Road House, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, has muscled its way to the top of viewership on Amazon Prime. The reboot was helmed by Doug Liman, and the numbers recorded are a positive sign that even though the film was overlooked for a theatrical release, the power of storytelling is still compelling, even if it is on a small screen.
The choice to go straight to streaming was deliberate on the part of the makers and the studio. Either way, the move paid off, as the film has set a new record.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s film Road House sets a new record
The film is a reboot of the 1989 film of the same name, starring Patrick Swayze. Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal had big boots to fill up with the role, but he did it successfully.
The film chronicles the life of Elwood Dalton, an ex-UFC champion, with Gyllenhaal playing the protagonist. After making a living by cheating other fighters, Dalton moves to the Florida Keys, where he starts working as a bouncer at a bar by the beach. Chaos ensues as he realizes that not everything is as it seems at the establishment.
Doug Liman‘s film boasts an impressive lineup, with Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Darren Barnet, and Billy Magnussen completing the cast. Even Post Malone makes an appearance.
The reboot has now recorded the highest viewership on a global scale for the streaming giant. Since its debut on the platform on March 21, Road House has clocked over 50 million views to date.
“It’s great to see the film taking off with both fans of the iconic original as well as a huge turnout from new audiences. This incredible film is really giving everyone something to talk about, and we couldn’t be more proud!”, said the head of Amazon MGM Studios, Jennifer Salke (via Deadline).
While Amazon has not explained how the number was recorded, the numbers speak for themselves.
Liman’s project has been in the news for a number of reasons throughout the production period. The director chose to skip the SXSW premiere when the news that the film would forego a theatrical release broke. Thankfully, it worked out in the end for everyone, as accolades have poured in from all quarters.
Conor McGregor weighs in on the box office estimate of Road House
McGregor made his acting debut in the film, alongside Gyllenhaal. He was surprisingly good, as he managed to hold his own against the Nightcrawler star.
The UFC champion was perfect for the role of Knox, the antagonist of the film. The Notorious took to social media to congratulate the team for their effort behind this massive success. Moreover, he also gave a prediction about the potential box office number the film would have minted—a whopping $750 million.
Congrats to @amazonstudios and @mgmstudios on their @roadhousemovie becoming their most watched movie of all time! 50 million viewers over two weekends. That’s $750m at the box office. In 10 days! Insane! Congrats all the team, it was a pleasure ❤️ pic.twitter.com/i7CXygncgD
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 1, 2024
The numbers recorded in just two weeks are extremely impressive, to say the least. The figure will only go up with time, but it is a remarkable feat nonetheless.
Road House is a delightful film, with an impeccable soundtrack that packs a punch. The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
