Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)

In "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult," Leslie Nielsen returns as the hilariously inept Detective Frank Drebin, drawn out of a well-deserved retirement to tackle a monumental threat. This time, Drebin must go deep undercover within the confines of a maximum-security prison to uncover the nefarious plans of notorious terrorist Rocco, who is on the cusp of escaping. Adding to Drebin's already precarious situation is his wife, Jane, whose fervent desire for a child places an additional layer of personal pressure on his already chaotic mission. The film culminates in a spectacularly disastrous foray into the glamorous, yet vulnerable, world of the Academy Awards, where Drebin's signature clumsy heroism leads to a series of uproarious humiliations for a star-studded cast as he desperately, and comically, attempts to foil Rocco's grand scheme. While "Naked Gun 33 1/3" is unequivocally a comedy, its inclusion on a "Best Crime Movies" list, however unorthodox, stems from its masterful deconstruction of crime film tropes and its sheer entertainment value within the genre. The film brilliantly parodies the conventions of police procedurals and heist thrillers, featuring a clear antagonist, a high-stakes plot involving terrorism, and a protagonist operating within a crime-ridden environment. Drebin's investigations, though bumbling, are still aimed at preventing a major crime. The film's success lies in its ability to deliver laugh-out-loud moments while still engaging with the narrative structure of a crime story, making it a unique and exceptionally funny entry that, in its own way, celebrates and satirizes the very essence of the crime genre.