36 Years Later, This Cult Classic "Pure Late '80s Action Flick' Is Making a Comeback on Free Streaming Actorsvaultpro

Ask your dad, and he’ll tell you that the 1980s were the best years for action movies. Die Hard, First Blood, Predator, Big Trouble in Little China, Lethal Weapon, RoboCop, Top Gun, The Terminator, Aliens, and so, so many more held audiences in the palm of their hands during that decade. But, among the elite list of the best action movies of the 1980s, an iconic ’80s classic is often forgotten, even after its remake was released last year. Forget Arnie, forget Stallone, forget Willis, and forget Weaver, as Patrick Swayze is the ’80s action icon who’s about to steal the limelight on free streaming, because Road House is making a comeback.

Road House will soon stream for free on Tubi. The 100% free streaming service will host the timeless ’80s action flick (that was more divisive than you might remember) from December 1. Released in 1989, Road House was directed by Rowdy Herrington, who also directed the underrated ’90s boxing film Gladiator. Alongside Swayze, the film also starred Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch, Ben Gazzara, Jeff Healey, Julie Michaels, and Marshall Teague. Patrick Swayze stars as James Dalton, a “legendary bouncer” (which is a thing, apparently) who is hired to restore one of the most rundown and dangerous bars in the country. But, to do so, he must contend with the local crime boss who controls the town.

Road House has gained a reputation and a legacy as one of the great action movies of the 1980s. But the film wasn’t actually that successful at the time. Critics weren’t overly impressed with the film, and it currently holds a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also underperformed at the box office, grossing just $30 million against an estimated budget of $17 million. However, in the years since, and thanks in large part to references and spoofs found in the likes of Family Guy, Road House has become a cult classic. “Overall, Road House is a pure late ’80s action flick. It’s corny, but it does entertain a lot. There is a style in this movie — it is a film like no other in a sense — and in a good way,” wrote one user on Rotten Tomatoes after recently watching the film for the first time.

More ‘Road House’ Reboot/Sequels Are Coming

Amazon MGM Studios

Road House might have flopped back in the ’80s, but that didn’t stop Amazon MGM Studios from cashing in on this cult cash cow in 2024 with the release of its Road House reboot. Jake Gyllenhaal starred as Dalton, a former MMA fighter-turned-bouncer who is tasked with protecting a Florida bar from local gangsters. The film received mixed reviews (59% on RT) but was a major success on Prime Video, and a sequel was greenlit shortly after.

However, to complicate things further, Doug Liman, who directed the 2024 reboot but is not returning for the sequel, also intends to direct another Road House film. His new movie will be a direct sequel to the 1989 original, which is currently titled Road House: Dylan. No other details regarding the project have been revealed.