Netflix adds Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe ‘Certified Fresh’ buddy cop movie that’s become a cult favorite

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys (Image credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo)

As it does at the start of each month, Netflix has added a bunch of movies to its streaming library today, February 1. There are plenty of intriguing titles to choose from, but the one that sticks out to me right away is The Nice Guys, the 2016 crime comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe that was critically lauded but flopped at the box office. But in the time since its release it has become a cult favorite and people are widely starting to view it as an underrated classic.

Directed by Shane Black, who also co-wrote the script with Anthony Bagarozzi, The Nice Guys follows two private investigators (Gosling and Crowe) in 1970s Los Angeles as they attempt to solve a pair of cases about a missing girl and a murdered porn star. Connecting them is a conspiracy that could impact the entire city.

The Nice Guys is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive score of 91%. Despite that, the movie only made $71.2 million worldwide (per Box Office Mojo) on a $50 million budget. As Gosling mentioned in a 2024 interview, The Nice Guys unfortunately got bested by the Angry Birds animated movie and Captain America: Civil War in its opening weekend, which killed a lot of its momentum (and in Gosling’s view any hope for a sequel).

That’s why people need to take the opportunity to watch The Nice Guys on Netflix. The movie is becoming part of a major streaming platforms offerings again after a stint of only being available via digital on-demand platforms in the US (in the UK it has been streaming on MGM Plus). So with that ease of access, people will hopefully be more open to giving it a try (we named it as one our top 12 movies to stream in February)

If you do watch, what you’ll discover is that Gosling and Crowe have great chemistry, there's a mystery that is engaging to watch unfold and plenty of laughs courtesy of Black and Bagarozzi’s script. As Gosling said, any hope for a sequel is probably long gone at this point, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to build a greater appreciation for The Nice Guys, as it definitely deserves it.

Watch The Nice Guys trailer below to get a sneak peek:

The Nice Guys - Main Trailer [HD] - YouTube The Nice Guys - Main Trailer [HD] - YouTube
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You must be a Netflix subscriber to watch The Nice Guys on the streaming service. It will still be available to buy or rent via digital on-demand if you are not a Netflix subscriber.

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Michael Balderston
Assistant Managing Editor

Michael Balderston is What to Watch’s assistant managing editor and lead movie writer, covering movies coming to theaters, writing movie reviews and highlighting new and classic movies on streaming services; he also covers a range of TV shows, including those in the Taylor Sheridan universe, Slow Horses, Only Murders in the Building, Jeopardy!, Saturday Night Live and more, as well as the best ways to watch some major US sporting events.

Based outside of Washington, D.C., Michael's previous experience includes writing for Awards Circuit, TV Technology and The Wrap.

Michael’s favorite movie of all time is Casablanca, while his favorite TV show is Seinfeld. Some 2025 favorites include One of Them Days and Black Bag for movies, and The Pitt on TV. Follow on Letterboxd to keep up with what I'm watching.

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