The Nice Guys Gains Cult Status 10 Years Later

Ten years after its release amid fierce competition from superhero blockbusters, Shane Black's 1970s-set comedy-noir "The Nice Guys" has solidified its status as a cult favorite, drawing new audiences on streaming platforms and cable reruns.

The film, released in May 2016, starred Ryan Gosling as the bumbling private eye Holland March and Russell Crowe as the tough enforcer Jackson Healy. Sandwiched between "Captain America: Civil War" and "X-Men: Apocalypse," and opening against "The Angry Birds Movie," it struggled at the box office. Produced on a $50 million budget by Warner Bros., it grossed about $71 million worldwide. Gosling later joked that the cartoon birds "just destroyed us" because "they're just so angry."

Directed and co-written by Black, known for originating the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, "The Nice Guys" follows the mismatched duo as they investigate a missing girl in a seedy 1970s Los Angeles tied to the adult film industry. Gosling's character, joined by his wise daughter played by Angourie Rice, teams with Crowe's enforcer in a plot inspired by detective stories from authors like William Campbell Gault and Brett Halliday. The ensemble cast included Kim...