Here’s why The Naked Gun is one of the funniest trilogies ever

They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

This week marks the 35^th anniversary of the first broadcast of Police Squad on US television, giving us the tenuous excuse we’ve long been looking for to pay tribute to the movie trilogy that was eventually spawned from the TV series. Like Airplane, the Daddy of all comedies, the Naked Gun trilogy is a laugh-a-minute riot, featuring so many jokes in such a short space of time that you’re guaranteed to find a host of new gags with each repeated viewing. Comedy has evolved in the years since the release of Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult in 1994, but there’s certainly a Leslie Nielsen-shaped void in the genre for the type of silly, slapstick, gag-heavy piece of work that he helped make into an art form. The men behind the Naked Gun series – David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams – struggled to find the right comedy formula after the third movie (only David Zucker was involved in what was the weakest movie in the series), but they certainly set a high bar with a trilogy that still stands the test of time. Take a trip down memory lane below by reliving some of the many moments which made it so great.

“Maybe this will help…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTh9qpzhunE Clip via Movieclips

“Anybody get a look at the driver?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPEnaz0Qm8 Clip via Movieclips

“I want you to know, I practise safe sex…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YFC0O393DQ Clip via untoldentertainment

“Go for it, Stephanie”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz6A6t55qXk Clip via Mark Cousens

“Ed, he’s got a picture of your wife”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw7fbLQeG5k Clip via tomtraveller

‘Enrico Pallazzo’ sings the national anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ZsDdK0sTI Clip via Movieclips

‘Enrico Pallazzo’ saves the day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCpGCpHfaSs Clip via MuckKills

 “I’m a very lucky woman”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qobR3etoMak Clip via Anssi Purola

An awfully big moustache

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2P1H1orxXY Clip via gthedirector

Boxing nicknames

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEjo0ajod1M Clip via Movieclips

“Sam, play our song, just one more time”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iZW909WuB4 Clip via pansulik

“I love it”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0La3aBSjvGY Clip via The Kasikaasu

Nordberg’s unfortunate ride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI-ty9MfICM Clip via Movieclips

Close-range shootout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ItHxt_pAG0 Clip via Kamil Zupa

Alternative Untouchables opening sequence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwM7NgPE5lw Clip via Movieclips

“We like to go out in the back yard, throw it around for a while

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r_dXbWf2Aw Clip via Movieclips

“You might end up dead is my middle name”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjZDsMbXCU Clip via BestSpoofMovies

“Take it from me, this place here changes a man”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PG7ZsWyOus&t Clip via Nizzinny

“Come here, sexy”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTs-HKiOQj8 Clip via Movieclips

“I know what I’m doing”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZJUuDLqjzU Clip via Movieclips