Is Shane Black’s comedic thriller “The Nice Guys” standard 4K UHD edition worth the upgrade? (2025)

For audiences of a certain age, writer Shane Black is an instrumental figure in their cinematic development. In the same year (1987) that taught us that “Wolfman’s got nards” (Monster Squad), he let us know that it’s ok to say that we’re “too old for this shit” (Lethal Weapon). In 1991, he taught us that the best way to celebrate surviving is dancing a jig (The Last Boy Scout), while in 1993, he was ahead of his time in his meta commentary of action cinema and audiences’ relationship to it (Last Action Hero). Through Black as a writer/director in 2005, we learned what picture would accompany a dictionary definition of an idiot (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) and, in 2013, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) met the Mandarin (Iron Man 3) … sorta. His characters, whether of his own creation or as part of an adaptation, possess moxie, intelligence, and quite a bit of fortune — aspects that help the in-over-their-head characters navigate frequently murky waters. In 2016, Black unveiled two new characters portrayed by Russell Crowe (Gladiator; Thor: Love & Thunder) and Ryan Gosling (Drive; Barbie) in his comedic thriller The Nice Guys, a film which has developed a passionate fan base since release which continues to carry a torch for the mismatched duo in hopes that a new mystery will be unveiled for them to solve. In the meantime, Warner Bros. Pictures is releasing an upgraded edition of The Nice Guys with a first-time 4K UHD with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. But is that enough?

1970s Los Angeles, and neither Jackson Healy nor Holland March (Crowe and Gosling, respectively) realize that their individual cases (the former protecting; the later detecting) dovetail into a larger, complex mystery involving dead pornographers, the Justice Department, and the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. As small clues lead to bigger mysteries, this incompatible pair must put their differences aside to solve the case and maybe get lucky enough to walk away when it’s all over.

Choice matters, so let’s address a few things before getting into the on-disc presentation.

You’re here because you’re a fan of The Nice Guys, so be advised that this release includes all the previously available bonus features, which is just two featurettes: “Always Bet on Black” and “Worst. Detectives. Ever. Making The Nice Guys.” This matters because, much like WB released a 4K UHD edition of The Hitcher in October 2024 while UK physical media boutique Second Sight released a fancier special edition, it appears that Second Sight plans to do the same thing with The Nice Guys, including an approved restoration/remaster by Black himself. With costs on the rise, it may be a good idea to consider your options before jumping straight to this edition so that you’re not tempted to double-dip, when a single (possibly larger) purchase will do.

That said, is this presentation worth the pickup? Sorta.

First, this review can’t speak to the new Atmos audio track because my Yamaha 5.1 surround sound is not Atmos compatible, but the Dolby track does come through clear and crisp whether it’s a simple dialogue-heavy scene or an action sequence, and especially during the final shootout in the climax. The balance is so good that it’s a set-the-volume-once-and-forget-it experience. While this does mean that the sound comes through in my setup is the same as the original Blu-ray release audio, it does at least confirm that home viewers with the same or similar setup won’t be missing anything beyond the Atmos itself.

Second, the video presentation is a bit of an odd duck. What this means is that the details are truly enhanced (the look of Healy’s jacket a little shinier, the creases more visible) and the color spectrum is more dynamic, leading to more natural presentation. The scene where March discovers the dead body at the Shattuck party is truly marvelous as the HDR makes everything in the unlit portion of the screen truly pitch black and hidden until March lights his lighter. While this does enable the reveal of the corpse to come as a morbid-surprise-turned-hilarious by Gosling’s hysterical performance, the downside is that other sequences which similarly make use of natural lighting during night scenes often place the characters in a heavy shroud of darkness that makes the actors’ physical performances harder to read. This isn’t a deal-breaker in any sense, but it’s the kind of thing home viewers should be aware of given that some folks tend to think that 4K UHD with HDR restoration/remasters are automatically *more visible* when the increased dynamic range of color typically means that presentations are more realistic after the tweaks. Another thing to be aware of is the variable bitrate during the presentation that jumps between upper 40s/lower 50s to middle 70s throughout the watch. Nighttime and close-up sequences tend to have the more stable and higher bitrate, whereas daytime sequences and distance shots are lower. If you’re not checking the bitrate while watching, you’re likely not going to notice any shift in detail or sound while enjoying the mystery, but, if you do check, it will be strange to see the film possessing a bitrate close to the max of the prior-released Blu-ray (40s) and well below the max of a 4K UHD disc. Given that the featurettes are in standard HD and there’s not much else on the disc, there should be plenty of room for a great 4K UHD presentation. That it’s so variable and inconsistent (data-wise) is odd. Se7en had far more supplemental materials on its recent 4K UHD release and its on-disc presentation was far more stable.

One doesn’t expect The Nice Guys to continue to pack such a punch nearly 10 years later and, yet, it does. Underneath the surface, behind the veneer of corporate and governmental corruption, the film is about two misanthropes whose bad fortunes dovetail and end up not only giving them hope in themselves, but in humanity at large. Even though the truth comes out, nothing really changes, yet, rather than being beaten down by it, the two end up formally working together, the final scene being the two leaving to meet a client. They are official “The Nice Guys” who are going to try to help as many people as they can, for as long as they can. Much like in 2016, American audiences again find themselves dealing with a Trump administration, except where the first time we were wise to the intended cruelty and strong in the three branches of government that could keep said administration at bay, now, using Project 2025 (also named America First) as a guidebook and the first administration as lessons-learned, this admin is seeking to not just remove information and infrastructure, it’s doing so with a sledge-hammer attitude and an utter disregard for the Constitution’s delineation of Executive Powers versus Legislative and Judicial with VP Vance even suggesting that the Judicial Branch challenging the Executive being illegal. With the administration operating with contempt for the rule of law, a story like The Nice Guys carries exceedingly more weight because the machine is large and indomitable, requiring small acts of kindness to disrupt it. Laws only matter if they are upheld and it requires people, in all capacities, to keep them. In the real world, sometimes defiance and protest can take the form of a Super Bowl halftime show or simple non-compliance. The Nice Guys may not be able to solve everyone’s problems, they may not be able to stop corporate corruption, but they can ensure that the little guy has someone looking out for them. It’s a smart lesson hidden within an odd couple murder mystery and one worth remembering regardless of political affiliation, because oppression is oppression and either you’re a Nice Guy or you’re a bootlicker; can’t be both.

So, is this new edition worth recommending? Again, sorta.

If you’re only interested in improved picture and sound, this version of The Nice Guys is going to please, especially because of how well the film holds up. However, if you’re satisfied with the Blu-ray edition you already own (and chances are good if you’re reading this), then the recommendation would be to wait either for a sale or for the details of the Second Sight edition. Because if you’re a fan of Healy and March, you’re not going to want to buy an upgrade twice when one will do.

The Nice Guys Legacy Special Features:

• Always Bet on Black
• Worst. Detectives. Ever. Making The Nice Guys

Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray February 11^th, 2025.

For more information, head to the official Warner Bros. Pictures The Nice Guys webpage.

Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews

Tags: 4K UHD, Angourie Rice, Anthony Bagarozzi, Beau Knapp, comedy, Daisy Tahan, Gil Gerard, home release, home video, Jack Kilmer, Keith David, Kim Basinger, Lois Smith, Margaret Qualley, Matt Bomer, Murielle Telio, mystery, Robert Downey Jr., Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Shane Black, Silver Pictures, The Nice Guys, thriller, Warner Bros. Pictures, Waypoint Entertainment, Yaya DaCosta