SerpApi.Org
The streaming era has seen yet another underrated movie rise from the ashes to find unexpected success. Released two years ago, this action thriller stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a highly skilled bouncer who is hired to restore peace at a beachfront bar on a tropical island — and ends up clashing with local crime lords. Sound familiar?
Original vs. Remake: Which 'Road House' Is Better?
The original Road House arrived in 1989, courtesy of '80s heartthrob Patrick Swayze and producer Joel Silver. It wasn't exactly well-received by critics back then, but it managed to gross over $61 million against its $15 million production budget. Today, the film has a 44% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes (the audience score is higher, at 67%). With its absurd level of violence, and a stereotypical '80s movie sex scene, it's gained cult status over the years, which ultimately motivated producers to pursue a remake.
2024 delivered the new Road House(we're not counting the direct-to-video sequel because that one's best left undisturbed), which included several plot changes and isn't directly connected to the original, although the central character is also named Dalton. It was released direct-to-streaming on Prime Video, something that didn't sit well with director Doug Liman. It earned a 59% critics' score and a 52% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
When two franchise installments are released 35 years apart, there are bound to be a few changes along the way. The new Road House features outstanding action sequences, plenty of humor, and a stronger cast, with MMA icon Conor McGregor making an appearance opposite Gyllenhaal as one of the main antagonists. The original has that element of nostalgia that's so essential in '80s cinema, and though the plot is still quite absurd, it does make more sense than the remake. Regardless, the remake is pure mindless entertainment, which is something that everyone involved in the film seems to be admirably aware of.
Gyllenhaal's remake is now among the most popular titles on streaming. Per FlixPatrol, the film sits at No. 6 on the list of most-watched movies on Prime Video. While other modern titles like Project Hail Mary and Superman are closer to the top, Road House is actually beating Jason Statham's A Working Man, a staple of modern action that always finds its way into the charts.
The 'Road House' Sequel Is Shaping Up to Be Something Special
Even though the remake wasn't wildly successful, it did attract enough attention to convince producers to pursue a sequel. The project is unofficially titled Road House 2, and all we know so far is that Gyllenhaal will reprise his role as Dalton. The studio backing the film still hasn't announced a potential release date, or whether it will go straight to streaming as its predecessor did. Strangely, Liman is also planning his own sequel/spin-off in the Road House franchise.
Action visionary Guy Ritchie was at one point attached to the sequel, but it ultimately landed in the hands of director Ilya Naishuller, best known for action titles such as Hardcore Henry, Nobody, and Heads of State. The sequel is still in production and performers Leila George, Aldis Hodge, and Dave Bautista have joined the project, as well as Iko Uwais, one of the most underrated martial arts actors today.
