‘Road House’ director Doug Liman has stern words to say about the release of his Jake Gyllenhaal-led remake of the 1989 film, as it “abruptly” went to streaming instead of an extended theatrical release.

MGM’s plan for Liman’s pic was initially scheduled as a theatrical release — but like most films, went directly to streaming when MGM was acquired by Amazon.

“First of all, I have no issue with streaming,” Liman said. “We need streaming movies cause, we need writers to go to work and directors to go to work and actors to go to work and not every movie should be in a movie theater. So I’m a big advocate of TV series, of streaming movies, of theatrical movies, we should have it all.”

The director continued: “My issue on ‘Road House’ is that we made the movie for MGM to be in theaters, everyone was paid as if it was going to be in theaters. Then Amazon switched it on us and nobody got compensated. Forget about the effect on the industry — 50 million people saw ‘Road House’ — I didn’t get a cent, Jake Gyllenhaal didn’t get a cent, [producer] Joel Silver didn’t get a cent. That’s wrong.”

Amazon reported in April that ‘Road House’ (2024) attracted 50 million viewers worldwide over its first two weekends on Prime Video, with Amazon stating it was the “most-watched produced film debut ever on a worldwide basis.”

Though the figures are impressive, Liman claims he never saw a cent from streaming numbers, and the director planned to boycott the world premiere of ‘Road House’ at SXSW due to the release on Prime Video.

“I adore Doug’s tenacity, and I think he is advocating for filmmakers, and film in the cinema, and theatrical releases. But, I mean, Amazon was always clear that it was streaming,” Gyllenhaal said at the time. “I just want as many people to see it as possible. And I think we’re living in a world that’s changing in how we see and watch movies, and how they’re made. What’s clear to me, and what I loved so much, was [Liman’s] deep love for this movie, and his pride at how much he cares for it, how good he feels it is, and how much people should see it.”

Liman’s main concern is the lack of compensation based on the film’s mega-streaming numbers.

Amazon announced in May that a sequel to ‘Road House’ is in active development with Gyllenhaal set to return as the lead. Liman’s involvement is currently unknown.

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