If you loved
The Nice Guys
Shane Black · Film · 2016
If you loved The Nice Guys, you crave the collision of cynical investigative grit with the absurdity of a world gone wrong.
Books on the same thread
The Black Ice
Michael Connelly · Book · 2002
Explores: Police corruption, Cross-border crime, Lone wolf investigator.
Like the sprawling conspiracy in The Nice Guys, this case pulls a lone investigator into a dark, multi-layered web of institutional rot that threatens to consume everyone involved.
The Black Echo
Michael Connelly · Book · 2002
Shares a thread with The Nice Guys: Moral ambiguity.
You will recognize the moral ambiguity found in The Nice Guys as Harry Bosch navigates a treacherous path between personal vendetta and the fractured justice system of Los Angeles.
Trunk Music
Michael Connelly · Book · 2006
Explores: gritty urban realism, corrupt systems, troubled detective.
This story mirrors the gritty L.A. setting of The Nice Guys, centering on a cynical detective tasked with unraveling a messy, high-stakes crime within the city's corrupt entertainment industry.
The Dark Hours
Michael Connelly · Book · 2021
Explores: systemic corruption, justice vs law, police procedural partnership.
The partnership dynamic is essential to The Nice Guys, and you will find that same friction and reliance on a comrade while chasing justice through a volatile urban landscape.
Series on the same thread
The Good Guys
Matt Nix · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with The Nice Guys: Buddy Cop, Action Comedy.
If the mismatched chemistry of The Nice Guys kept you watching, this series delivers a similar brand of comedic nostalgia and underdog spirit through its two dysfunctional, washed-up detectives.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
Much like the irreverent tone of The Nice Guys, this podcast balances the gravity of real-world tragedy with a sharp, comedic lens that exposes the absurdity of criminal investigations.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This show captures the dark humor inherent in The Nice Guys by applying a satirical perspective to the legal failures and scandalous behavior of figures who have lost their way.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Nice Guys a period piece?
Yes, The Nice Guys is set in 1970s Los Angeles. The plot follows a private eye investigating a death in that specific historical era while uncovering a broader conspiracy.
What is the primary plot of The Nice Guys?
The Nice Guys centers on a private eye who investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star. As the investigation progresses, he uncovers a conspiracy hidden within 1970s Los Angeles.
Who directed The Nice Guys?
The Nice Guys was directed by Shane Black. Released in 2016, the film focuses on a private investigator navigating a conspiracy involving the death of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles.
Does The Nice Guys involve a conspiracy?
Yes, the narrative of The Nice Guys revolves around a private eye who begins by investigating a suicide but eventually uncovers a larger conspiracy. The story takes place in 1970s Los Angeles.