Road House viewers point out major flaw with 2024 remake: 'What a shame'

It's always a risky move to recreate a cult classic film - especially when the original version starred one of the most treasured actors of our generation. But director Doug Liman and his mates over at Amazon Prime are apparently not risk-averse, so they recruited Jake Gyllenhaal and UFC star Conor McGregor to bring 1989's Road House back to the screen for a 2024 audience.

In case you are unfamiliar, the original Road House starred the dearly departed Patrick Swayze and the plot revolves around his character, James Dalton, moving from New York City to Jasper, Missouri to be a bouncer at an extremely rough establishment called the Double Deuce.

The newer version stays true to the original only, it would seem, in that the lead character's (Gyllenhaal) last name is still Dalton, and there are a lot of people kicking the sh*t out of each other.

RELATED:

• Here's how you know the cast of the 2024 “Road House” movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal

• Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Road House ”remake is pulpy, bone-crunching fun

• Road House controversy explained as remake hits Prime Video

The film hasn't exactly racked up the most glowing reviews, generating an audience score of just 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, but in a surprising twist, several viewers have shared the same problem with the remake - that it deserved a big screen run instead of being confined to streaming.

"Well I never thought I’d say this but I had a right good time watching #RoadhouseOnPrime," said one fan. "Wish it had been at the cinema mind you…"

Another agreed, "I’m sorry but #TheRoadHouse movie was ok but @TheNotoriousMMA is a horrible 'actor'. I will say that I wish I could’ve seen it in a movie theatre, it may have made it better."

"Not necessary but the movie was SOOOOOOO good," said someone else. "Probably it deserved a theatrical release."

One watcher apparently wanted even MORE Road House fun, demanding that "@AmazonStudios needs to make a sequel to #RoadHouse or a Knox spinoff and put it in theaters. It never felt like a streaming experience."

Another fan simply said, "What a shame #RoadhouseOnPrime never made it to theaters. It’s the type of film the cinema experience is made for."

Why did Road House go straight to streaming?

The plan for Road House's release was a contentious one, it would seem, with director Doug Liman writing an open letter earlier in the year to explain why he'd be boycotting the movie's premiere at South by South West.

"When Road House opens the SXSW film festival, I won’t be attending," he wrote. "The movie is fantastic, maybe my best, and I’m sure it will bring the house down and possibly have the audience dancing in their seats during the end credits. But I will not be there."

He continued, "My plan had been to silently protest Amazon’s decision to stream a movie so clearly made for the big screen. But Amazon is hurting way more than just me and my film. If I don’t speak up about Amazon, who will? So here we go."

Liman went on to say that he had been told to make a great film and that they would see what happened in terms of getting a theatrical release, only for that agreement to be reneged upon.

"If we don’t put tentpole movies in movie theaters, there won’t be movie theaters in the future," he went on. "Movies like Road House, people actually want to see on the big screen, and it was made for the big screen."

SHOP:

• New 'fun and delicious' Swisse gummy vitamins loved by popular Aussie duo

• Get your mortgage or rent paid for a year with Soul Origin

• These videos of animals acting like (badly behaved) humans are a must watch

However, according to Gyllenhaal, the plan was always for Road House to go straight to Amazon Prime.

“I adore Doug’s tenacity, and I think he is advocating for filmmakers, and film in the cinema, and theatrical releases," the actor told Total Film. "But, I mean, Amazon was always clear that it was streaming.

“I just want as many people to see it as possible... I’m a deep lover of cinema and the theatrical release – but I also do really embrace the streaming world.”

Want the latest celebrity news? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.