Although The Nice Guys was released seven years ago, the movie starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe is experiencing incredible adoration from viewers, with even demands for a sequel. The black comedy, directed by Shane Black, follows enforcer Jackson Healy (Crowe) and private investigator Holland March (Gosling) as their cases get intertwined with the disappearance of a young girl, Amelia (Margaret Qualley). Although the movie was met with near-universal positive reviews, it had a lukewarm box office performance, only collecting $62.8 million on a $50 million budget. However, over time, The Nice Guys has felt a gradual resurgence, as viewers slowly discover the movie through streaming and word of mouth.
Recently, The Nice Guys was trending on Twitter as users expressed their appreciation for the movie. Read the comments below:
One commentator reveals they have watched the movie “50 times” due to the chemistry between Gosling and Crowe and the father-daughter relationship between Holland and Holly March (Angourie Rice).
Another user retweets a fanmade clip of the movie, focusing on Gosling’s character. They then exclaim that the actor likely loved filming this movie alongside Barbie.
One user posted a clip of Crowe and Gosling, who appear to be at a press conference for the movie. It seems that they were asked about a potential follow-up, with Crowe answering he was busy while Gosling was far more interested. The user then makes a claim, hoping for an ’80s set sequel for the movie.
Another commentator responds to the same video, noting that more people are starting to discover The Nice Guys. They believe this esteem could open the chances for a sequel.
One reviewer explains why they loved the black comedy. They cite the buddy cop movie as having great comedy, beautiful ’70s production design, and the dynamic duo between Gosling and Crowe.
Another user expresses their disbelief that there has yet to be a sequel to The Nice Guys after seven years.
Lastly, one commentator responded to a post about Gosling’s movie and which was their favorite. They picked The Nice Guys, particularly complimenting Gosling and repeating the same sentiments about deserving a sequel.
Why The Nice Guys Is Experiencing A Sudden Upturn Seven Years Later
Although The Nice Guys featured two of Hollywood’s most talented actors, poor timing and underwhelming marketing led to its box office disappointment. Released during the busy window of May 2016, the black comedy faced stiff competition against blockbusters, such as Captain America: Civil War and X-Men: Apocalypse. The Nice Guys was also released on the same day as Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and The Angry Birds Movie. With both The Nice Guys and Neighbors 2 R-rated comedies, they were catering to the same demographic. Given Neighbors 2 already had existing brand recognition, there was likely more interest in the sequel over the unfamiliar, original comedy that was The Nice Guys.
Despite the box office failure, The Nice Guys performed better on the critical end, holding 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some of the praises included the performances from Gosling and Crowe, the balanced silliness and mystery, and the production for the ’70s setting. Word of mouth and streaming likely added to the movie’s growing rejuvenation. The Nice Guys soon became one of the most underrated comedies in recent years, delivering moments such as the bathroom stall, the “and stuff” quote, and Holland’s death-defying accidents, which become a running gag.
With recent demands for a sequel, there have been some efforts in the past. In 2018, Black revealed his desire for a sequel, saying he would do it “in a heartbeat,” but attributed its box office failure to killing those plans. In 2017, Fox had a script commitment to reboot the movie with a female-led show, but no further developments have been announced. As for the main cast, the discussion has been far more lighthearted, including Crowe’s title suggestion for The Nice Guy sequel. Although most ideas and developments remain stalled, there is more admiration for The Nice Guys than ever before, which could help ignite the option for a sequel.
