‘The Naked Gun’ reboot is coming — stream these crime comedies first
‘The Naked Gun’ reboot is coming — stream these crime comedies first
From clueless detectives to wild heists, these picks bring the laughs and the crime.
I’ve got tickets later this week to see the reboot of “The Naked Gun” and yeah… in my mind, there’s no one like Leslie Nielsen. But Liam Neeson (same initials — love that) is stepping up as Frank Drebin Jr., and I’m honestly curious to see what he does with it. It’s a direct sequel to “Naked Gun 33 1/3,” with Neeson playing the son of Frank Drebin, as he stumbles his way through investigations, much like his dad. The best part? The trailer is actually hilarious (at one point, he shoots his gun into the air so he can skip the line to use a public bathroom), and it got me in the mood for more crime comedies. So, here’s my list of the best crime comedy movies on streaming right now.
Top 7 crime-comedy movies on streaming right now
No. 7: ‘Game Night’ (2018) | Rent with Prime Video
“Game Night” is one of those movies I didn’t hear much about when it first dropped, but it totally deserves more love. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are endlessly watchable as a super competitive couple whose regular game night with friends spirals into a real-life kidnapping mystery. The twist? No one’s entirely sure if it’s still part of the game or if things have gone seriously off the rails.
What makes it work is how well it balances the comedy with the actual crime plot — it never leans too hard in either direction. The supporting cast is great too (shoutout to Jesse Plemons as the super weird cop neighbor obsessed with the three bags of Tostito Scoops), and the whole thing moves fast enough that you’re never bored. It’s funny, a little outrageous, and just a blast from start to finish, so check it out.
Game Night
Max and Annie’s weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party — complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night.
No. 6: ‘The Nice Guys’ (2016) | Paramount+
“The Nice Guys” is one of the funniest and most stylish detective comedies of the last decade. Set in ’70s Los Angeles, it follows a down-on-his-luck private eye (Ryan Gosling) and a grumpy enforcer (Russell Crowe) who get tangled up in a missing-person case that quickly spins into a wild conspiracy.
The vibe is part buddy-cop movie, part noir throwback, and it’s packed with really funny off-the-wall moments. Gosling and Crowe make a surprisingly great team, and the movie never takes itself too seriously — even when the body count rises. It’s absolutely worth streaming if you missed it the first time around.
The Nice Guys
A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.
No. 5: ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (2001) | Rent with Prime Video
“Ocean’s Eleven” is just cool from top to bottom. How could a movie stuffed with movie stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, NOT be cool? The setup’s simple: Danny Ocean rounds up a crew to rob three Vegas casinos in one night.
It also kicked off a whole franchise, with two sequels: “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen,” plus the spinoff “Ocean’s Eight” (along with a rumored sequel that could include the original cast). But nothing beats the original. It’s the blueprint for how to make a heist movie fun, smart, and totally rewatchable.
Ocean’s Eleven
Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny’s hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.
No. 4: ‘Novocaine’ (2025) | Paramount+
My wife and I caught “Novocaine” at one of those Regal mystery screenings, and I couldn’t believe how much fun it was. Jack Quaid plays a guy who literally can’t feel pain — he’s a low-key bank manager who ends up in the middle of a hostage situation. The setup’s wild, but it works, and the movie finds some genius ways to turn that condition into a superpower of sorts.
The action scenes get creative, but the real hook is Quaid, who nails the mix of awkward and heroic. I thought this one would blow up, but it kind of flew under the radar. If you missed it in theaters, do yourself a favor and check it out because it’s one of the most fun crime comedies I’ve seen in a while.
Novocaine
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.
No. 3: ‘Fargo’ (1996) | Rent with Prime Video
“Fargo” isn’t for everyone — but if you’re into the Coen brothers’ vibe, this might be their best. It’s dark, slow in spots, and leans hard into awkward Midwest energy, but somehow it all clicks. Frances McDormand plays a pregnant police chief investigating a botched kidnapping that spirals into multiple murders, and she’s absolutely incredible in it.
The movie’s so iconic that it even spun off a hit show. “Fargo,” the series, ran five seasons and pulled in some major talent over the years. But the original still stands on its own. It’s part crime story, part black comedy, and all Coen weirdness. If that’s your thing, there’s nothing else quite like it.
Fargo
Jerry Lundegaard is a small-town Minnesota car salesman deeply in debt and willing to do almost anything to get out. Police chief Marge Gunderson discovers a string of violent crimes as Jerry’s schemes spiral out of control.
No. 2: ‘The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!’ (1988) | Paramount+
“The Naked Gun” is one of my all-time favorite Leslie Nielsen movies, right up there with “Airplane” and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It.” His deadpan delivery in the middle of the most ridiculous situations is just unbeatable. As Detective Frank Drebin, he bumbles his way through a criminal conspiracy with nonstop sight gags, slapstick, and perfectly dumb one-liners that still crack me up.
This is pure parody at its best. The plot barely matters (there’s a plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Los Angeles or something?) but the jokes come so fast you don’t really care. It’s goofy, chaotic, and endlessly quotable. If you’ve never seen it, now’s the time to fix that with the reboot on the way!
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.
No. 1: ‘Deep Cover’ (2025) | Prime Video
“Deep Cover” hits that perfect sweet spot — total comedy chaos set against life-or-death stakes. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Kat, an improv teacher who’s starting to feel like her big break may never come. But then an undercover cop (Sean Bean, naturally) recruits her for a job that’s way outside her usual gigs: infiltrate London’s criminal underworld… by pretending to be a gangster. With two of her students (Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) in tow, things spiral fast — and hilariously.
Prime Video has quickly become the king of action comedies (“Heads of State” with Idris Elba and John Cena is really great too), but “Deep Cover” is easily one of their best yet. If you like your crime stories with a heavy dose of improv energy and total mayhem, “Deep Cover” is a must-watch and my top pick on this list.
Deep Cover
Kat is an improv comedy teacher beginning to question if she’s missed her shot at success. When an undercover cop offers her the role of a lifetime, she recruits two of her students to infiltrate London’s gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals.