline (YouTube)

The takeaway

The Naked Gun (2025) opened August 1, 2025 with director Akiva Schaffer finding a clever balance: honoring the deadpan legacy Leslie Nielsen built while letting Neeson build something new around his action-star persona. Pamela Anderson provides reliable support as Beth Davenport, and the film earned $102 million worldwide by year’s end (Wikipedia)—solid numbers for a comedy reboot in a crowded market. Families with younger viewers should note the PG-13 rating includes crude humor, partial nudity, and violent imagery (Rotten Tomatoes), so previewing before watching together is advisable. For viewers deciding where to watch, the theatrical window closed quickly, but digital and physical options opened fast: VOD purchase arrived September 30, 2025, with Prime Video gaining streaming rights by December 29, 2025 (Wikipedia). Neeson’s casting proves that even a veteran action star can pivot successfully into slapstick comedy, giving the franchise a viable future.

Related reading: Chainsaw Man Season 2 – Release Date, Trailer and Updates

Additional sources

tvguide.com, letterboxd.com

The Naked Gun 2025 reimagines classic comedy with timeless slapstick and modern wit through its cast of Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, as profiled in the cast exploration.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the cast of The Naked Gun (2025)?

Liam Neeson plays Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., with Pamela Anderson as Beth Davenport, Paul Walter Hauser as Capt. Ed Hocken Jr., CCH Pounder as Chief Davis, Kevin Durand as Sig Gustafson, and supporting cast including Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, and Eddie Yu.

What is the age rating for The Naked Gun (2025)?

The MPAA gave it a PG-13 rating for crude and sexual material, brief partial nudity, and violence with bloody images (Rotten Tomatoes).

Where is The Naked Gun (2025) streaming?

Prime Video became the primary streaming home December 29, 2025 (Wikipedia). It’s not currently available on Netflix.

What do reviews say about The Naked Gun (2025)?

Rotten Tomatoes critics noted Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson “fully committing to the bit,” with director Akiva Schaffer described as keeping the police-procedural format “refreshingly silly.”

When is the trailer for The Naked Gun 2025 available?

The official trailer released June 16, 2025 on the Paramount Pictures YouTube channel (Official Trailer).

What is the parents guide for The Naked Gun (2025)?

The PG-13 rating covers crude and sexual content, brief partial nudity, and violent imagery with blood (Rotten Tomatoes). Parents should consider these elements before allowing children to watch.

How long did it take to make The Naked Gun (2025)?

Filming occurred in 2024 in Downtown Atlanta, with the world premiere following July 28, 2025 and theatrical release August 1, 2025 (Wikipedia).