Amazon turned heads in the entertainment industry when it offered director Doug Liman and star Jake Gyllenhaal a unique choice for their new film Road House: make it for $60 million with a theatrical release, or take $85 million and go straight to streaming. They chose the latter, sparking backlash from fans. So why did Amazon make such a short-sighted offer?
The Road to Streaming: Was Amazon’s Move Ridiculous?
As per Variety, when Amazon acquired MGM Studios in 2022, industry insiders expected changes in how MGM’s films would be distributed. But they didn’t expect Amazon to push major titles like Road House straight to streaming without a theatrical run. For fans eagerly awaiting the reboot of the cult classic, it felt like a betrayal.
Was Amazon’s offer really so ridiculous? In the eyes of theater owners and loyal fans, absolutely. Road House likely could have been a hit with mass theatrical appeal given the star power and brand recognition. Funneling it directly to Prime Video left money on the table and angered fans. Amazon prioritized driving subscriptions over recouping their investment, a frustrating choice for supporters of the theatrical experience.
A lot of loyal Road House fans are seriously bummed out that the reboot is getting a streaming-only release. They feel like a beloved cult favorite like this deserves to be seen on the big screen. After all, Amazon threw a ton of money at the production budget, shouldn’t they want people to see that in theaters? Many fans argue it’s disrespectful to the original Swayze version’s legacy to not give this a proper theatrical run.
Putting it in theatres will make more money… its actually not making any sense..
— Yusuf Kailani (@Yusuf_kay_) February 14, 2024
But the director was complaining that he wanted a theatrical release. Someone is not telling the truth.
— ali (@y2raza) February 14, 2024
That makes no sense, why would you make a movie more expensive and not put it in theaters?
— The Moonlight Warrior 🌙 (@BlackMajikMan90) February 14, 2024
WHY WOULD YOU GIVE THEM MORE MONEY FOR THE VIEWING OPTION THAT GUARANTEES YOU NO BOX OFFICE?!
— brandon nezamoodeen (@BNezamoodeen) February 14, 2024
They probably would’ve made way more money if they went the theatrical route
— Aiden (@fantastic580) February 14, 2024
People feel Amazon put greed over preserving what makes Road House so special. There’s some really intense outrage from devotees who have been waiting years for a reboot.
Should We Blame Greed Over Artistic Vision?
Another question emerges in the Road House debacle – did greed trump artistic vision? Doug Liman and Jake Gyllenhaal likely took Amazon’s streaming offer for the bigger payday despite their initial plan for a theatrical release. With the chance to pocket millions more, they abandoned their creative plans to help Amazon boost Prime Video.
The choice seems short-sighted for Liman and Gyllenhaal. Streaming may have robbed Road House a place in theaters where cult classics like the original thrive. And fan backlash over the move could impact their future projects. In chasing quick cash from Amazon, the sacrifice may have been greater than they realized.
Does This Signal Trouble For Amazon in Hollywood?
The fight over Road House also shows some brewing tensions between Amazon and Hollywood. Producers like Joel Silver butted heads with Amazon over creative control and marketing decisions. Top talent agencies even had to step in to smooth things over. At the end of the day, director Doug Liman turned against the company, releasing his movie.
As Amazon pushes more movies straight to streaming, you can bet there will be more battles like this. Streamers want things done fast and cheap while Hollywood loves the theater experience. If Amazon keeps angering big directors and stars, will they want to work together down the line? For now, it’s safe to say the Road House drama left some scars that haven’t fully healed yet. This could spell trouble for Amazon if more big names decide to avoid partnering with them. We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out.
Road House will be released on Prime Videos on 8 March 2024.
