Some of Leslie Nielsen’s best jokes are in the original The Naked Gun movie, which continues to be revered as a classic of a bygone era. Known for his incredible comic timing and ability to deliver nonsensical jokes with the most ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan expression ever, Leslie Nielsen entertained us as one of the greatest actors in the spoof comedy genre.

The new The Naked Gun movie, starring Liam Neeson as the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character, is currently out in theaters and is winning over moviegoers, as reviews and box office earnings prove beyond a doubt. Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson are receiving worldwide praise for their memorable performances in a genre not usually ᴀssociated with them.

Spoof comedy is a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ genre today, as most comedies are cross-breed genre films or just funny dramas and horror films packaged as comedies. However, another classic of the genre, which features Leslie Nielsen’s best movie line, should maybe get a similar legacy sequel or reboot treatment, now that The Naked Gun‘s success proves there’s an audience for such films.

Airplane! Has Some Of The Most Iconic Jokes Of All Time

The moment when Leslie Nielsen’s Dr. Rumack replies with “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley,” after being asked if he’s serious in AirplaneI is one of the greatest gags of all time. The movie changed comedy forever by blending this nonchalant observational style of comedy and over-the-top bits in a disaster context to spoof a widely popular genre.

The 1975 movie Zero Hour! was a popular disaster film that tells the story of a World War 2 fighter pilot forced to try and land an airplane in heavy fog after an unfortunate incident of many pᴀssengers, and both airplane pilots getting food poisoning at the same time. Airplane! is a comedy remake of the film that parodies it.

With iconic moments like an entire line of boxers and wrestlers showing up to quieten a hysteric and screaming lady to a blow-up doll working as a backup pilot, Airplane! has the best funny movie quotes and gags. One of the earliest interactions in the film, which is a spoof of airplane jargon, has become an iconic joke today:

Roger Murdock: You have clearance, Clarence.

Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What’s our vector, Victor?

Radio tower: Tower’s radio clearance, over!

“No, I have been nervous lots of times” still elicits laughter from viewers. Ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) boring a man into extreme reactions with his lengthy story about his love life and the “wrong week” running gag of Steve McCroskey (Lloyd Bridges) relapsing on his substance-abuse issues are all iconic jokes that are part of pop culture today.

The Naked Gun’s Success Proves Now Is The Perfect Time For An Airplane! Remake

The Naked Gun has become Liam Neeson’s highest-grossing movie at the box office in the 2020s. The actor, famous for his action thrillers, which feature as much stunning choreography as they do intense suspense, proves up to the task of parodying the kind of character he’s played so many times throughout his career, from Non-Stop to Taken.

Similarly, Pamela Anderson, whose few roles in films at the peak of her popularity only capitalized on her status as a Sєx symbol, be it as a lifeguard or a femme fatale, beautifully complements Liam Neeson by parodying the kind of role she’d be offered in the film if it were a serious thriller made in the ’90s.

The Naked Gun is a legacy sequel done right, and the high acclaim it’s receiving proves that if there was ever a time to finally revive the Airplane! franchise, it’s now. It will also provide other veteran actors typecast in a serious role throughout their career the opportunity to act against the grain and prove their comedic prowess.

The Return Of Classic Comedies Can Rejuvenate The Genre

One of the most popular genres in the history of comedy was the parody genre. Films that successfully spoof classics, while rare, are timeless entertainers, but the genre easily ran itself into trouble by losing its grasp on creativity. Movies like Disaster Movie, Date Movie, and Superhero Movie squandered their potential, effectively ending the reign of the spoof film.

The Naked Gun (2025) might start the revival of the parody movie genre, which would be a long-awaited cinematic phenomenon for fans. The kind of creativity that the writers’ room exhibits through the innovative screenplay of the legacy sequel can prove essential for such a revival. The film’s reception also indicates that there’s still an audience for parody movies.

If a movie like Airplane! is also successfully remade, it could herald a new era for the genre through a much-needed return to form. Outright comedies that don’t feature heavy dramatic moments or combine elements of other genres beyond just spoofing stereotypical moments are a rare sight in today’s world. So, reviving the classic subgenres can rejuvenate comedy altogether.

Some parody movies have even become more famous and iconic than the original films they parodied. Actors like Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, whose fantasy spoof Shrek continues to be a beloved animated movie and spawned one of the most successful franchises ever, were highly influential on parody cinema. If pure comedy is to return, parody films must be revived.

Leslie Nielsen’s Brand Of Comedy Is Fresh Even Today

The Naked Gun (2025)’s domestic box-office record, which is more impressive than expected, proves that the style of comedy Leslie Nielsen popularized still has an audience today. There is a charming simplicity in the kind of silly shenanigans the film features that helps such jokes and gags stand the test of time and entertain all generations of viewers.

Leslie Nielsen’s comedy has a profoundly charming quality. He doesn’t embellish his delivery with style or sarcasm. Nielsen would utter the most nonsensical lines in the history of cinema with the utmost sincerity, making viewers believe his characters genuinely failed to grasp the silly over-the-top nature of their activities. This is why he’s a revered icon of the genre.

Because of Nielsen’s sincerity as a comedian, viewers never feel distance from his performance. He pulls audiences in with his beautifully simple delivery of goofy jokes and performance of absurdity without the slightest hint of irony. Since his brand of comedy relies on viewers’ willingness to suspend disbelief and surrender to entertainment, it’ll always feel fresh and revitalizing.

The Lonely Island Has A History Of Making Great Spoof Comedies

The Naked Gun (2025) director Akiva Schaffer, one of three members of the comedy troupe Lonely Island, which comprises Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone alongside him, has proven once again that parody films are in his wheelhouse. Even though the genre has been considered ᴅᴇᴀᴅ for a while, Schaffer and The Lonely Island have never stopped making parodies.

One of the movies that deserved sequels but never got one in recent years is Akiva Schaffer’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, starring Andy Samberg. It is a parody of the popstar documentary genre, and has some of the funniest spoof songs ever written, including the Mona Lisa song that is still winning fans over today, almost a decade later.

The Lonely Island’s long-form skit Awesometown and movie H๏τ Rod are also examples of perfect parody work by the group. They’re famous for their skits with other celebrities and uniquely silly songs like The LEGO Movie‘s Everything is Awesome! as well. If anyone can successfully revolutionize comedy and revive parody cinema to its glory, it’s them.

Whether Airplane! gets a legacy sequel is still to be seen as no announcements have been made, and there are no reports of such a movie being in the works. However, with a director like Akiva Schaffer consistently making good parody movies and proving he can handle iconic IPs like The Naked Gun, there’s hope for fans of spoof comedy

.