Stephen King Defends a Largely Hated Remake of a Golden Classic Film
Half of the viewers of this 2024 action thriller hated it, but Stephen King firmly belongs in the other half.
One of the hardest things to pull off in the movie industry? A remake of a golden classic that doesn’t get immediately torpedoed by furious critics and OG fans. Few directors have managed such a feat, and it wasn’t the case with this largely hated 2024 action thriller. Half of its viewers hated it, but the other half has an ace up its sleeve: Stephen King ’s personal endorsement of this controversial remake.
Even Jake Gyllenhaal Couldn’t Save This Remake
The original Road House came out in 1989, starring Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott and directed by Rowdy Herrington. The movie wasn’t too gracefully received by the critics, but the audience enjoyed it — and as it often happens in such cases, Road House later became a cult classic. You know what Hollywood does to cult classics from the 80s, don’t you?
In 2024, a modern remake by Doug Liman hit the screens. The new Road House needed star power to try and compete with the original, so Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor were invited to lead the flick. Unfortunately, they couldn’t save the movie: its greatest feat is that it captivated just a little more than half of its viewers — on Rotten Tomatoes, 2024’s Road House has a sad 53% Audience Score.
Stephen King Got Behind the Road House Remake
Many fans dubbed the new remake a “soulless cash grab,” going as far as calling out Jake Gyllenhaal on “never being as great as Patrick Swayze.” Peculiarly enough, these statements are from Stephen King’s comment section: the celebrated author recently expressed his support for 2024’s Road House, recommending it to his fans.
“Road House. Amazon Prime. Jake Gyllenhaal. I should have to say no more,” the King of Horror wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Most fans didn’t appreciate the notion, which is a rarity among Stephen King’s audience. The comment section is largely filled with people praising the original Road House — or cursing the remake. Same thing, different approach.
If you want to figure out which side you’re on, you can watch both the original and the new Road House on Prime Video and decide who’s right.