The Nice Guys: An Underrated Gem in Need of a Sequel

I adore The Nice Guys. The 2016 neo-noir buddy action comedy from director Shane Black is one of the most underrated films of the last decade. Featuring a stellar cast of Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in the leading roles, supported by Matt Bomer, Angourie Rice and Margaret Qualley, The Nice Guys had a bit of an under-the-radar release back in 2016. The film is now considered a cult classic amongst cinephiles – myself included. As a result of this, there is frequent yearning amongst online cinema spheres for a sequel to the film, so I thought I’d revisit the film, break down what made it so great, and argue why a sequel still makes sense almost 10 years later.

Breaking Down The Nice Guys

Set in the smoggy, neon-lit sprawl of 1977 Los Angeles, The Nice Guys follows private eye Holland March (Gosling) and enforcer Jackson Healy (Crowe), whose paths cross when Healy is hired to intimidate March into dropping a case involving a missing woman named Amelia. Things spiral quickly when Healy realizes there’s more to the situation than he was told. After a botched encounter and a shared interest in finding Amelia, the two reluctantly team up to uncover a sprawling mystery that involves the porn industry, environmental activism, the automotive business and a bizarre series of murders.

What sets The Nice Guys apart stylistically is its tonal balancing act. It seamlessly transitions from absurdist comedy to bursts of shocking violence, never losing its rhythm whilst keeping the viewer completely enthralled throughout.. At its core, it’s a genre mash-up—part neo-noir, part buddy comedy—and this pairing works perfectly with Shane Black’s unmistakable satirical edge and snappy dialogue. 

Like many of Black’s other films and unlike so many modern action-comedies, The Nice Guys is unapologetically character-driven. The pacing leaves room for personality and quiet moments, an increasingly rare choice in an era of high-speed editing and plot-first storytelling. This character-driven approach is only enhanced by the incredible performances from the leads. On paper, the pairing of Crowe and Gosling seemed unusual. The former is an Oscar-winning dramatic heavyweight, and the latter is more known for moody charisma and romantic leads. Together, they create magic.

Crowe is excellent as Jackson Healy, the gruff straight man with a world-weariness that grounds the film’s chaos, but it is Gosling in particular who really steals the show with a career-defining comedic performance as Holland March. He is sleazy yet endearing, cowardly yet occasionally competent and frequently drunk. Gosling’s physical comedy—especially in scenes like the bathroom stall incident or high-pitched screams of panic—harkens back to classic slapstick in a way that still works in the modern day, something that few actors can pull off.

It’d be a miss not to mention Angourie Rice’s performance as Holland’s daughter, Holly March. In what is an extremely mature performance for such a young actress, Rice avoids precocious-kid clichés and instead brings a sharpness and moral clarity to the story, whilst keeping up with Crowe and Gosling. Together, the trio form one of the most unexpectedly charming screen partnerships of the decade—organic, unforced and deeply funny. The film is only heightened by its Los Angeles backdrop. Visually, The Nice Guys is a love letter to 1970s Los Angeles, with cinematographer Philippe Rousselot crafting a distinctive look that captures both the glamour and decay of the era. 

Critical, Commercial and Cult Response

Upon release, The Nice Guys was extremely well-received by fans and critics alike. The film has an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes “Tomatometer” and a user rating of 7.4 on IMDb, with praise for the strong writing, humor and chemistry between the leads. 

Despite strong reviews, the film didn’t perform as well as many had hoped during its theatrical release. Against a budget of $50 million, the film did manage to make a profit with a worldwide box office of just over $71 million according to Box Office Mojo, but unfortunately the film was completely overshadowed by The Angry Birds Movie and Captain America: Civil War, both of which were released at a similar time. The Angry Birds Movie, in particular, was extremely detrimental to theatrical release of The Nice Guys, with the former opening on the same weekend and earning more than three times the amount the latter did. Gosling himself even blamed the video game adaptation for the lack of a sequel in an interview with ComicBook.com last year.

This box office performance unfortunately saw any plans for a sequel shelved, but over the last few years, the film has seen an influx of new fans thanks to streaming services and positive word of mouth. The film is frequently mentioned in discussions and lists regarding underrated modern comedies or noir films, as well as having some of its funniest and most popular scenes (Gosling’s bathroom stall scene being the standout) go viral online. You only have to search for the film name on X, and you’re greeted with a plethora of scenes and stills from the film with positive praise beneath each post. This growing fanbase has only solidified The Nice Guys’ status as a modern cult classic, and still to this day, fans are dying for a sequel. The big question is, would it work in the modern day?

The Argument for a Sequel

While The Nice Guys may not have lit up the box office in 2016, the case for a sequel has only grown stronger with time. In an era where franchise fatigue dominates the box office and original IPs are increasingly rare, The Nice Guys represents exactly the kind of intelligent, character-driven storytelling that audiences are hungry for – just look at the box office and critical response to the impressive Sinners from Ryan Coogler. 

The first film leaves things open for a sequel, too, as we see March and Healy forming a formal detective agency, “The Nice Guys,” hinting at the start of an ongoing partnership. The noir genre is perfect for episodic storytelling, and the gritty, corrupt backdrop of 1970s Los Angeles offers limitless narrative opportunities, complete with new cases, fresh conspiracies and deepening character arcs. A sequel could continue their journey while expanding the scope, perhaps even moving into the 1980s or exploring more politically charged terrain. There’s more to say, and more crimes for this oddball pair to stumble their way through.

There is also a desire to see more of Gosling and Crowe together as the film has gained a larger following in the years after its release. The pair’s electric chemistry was one of the most universally praised aspects of The Nice Guys, and reuniting the pair could recapture that rare cinematic magic. Unlike most forced franchise team-ups, a Nice Guys sequel would feel justified purely on the strength of these performances. If Lethal Weapon could carry four films, there’s no reason March and Healy shouldn’t get at least one more case.

When The Nice Guys was released, mid-budget, R-rated action-comedies were on the decline. Studios were investing either in massive superhero tentpoles or ultra-low-budget horror films, but the landscape has started to shift in recent times. Platforms like Netflix, Prime Video and even theatrical distributors like A24 and Neon have shown there’s room for smart, original sequels and genre films with distinctive voices.

In this climate, a Nice Guys sequel wouldn’t need to be a summer blockbuster to succeed. It could thrive with a more modest release model, strong digital support and already existing excitement from fans. Additionally, the resurgence of nostalgia-driven content – and the current appetite for well-made, character-driven comedy – puts the film in a prime position for a second chance.

Will We See A The Nice Guys Sequel?

Both Shane Black and the lead actors have expressed openness to a sequel in interviews over the years. Black has hinted at ideas and said he’d love to revisit the characters, and there was even talk at one point of a female-led television version of the film titled The Nice Girls. While nothing official has materialised, the enthusiasm is there. It just needs the right studio backing and a belief in the long tail of the original’s impact. Considering how rare that kind of alignment is in Hollywood, it’s a missed opportunity not to act on it.

The Nice Guys was never about the case—it was about the characters, the atmosphere and the joy of watching two flawed men accidentally stumble their way toward doing the right thing. It was a rare original gem in a sea of reboots and rehashes, and if ever there were a film that deserved a second shot at the spotlight, it’s this one. A sequel wouldn’t just be welcome, it’s overdue. Only time will tell.