The Naked Gun seems to have been doing everything right as its August 1 release date approaches, so why is its box office chances this weekend looking worse than previously thought? It seems the answer to that question lies in the big blockbuster movies that the comedy reboot is competing with in cinemas this summer.
Liam Neeson is a man with skills, and while he is putting those to good use in The Naked Gun in more ways than one, it seems that how the film performs at the box office could be out of his hands and an even bigger against-the-odds task than many of his vengeful action vigilantes have overcome in the past. When being put up against the might of The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman, as well as other summer hits like Jurassic World: Rebirth, Neeson’s Frank Drebin Jr. may need more than the luck of the devil to see him through.
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Latest box office tracking numbers have suggested the film is heading for a top-end domestic opening weekend of just $18 million. This is certainly not disastrous, especially considering that international takings is also to be taken into consideration, and the movie only had a $48 million budget behind it. However, it is a significant drop from the $30 million being projected just a few weeks ago.
Will ‘The Naked Gun’ Be a Box Office Success?
Liam Neeson is used to seeing his box office numbers fall short of the big blockbuster offerings that fill cinemas in the summer season. However, The Naked Gun has a lasting legacy that should see it draw a crowd, especially following a wave of positive reviews from critics. Some have claimed it is every bit as hilarious as Nielsen’s trio of Naked Gun movies, and others have noted that they cried laughing at various points in the film’s short 85-minute runtime, which itself is a homage to the original movies, which were tight and never outstayed their welcome.
It has been suggested that The Naked Gun’s nostalgic pull means there will be a strong turnout of audiences that saw the original movies and will be looking to recapture that sense of silliness all over again with Neeson’s Frank Drebin Jr. However, whether younger audiences will be quite as interested in the old-school comedy of the franchise is what will dictate how successful the movie can truly be.
Whatever the box office result, it seems clear that The Naked Gun is a legacy sequel that knew the assignment and executes it to the letter. The film should do just enough to turn a profit in cinemas throughout August, and we can pretty much be guaranteed to see it appear at the top of the streaming charts in a few months’ time. Meanwhile, fans looking to relive the original Naked Gun trilogy can find them on several platforms, including Paramount+ and Netflix, depending on your location.
Source: Box Office Theory
Release Date
August 1, 2025
Producers
Erica Huggins
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