Summary
- The Nice Guys may not get sequel due to losing opening weekend to Angry Birds & modest box office gross.
- Despite not being a huge hit, The Nice Guys earned critical acclaim & has a dedicated fan base.
- Starring Ryan Gosling & Russell Crowe, The Nice Guys is a cult hit that blends noir with comedy in 1970s LA.
When Ryan Gosling showed off considerable comedic chops in last year’s Barbie, many fans were quick to recall that this wasn’t the first time that the actor tickled the funny bone of moviegoers. Back in 2016, Gosling starred in the black comedy, The Nice Guys, which co-starred Russel Crowe. Although the film has achieved a level of cult status since its initial release, the movie wasn’t a huge hit at the box office, and this is a part of the reason Gosling believes a sequel is unlikely to happen.
During a chat with ComicBook.com to promote his upcoming film The Fall Guy, Gosling was asked about a potential sequel to The Nice Guys and the actor sadly revealed that a follow-up may not be in the cards due to the film’s box office opening weekend being overtaken by The Angry Birds Movie. Gosling said:
So much of a sequel, I think, is decided by the opening weekend of a movie, and we opened up against Angry Birds. So Angry Birds just, just destroyed us. Angry Birds got a sequel.
The Angry Birds Defeated The Nice Guys by a Wide Margin during its Opening Weekend
When The Angry Birds Movie and The Nice Guys opened on the weekend of May 20, 2016, the animated film opened in first place with a gross of $38.1 million. The Nice Guys landed in fourth place with an opening of $11.2 million, behind the third weekend of Captain America: Civil War ($32.9 million) and the first weekend of Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising ($21.7 million). By the end of its run, The Nice Guys grossed $36.2 million domestically and $71.2 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. While the film wasn’t a bomb by any means, the total wasn’t likely enough for Warner Bros. to move forward with a sequel compared to the film’s production costs.
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe’s The Nice Guys Has Fans Asking for a Sequel
The Nice Guy, an underrated comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe is being rediscovered and fans demand for a sequel.
Despite getting bested by The Angry Birds Movie, The Nice Guys was a big hit with critics, registering a 91 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a consensus that reads, “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.” In the years since its theatrical release, it has gained a considerable cult following with the film getting several more mentions following Gosling’s Oscar-nominated turn in Barbie.
Directed by Shane Black, who co-wrote the screenplay with Anthony Bagarozzi, The Nice Guys is set in 1977 Los Angeles and follows a private eye named Holland March (Gosling) and a tough enforcer for hire named Jackson Healy (Crowe) who team up to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl (Margaret Qualley). The film also stars Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Keith David, and Kim Basinger.
The Nice Guys
is currently streaming on Netflix.
