Where to start withPolice Squad!
3 versions · originally a series, 1982
Themes: Incompetence, Satirical Crime, Absurdity, Deadpan Humor, Breaking the Fourth Wall.
Start with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (David Zucker, 1988) — the film. Police Squad! exists in 3 versions across media, beginning as a series in 1982; each is ranked below by what it does best.
The Police Squad! franchise delivers relentless, rapid-fire slapstick comedy anchored by Leslie Nielsen’s deadpan portrayal of the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin.
✦ Most fans start here
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
The original tv
Police Squad!
Jerry Zucker · Series · 1982
Police Squad! (1982) presents the original television blueprint, offering a fast-paced, episodic format defined by its dense, absurd sight gags and dry parody of classic police procedural tropes.
1988 film
✦ Start hereThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
David Zucker · Film · 1988
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) elevates the series to a cinematic scale, refining the comedic timing and slapstick set pieces into a cohesive, highly acclaimed feature.
1994 film
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Peter Segal · Film · 1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) serves as the concluding chapter of the film trilogy, focusing on Drebin’s domestic life and undercover prison antics in a final, frantic comedic effort.
Common questions
Is Police Squad! the same as The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!?
Police Squad! is a television series released in 1982, while The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a movie released in 1988. The film serves as a feature-length adaptation of the concepts and characters established in the television series.
What order should I watch Police Squad! and the related movies?
You should begin with the 1982 television series Police Squad!. Following the series, you can watch the movie adaptations in chronological order of their release, starting with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! in 1988 and concluding with Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult in 1994.
How long is the Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult in relation to Police Squad!?
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult is a 1994 feature film. It is the third movie in the franchise that originated from the 1982 television series Police Squad!. The film is a standalone cinematic entry that follows the timeline established by the previous two movie adaptations.
Should I watch Police Squad! before seeing The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!?
Watching the 1982 series Police Squad! first provides the original context for the characters and style. The 1988 movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! continues the narrative and comedic tone established by the television series, making it a logical next step for viewers.