Ryan Gosling Discusses the Impact of Box Office Competition on Potential ‘The Nice Guys’ Sequel

Ryan Gosling recently opened up about the lack of a sequel to the action comedy film ‘The Nice Guys,’ citing box office competition as a major factor. In an interview with Deadline, Gosling revealed that the film faced tough competition from the animated hit ‘Angry Birds,’ which ultimately led to its sequel not being greenlit.

Despite receiving positive reviews, ‘The Nice Guys,’ directed by Shane Black and starring Gosling alongside Russell Crowe, struggled to compete at the box office against the family-friendly appeal of ‘Angry Birds.’ The film reportedly earned USD 11.2 million in its opening weekend, while ‘Angry Birds’ soared with an opening weekend of USD 38 million, overshadowing Gosling and Crowe’s film.

The competition didn’t stop there, as ‘The Nice Guys’ also had to contend with other releases like ‘Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising’ and ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ further impacting its box office performance. Despite managing to recoup its production costs with a total box office revenue of USD 62.8 million, the overshadowing impact of ‘Angry Birds’ likely influenced the decision not to pursue a sequel.

Set in 1977 Los Angeles, ‘The Nice Guys’ follows the story of private eye Holland March (Gosling) and enforcer Jackson Healy (Crowe) as they investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl. While the film received praise for its witty humor and engaging performances, its box office fate was ultimately determined by factors beyond its control, including the unexpected dominance of ‘Angry Birds’ at the time of its release.