Following the direction of Shane Black, The Nice Guys sees Russell Crowe’s no-nonsense hitman going up against Ryan Gosling’s down and out private eye. So if you are seeking out movies like The Nice Guys, you’re in the right place!
Below, you will find my curated list of movies like The Nice Guys that bring that charm and blend of charismatic leads and 70s Los Angeles charm. Let’s get started!
Top 10 Buddy Cop Movies Like The Nice Guys
1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
A petty thief masquerades as an actor when he’s drafted into play a detective while being trained by an actual private eye. As he gets sucked into a web of murder, mystery, and intrigue involving an actress, the illusion is pushed to the extreme!
Shane Black’s dark comedy features a wild trio of Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Robert Downey Jr. who act their socks off in this quirky and clever movie.
With The Nice Guys, Shane Black has gone back to comic noir roots that made Kiss Kiss Bang Bang such a fun ride in the first place. So if you’re looking for movies like The Nice Guys, this is a must-watch.
2. The Last Boy Scout (1991)
A detective turned bodyguard fails to protect a girl from getting murdered so he and the girl’s boyfriend team up only to get entangled in the seedy world of politics, corruption, and the unpleasant side of football teams.
The Last Boy Scout features a solid duo of Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans as they fight, kill and curse their way through this Shane Black scripted action flick.
If you’re aren’t sold on the idea of Shane Black’s knack for exploring different shades of buddy dynamics, The Last Boy Scout may just change your mind.
3. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
A professional bodyguard looking for a breakthrough is tasked with protecting a hitman who is expected to testify against a dictator. That catch here? Both the men hate each other to their core.
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in an action/comedy movie is everything you can ask for which results in a wildly funny and entertaining film.
If you like Shane Black’s brand of buddy chemistry and humor then you will find yourself right at home with The Hitman’s Bodyguard!
4. Inherent Vice (2014)
A pothead private eye spies on a case involving his former girlfriend, her boyfriend, boyfriend’s wife, and wife’s lover as he plunges deep into bizarre mysteries.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s psychedelic noir is a couple of hours of wild thrill mixed with nihilistic laughs that are backed by a solid Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin.
The depiction of shady crimes investigated by private eyes in the 70s lands Inherent Vice in a list of movies like The Nice Guys.
5. Lethal Weapon (1987)
An action seeking cop battling his personal issues is paired up with his exact opposite as they fight their way through a drug-infested world of crime.
Lethal Weapon is an iconic 80s movie that gets the buddy cop chemistry on point. A phenomenal Mel Gibson is backed by equally awesome Donald Glover in this action-packed movie.
If you are looking for movies like The Nice Guys, then Lethal Weapon’s charismatic leads their shenanigans should be right on your wishlist!
6. Bad Boys (1995)
When drug rings in Miami are cooking up trouble, a young and hip cop is forced to team up with his counterpart to take them down, but the two men couldn’t have been more different from each other.
Directed by non-other than Michael Bay, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence deliver one of the most satisfying cop combinations that has ever been released.
So for those seeking one of the most iconic and memorable films that defined a genre, Bad Boys can’t be missed!
7. In Burges (2008)
Two hitmen after a job gone wrong lay low in Burges, Belgium where the city and the events in it change the perspectives of these two men resulting in a conflicting confrontation.
Directed by Martin McDonagh, In Burges is a somber and thoughtful take on the consequences of rampant killing, the pain of which is vividly portrayed by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.
If you’re a fan of movies like The Nice Guys, you will appreciate the nuanced and contemplating take on a dynamic that is both wildly fun and cursed with regrets at the same time.
8. Snatch (2000)
A shady boxing promoter is pulled into fixing a match by a gangster while a diamond theft triggers a domino of deception, crime, and murder.
Snatch is one of Guy Ritchie’s best films to date, and when led by Brad Pitt and Jason Statham, this film shines its raw violence that is full of twists and turns.
So if you are looking for movies like The Nice Guys, Snatch delivers on so many levels that follow the imperfect response of these brandish characters.
9. The Other Guys (2010)
Two inferior cops in an attempt to fill in the big shoes of their idols come together for a high profile case and they must put aside their differences to save their career.
The genius duo of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg come together with their amazing comic timing in this rambunctious buddy cop film that gets the underdog motif right.
If you’re totally bowled over by The Nice Guys, you should give a chance to The Other Guys as well for an equal dose of action, comedy, and buddy chemistry.
10. 21 Jump Street (2012)
A rookie duo of misfiring cops are sent back to high school in disguise to collect intel and ultimately bust a drug trafficking plot.
21 Jump Street completely relies on the easy chemistry of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum who deliver the flamboyance and chaos of cop comedy with equal panache.
If the weird elements of The Nice Guys work for you, you should give the raunchiness of 21 Jump reet a try. Street a chance.