Even before the release of Road House there is a beating! Image source: MGM/Amazon Prime Video
Amazon is on board Road House a rather absurd but absolutely worth seeing action classic. 35 years ago, Patrick Swayze embodied a philosophical bouncer with a penchant for spinning kicks, and now Jake Gyllenhaal is following in his footsteps.
Director Doug Liman is convinced: Road House has become one of his best films! And that should definitely make fans of films like The Bourne Identity and Edge of Tomorrow prick up their ears. Nevertheless, the release of Road House is overshadowed by . Because there is apparently bad blood between Liman and Amazon.
Doug Liman dishes out spin kicks against Amazon
What happened? The new edition of Road House starts on March 21, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video – but not in cinemas. And that pisses Doug Liman off. In a public statement, Liman accuses the mega-corporation of promising him a potential cinema release but now backing out.
In his opinion, Amazon’s decision is not only harming him personally, but also the entire film industry. After Amazon has spoken out in the past in favor of bringing specially produced films to cinemas, Liman feels betrayed and denounces the decision as a broken promise.
Doug Liman is now taking the personal step of boycotting the premiere of his own film at the SXSW Festival. Opposite Deadline the director says:
When Road House premieres […] celebrates, I won’t be there. The film is fantastic, maybe even my best. I’m sure he’ll tear the place down and have the audience dancing in their seats. But I won’t be there. […]
We have one from Road House groundbreaking hit
done – by the way, Amazon said that, not me. […] I’m told the press has never responded so positively since Amazon acquired MGM. […]
In contrast to previous statements, Amazon has no interest in supporting the cinema. […] Amazon asked me and the film community for our trust. […] Now they’re doing a 180-degree turn and using Road House to sell sinks.
Link to YouTube content
In case you’re wondering what Road House is all about: The original, released in 1989, wasn’t originally well received by critics, but has since become a real cult film – just ask Peter Griffin von Family Guy. Patrick Swayze was able to convince with an unmistakable charisma and really impressive martial arts skills.
35 years later comes the new edition, in which things are supposed to be just as rough as back then. The film starring Jake Gyllenhaal also received an R rating.
If you want to know more about what’s currently happening with new (and old) action films, you’ll find it under the links above. Let us know what you think in the comments: Can you understand Doug Liman’s frustration or do you have a more relaxed view of the matter? Do you prefer to see new films in the cinema or is a streaming release fine for you?
