The Naked Gunreboot is proving that big-screen comedy still has life left in it. Starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, the new installment was released on August 1 and marks Paramount’s final release under its old leadership, as the studio’s acquisition by Skydance was officially closed earlier this week.
The Naked Gunstars Neeson as wacky cop Frank Drebin Jr., serving as both a reboot and a legacy sequel to the original film trilogy, which starredAirplane’s Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin.TheNaked Gunreleasekicked off witha $16.8 million debut that marked the second-best opening weekend for the franchise.
Now, perVariety’s report, the Paramount release earned an additional $2.3 million on Friday and is expected to earn $8.4 million over the weekend. This marks a 50% drop from its opening weekend, a fairly standard decline for comedies.The Naked Gun’s domestic total is expected to hit $33 millionby the end of the weekend.
What This Means For The Naked Gun
While comedies have largely been relegated to streaming in recent years,The Naked Gunhas managed to find a steady theatrical audience. The $33 million domestic haul serves as an encouraging sign for the genre, particularly when compared to other recent comedies that fizzled out in theaters.
The moviehas a reported budget of $42 million, so it still has a long way to go to hit breakeven. However, it’s possibleThe Naked Guncould be on the verge of that point if updated international numbers show progress in its total box office. This is a key benchmark for profitability once international and ancillary revenues are factored in.
This strong performance, coming less than two weeks after its release, signals that audience interest inNeeson’s comedic roleremains high despite the 50% drop from its opening weekend.This could also increase the chances ofThe Naked Gunbecoming an ongoing franchisefor Paramount under Skydance, potentially making way for another installment.
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On the other hand, the new installment hasn’t quite reached the level of the previous three installments just yet. With the latest box office update, the Neeson installment may have a strong chance of catching up withNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, which made over $51 million. However,the highest-grossing movie in the franchise isThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, which made over $86 million.
Our Take On The Naked Gun’s Box Office
Crossing $33 million in under two weeks may not sound like superhero-level numbers, but for a comedy reboot in today’s theatrical climate,this is a significant accomplishment.The Naked Gunhas been praisedfor striking the perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh humor, making the film enjoyable for all audiences.
With its current 89% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and its steady box-office run, it’s obvious audiences are yearning for big laughs on the big screen. IfThe Naked Gunkeeps drawing in audiences at this pace, Neeson’s spoof could mark the beginning of a new era for the franchise and could open the door for more comedies to debut theatrically.
