Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Brutal
- violent
- sleazy
- campy
- cult movie night
- retro action marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as poorly written and excessively violent, though its exaggerated action and Patrick Swayze's presence have supported a cult good-bad movie reputation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film combines cartoon-like plotting and dialogue with outrageous fistfights, head-bashing, and a theatrical final confrontation.
Dalton is hired to reform the Double Deuce while confronting the town entrepreneur who profits from its disorder.
Brad Wesley uses hired goons and protection money to preserve his control over the Missouri town.
The Double Deuce nightclub functions as the film's recurring stage for brawls, intimidation, and Dalton's professional interventions.
Films like Road House, and why
Above the Law
shared 1980s action melodrama, charismatic lone fighter, corrupt local power structure, and heightened violence
Lionheart
shared bouncer-centered action, working-class nightlife setting, revenge-driven conflict, and muscular heroics
Walking Tall
shared cartoonish action plotting, small-town corruption, barroom violence, and cult good-bad movie appeal
Best of the Best
shared martial arts action, stoic protagonist, criminal intimidation, and heightened 1980s genre style
Movie Details
- Director
- Rowdy Herrington
- Release Date
- 1989-05-19
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1602)
Cast
- Patrick Swayze
- Kelly Lynch
- Sam Elliott
- Ben Gazzara
- Marshall R. Teague
- Julie Michaels
- Red West
- Sunshine Parker
- Kevin Tighe
- John Doe
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Road House about?
- A taciturn professional bouncer wages a bruising one-man war against the corrupt Missouri kingpin determined to keep a notorious nightclub under his control.
- What is Road House like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Road House as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Road House violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Road House as brutal.
- What did critics think of Road House?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as poorly written and excessively violent, though its exaggerated action and Patrick Swayze's presence have supported a cult good-bad movie reputation.
- Which films are like Road House?
- Films with a similar feel include Above the Law, Lionheart, Walking Tall, and Best of the Best.
- How long is Road House?
- Road House runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Road House?
- In United States, Road House streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
