Despite a wave of controversies and skepticism surrounding the film’s production and release strategy, Jake Gyllenhaal’s remake of ‘Road House’ recently outperformed the original 1989 movie in terms of critical reception on Rotten Tomatoes.
Initially viewed with skepticism, the ‘Road House’ remake proved the negative critics wrong, garnering acclaim following its debut at South by Southwest. As of now, it has a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the original has a 41% score.
Major publications such as The Guardian, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter offered positive reviews about ‘Road House.’ Empire and IndieWire also praised the film for its take on the action hero archetype and how it evokes nostalgia while offering something new.
Controversies Surrounding ‘Road House’s Release
Controversy has not been far from ‘Road House,’ from its decision to shoot scenes during UFC 285 to the director’s boycott of its premiere in protest of its direct-to-streaming release on Prime Video.
The production also faced legal challenges, including a copyright infringement lawsuit from the original film’s writer, R. Lance Hill, and allegations regarding the use of artificial intelligence to replicate actors’ voices during the Screen Actors Guild strike.
‘Road House’ is set for a March 21 release on Prime Video. You can watch the trailer for the film below.
