Jake Gyllenhaalhas shared his stance on the controversy surrounding the streaming releaseofRoad Houseon Prime Video. The remake of Patrick Swayze’s 1989 movie scored a huge viewership win when it was released earlier this year as a streaming exclusive. Prior to its debut, there appeared to be abig bone of contention between the streamer and the movie’s director, Doug Liman, over the film not being given a theatrical release.
Road House
Although Liman was adamant that the original intention was for Amazon MGM Studios to produce the movie with a theatrical release in mind, this has been previously refuted by studio executives, and nowGyllenhaal has continued to debunk the ideathat the film was ever going to be released in cinemas. In a Hollywood Reporter profile, Gyllenhaal said of the movie’s release strategy:
“As soon as I knew that it was going to definitely be streaming, which Amazon was very clear about, I was like, ‘Let’s go! Can this movie be an example as something that can reach an audience and still make its way to the zeitgeist?’“
AlthoughRoad Housemay not have had the chance to rough up the competition on the big screen,it certainly made an impression on Prime Videowith over 50 million views in the first two weeks on release. This was enough to secure a sequel, which will once again feature Gyllenhaal in the role of Elwood Dalton, although it is currently unclear who else will be coming along for the ride. At the time of writing, Liman’s involvement has not been confirmed, and following his brutal rebuttal of the studios’ release strategy, it seems less likely that he would want to return for a second movie. However, stranger things have happened in Hollywood.
News ofRoad House 2arrived during Amazon’s upfront presentation last month. If one thing should be learned from the past, it is that sequels are not always a good thing, and the original Road House proved that with its belated release ofRoad House 2: Last Callin 2006. However, it is likely that this time a sequel will be looking for a relatively quick turnaround to capitalize on the success of this year’s release, and with streaming movies continuing to be a force to be reckoned with – regardless of what critics' or audience reviews say - there is every chance the new movie will easily match its predecessor.
Why Road House (2024) Is Darker and Better Than the Original
While the Road House remake can’t equal the insane charm of the 1989 original, the remake surpasses the original in other areas.
