Only a few weeks have passed since Hollywood’s biggest studios reached a deal with actors and writers unions to end a four-month-long strike and get production back into action. The industry was brought to a halt for several reasons, including a demand for a greater share of streaming revenue.
Apart from impacting actors’ and writers’ residual payments, the rise of streaming platforms has also impacted cinemas by erasing many theatrical releases from the Hollywood calendar. Doug Liman’s Road House is the latest high-profile project to be taken away from cinemas; the much-acclaimed director has decided not to take it all without fighting back.
Why Doug Liman Is Protesting Amazon’s Decision Over Road House’s Theatrical Release
Doug Liman joined hands with Jake Gyllenhaal to bring a new version of Patrick Swayze’s 1989 B movie, Road House.
Prime Video released the film’s poster, which depicts Gyllenhaal seated in a roadhouse with some wounds. The R-rated story about an ex-UFC middleweight fighter, who ends up working at a rowdy bar in the Florida Keys, will also feature The Suicide Squad‘s Daniela Melchior and No Time to Die’s Billy Magnussen.
Fans are certainly excited to see the trailer for the action thriller, which is scheduled to release on the platform on March 21, 2024. However, that feeling has been partly marred by Amazon’s refusal to give the film a theatrical release. The filmmaker is not happy with the studio’s move and has accordingly written a column for Deadline to register his disapproval. The 58-year-old wrote:
“When Amazon bought MGM, one of the few remaining studios making big commercial films for theatrical release (movies like Bond, Creed) they announced that they would put a billion dollars into theatrical motion pictures, releasing at least 12 a year. They touted it as “the largest commitment to cinemas by an internet company.” I can tell you what they then did to me and my film Road House, which is the opposite of what they promised when they took over MGM.”
Liman added: “The facts: I signed up to make a theatrical motion picture for MGM. Amazon bought MGM. Amazon said make a great film and we will see what happens. I made a great film.”
Accordingly, the Mr. & Mrs. Smith director has decided to not attend Road House’s premiere at the SXSW film festival.
What Fans Are Saying About Road House Director Doug Liman’s Protest
Liman’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which had Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in starring roles, was a smashing success at the box office, grossing $487.3 million globally. As per the filmmaker, Road House tested higher than the 2005 hit. It also tested more promising than The Bourne Identity.
Yet Amazon bypassed theaters in favor of dropping the movie on Prime Video. Moviegoers seem to agree with Liman’s stance and have sent plenty of messages of support on X.
Damn, I don’t blame him.
— Chainsaw Reacts (@ChainsawReacts) January 24, 2024
As he should.. we stand with Doug Liman
— EMPRESS🕷️ (@ItsEmpress_X) January 24, 2024
Yeah, totally agreed with Doug.
If it’s a good remake, then it deserves to be seen in the CINEMA. 🙏🏻❤️
— Peter Rabbit’s Award Buzz (@PeterRabbit_4DX) January 24, 2024
What made Amazon refused to give the film a theatrical release?
— Woodland🔋⚡️📈🌎☀️ (@Woodland_00) January 24, 2024
Unnecessary and disrespectful remake to the great Patrick Swayze ….they have zero respect for the original in Hollywood ..they really did ran out of ideas
— CRYPTO KEN aka the Coin King 👑 (@daCoinKing) January 24, 2024
It’s tough to speculate Amazon’s thinking behind the decision, but it isn’t far-fetched to assume fans would’ve relished the opportunity of seeing Gyllenhaal, who impressed with his fighting skills in Southpaw (2015), take on UFC mega-star Conor McGregor on the big screen.
