The Naked Gunfranchise is known for its slapstick humor, clever gags, and memorable characters, and the latest reboot is certainly following suit. Starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson,The Naked Gunhas already generated buzz for its hilarious sequences and surprises, earning an impressive 90% Tomatometer and 76% Popcornmeter onRotten Tomatoes.
However, perhaps the most surprising moment for the action crime comedy comes duringThe Naked Gun’send creditswith a cameo from Liam Neeson. In a move that caught many fans off guard,Neeson, as Frank Drebin Jr., serenades his love interest, Beth Davenport (Anderson), by singing a heartfelt, quirky ballad titled “My Sweet Beth.”
According to director Akiva Schaffer (viaEntertainment Weekly), the song was actually a “last-minute idea” that was brought to life as the film was nearing completion.The director stated that he felt something was missing from the final edit ofThe Naked Gun,saying: “I always knew I needed to do something in the credits.” Check out Schaffer’s full explanation below:
I always knew I needed to do something in the credits, and finally we were picture-locked and we were in the edit room and I just [recorded the song] into my laptop, put it in the movie, and two hours later we screened it and it did really well. Then I replaced [my vocals] with Liam… I’m very pleased that we got that in at the buzzer, that we snuck in there.
Liam Neeson also shared his thoughts on the“surprise addition,” stating: “It’s not supposed to be Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett, so we had a bit of fun with it.“With lyrics like, “Aboot boots, and the curvy brains that bought them / Also, breasts / My sweet Beth” and Frank’s distracted drum kit and guitar solo interlude, “fun” is certainly apparent.
What The Credits Song Means For The Naked Gun
The spontaneous addition of Neeson’s singing performance certainly highlights the playful spirit of the movie, as well as being in keeping withThe Naked Gunfranchise’s tradition of breaking the fourth wall and embracing absurdity. Furthermore, it’s a perfectly placed serenade, asThe Naked Gunis full of hilarious Easter eggs, especially in the end credits, which contain jokes throughout.
Neeson’s brilliant performance inThe Naked Gunoverall truly sells this credits gag, as his deadpan and serious personality provides a rather refreshing comedy from theTakenactor. However,the moment is also quite heartfelt as audiences are offered a glimpse at Frank’s feelings through music,allowing him to bluntly state things in a somewhat romantic way.
Our Take On Liam Neeson’s Serenade In The Naked Gun
I don’t think anyone saw Neeson’s end credits musical number coming,but it is certainly as absurd as it is charming. In fact, Frank getting “distracted” during recording by playing around on the bass drum and guitar is reminiscent of other classic comedic movie credits sequences — it also definitely reminded me of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross' “Endless Love.”
While it’s not Neeson’s first time singing in film — he previously did “Green Green Grass of Home” for Julie Andrews — his performance is instantly iconic as it’s clear the actor was having fun. That kind of genuine silliness is exactly what makesThe Naked Gunfranchise so endearing, and what has made 2025’sThe Naked Gunsuch a great follow-up.
