The Original ‘Naked Gun’ Is the Number One Movie Streaming Right Now, Beating Out ‘Happy Gilmore 2’
For a few days after its release, Happy Gilmore 2 was the most streamed content across all platforms. But according to JustWatch data, the Adam Sandler sequel was knocked off of its throne by a very old movie — the original The Naked Gun, released in 1988.
This is obviously not totally out of the blue. The reboot of the film is slated to be released on August 1st, and early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, in a rare moment for a comedy movie, the 2025 version received an initial 100 percent fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
The Naked Gun (2025) stars Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, and beyond the strong reviews, the film has garnered the interest of the public because the two stars are reportedly also in a relationship. It’s the perfect promotion cycle for a movie: You can form a little parasocial relationship, and most critics are saying you’re gonna have a good time at the theater. What more can you really want?
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With all the buzz surrounding the new film, it’s definitely introducing the original — starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley and O.J. Simpson — to a new generation. Interestingly, too, JustWatch uses information collected from millions of users across 140 countries and 4,500 streaming services. So it’s not just topping charts in one country or from a handful of apps.
As for Happy Gilmore 2, even though it was knocked from its top spot, it’s still in the top three, where it’s been since its release on July 25th. And while neither Happy Gilmore 2 nor The Naked Gun are original movies, their top spots on the streaming charts are a sign of hope for the comedy industry.
If a reboot of a classic film series is inspiring people to check out a movie made 37 years ago, that’s a net positive. And if having a nostalgia driven sequel on Netflix shows studio heads that there’s a hunger for comedy films, maybe it will mean there will be money to risk on some more original IP going forward. And maybe that original IP will be good.
That’s a lot of maybes, and we still haven’t seen how the new The Naked Gun will perform at the box office. But the critics’ reviews, test audiences’ feedback and streaming numbers for the original are very promising early signs.
