The Nice Guys (2016)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 9 wins & 34 nominations
The Nice Guys hearkens back to the buddy comedies of a bygone era while adding something extra courtesy of a knowing script and the irresistible chemistry of its leads
The Nice Guys is a wild ride that will have you laughing and cringing at the same time. Crowe and Gosling make an unlikely duo, but their chemistry is undeniable. The plot may be a bit convoluted, but the ’70s setting and retro soundtrack make up for it. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some action-packed comedy. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing Ryan Gosling in a goofy role?
Production Company(ies)
Road Movies Filmproduktion, Argos Films, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Northyards Blvd at North Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity, language and brief drug use
Year of Release
2016
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 56m
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Language(s):English, German
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 20, 2016 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2016
Genre(s)
Action/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Yaya DaCosta, directed by Shane Black, written by Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi, action, comedy, R-rated, Warner Bros Pictures, Joel Silver, $36.2M box office, reviewed by K Austin Collins, Nigel Andrews, Sara Michelle Fetters, Tara Brady, Leonard Maltin, Udita Jhunjhunwala, Brian Eggert, Matt Brunson, Michael J Casey, Olly Richards, Ian Brill, private eye, 1977 Los Angeles, hired enforcer, missing woman, conspiracy, buddy comedy, retro soundtrack, 70s detailing, popcorn-munching entertainment, down-on-his-luck, violent, dangerous people, dark places, unlikely partners, chemistry, knowing script, bygone era, irresistible chemistry, gritty, guilt-free lark, Coen Brothers-esque, nod at 80s culture, dated stereotype, clever, satirical, good laughs
Worldwide gross: $62,788,218
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $77,386,389
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,144
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,439,083
US/Canada gross: $36,261,763
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $44,692,571
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,123
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,203,270
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $13,808,014
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 838
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $50,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $61,624,928
Production budget ranking: 662
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $33,185,024
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$17,423,564
ROI to date (est.): -18%
ROI ranking: 1,492
Ryan Gosling – Holland March
Angourie Rice – Holly March
Matt Bomer – John Boy
Margaret Qualley – Amelia Kuttner
Yaya DaCosta – Tally
Director(s)
Shane Black
Writer(s)
Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi
Producer(s)
Joel Silver
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
9 wins & 34 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (321) | Top Critics (76) | Fresh (292) | Rotten (29)
What’s memorable about The Nice Guys is the crew of not-so-nice kids: the 12- through 18-year-olds who seem remarkably unbothered when bumping heads with coke-addled pornographers.
August 10, 2017
K. Austin Collins
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are a good match in The Nice Guys. But writer-director Shane Black’s screenplay seldom strikes fire.
December 27, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
The Nice Guys is a major blast, Crowe and Gosling having the time of their lives bringing all this madcap, blood-splattered lunacy to life.
August 9, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Too often, The Nice Guys feels like the Funniest Film of 1994. There are worse things.
August 8, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Watching Crowe and Gosling-who are admittedly enjoying themselves in their respective roles-is fun, but the road wears thin along the journey…
July 11, 2016 | Rating: 2.5
Leonard Maltin
leonardmaltin.com
TOP CRITIC
[The Nice Guys is] propped up by the performances, humour, action, ’70s detailing, a soundtrack with retro tracks (by Kool & The Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others) and a cameo by the dishy Matt Bomer.
June 21, 2016
Udita Jhunjhunwala
Scroll.in
TOP CRITIC
The Nice Guys is a jubilant, gritty, and guilt-free lark. As a critic, it’s so satisfying to see a film that serves as both strong filmmaking and popcorn-munching entertainment.
April 15, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The Crowe-Gosling team might stir unhappy memories of what-were-they-thinking? twofers like Pat Morita and Jay Leno (Collision Course), Ted Danson and Howie Mandel (A Fine Mess) or Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds (R.I.P.D.), but they’re a dynamic duo.
August 18, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The plot is cumbersome until it becomes painfully obvious who is behind it all, and then it becomes trite.
July 26, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
Ryan Gosling excels as a feckless and cowardly private investigator in a buddy comedy full of wit and energy.
May 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Olly Richards
NME
Ryan Gosling’s best performance this year, and Russell Crowe’s best work in a long time.
April 13, 2021
Ian Brill
Battleship Pretension
The Nice Guys loses its way time and again, and generally not in an intriguing manner. The filmmakers rely on too many clichés and shortcuts (psychotic hitmen, quirky thugs and such) and too much pointless, time-wasting violence.
February 11, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site…
Plot
Set against the backdrop of 1977 Los Angeles, The Nice Guys opens when single father and licensed PI Holland March (Gosling) is hired to investigate the apparent suicide of famous porn star Misty Mountains. As the trail leads him to track down a girl named Amelia (Qualley), he encounters less licensed and less hands-off private eye Jackson Healey (Russell Crowe) and his brass knuckles, both hired by the young hippie. However, the situation takes a turn for the worse when Amelia vanishes and it becomes apparent that March wasn’t the only party interested. As both men are forced to team up, they’ll have to take on a world filled with eccentric goons, strippers dressed as mermaids and even a possible government conspiracy.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sorry, there is no mention of anything goofy, funny, or odd about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
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