Road House

Play trailer

Road House

R

Released May 19, 1989

1h 52m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The Double Deuce is the meanest, loudest and rowdiest bar south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and Dalton (Patrick Swayze) has been hired to clean it up. He might not look like much, but the Ph.D.-educated bouncer proves he's more than capable -- busting the heads of troublemakers and turning the roadhouse into a jumping hot-spot. But Dalton's romance with the gorgeous Dr. Clay (Kelly Lynch) puts him on the bad side of cutthroat local big shot Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Whether Road House is simply bad or so bad it's good depends largely on the audience's fondness for Swayze -- and tolerance for violently cheesy action.

Read Critics Reviews

Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Silly, yet plays it straight, and everyone involved knows exactly the type of genre-pleaser they’re making... aspires to be nothing more and nothing less than a goofy experiment in translating the arc of the Western lone gunman to being a bouncer.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Sean T. Collins

Decider

...it isn't just so bad it's good. In its own bad way, it really is good!

Jul 12, 2019

Full Review

Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

But in deep "Road House" country... and the undefined made crassly visible, there isn't a whiff of romance anywhere, any more than there's a single jot of common sense.

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

While the basic story is predictable, the acting is solid and the music is great. This movie has a lot going for it. The Jeff Healey Band provides much of the movie's soundtrack, playing all through it. This band is really impressive.

Rated: C+

Apr 13, 2024

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

A sweaty and brawny classic of excess and coolness.

Mar 31, 2024

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Not controlled or competent enough to work as a spoof, a serious action flick, or anything in between.

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

william s

There was something so refreshing about this movie. It knows exactly what it is, and tells you exactly what it's going to do within the first 5 minutes. Like... "Hey, here's where we're going. You in?"..... Hell yeah I'm in! I watch a lot of different kinds of movies, but I always gravitate towards ones that understand the principle assignment. Entertain the audience. And simply put, I was entertained.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

Full Review

cam m

Action from beginning to end!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

Full Review

Carrie C

I can't believe I'd never seen this movie before now. It's entertaining with lots of fun 80s clothes and hair. The villain, played by Ben Gazzara, is way over the top... But you love to hate him at the same time. It's so much more violent than I expected. It's such a classic that people talk about, everyone that grew up in the 80's should see this.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/25

Full Review

Ben D

How your “Average Joe” knows James Dalton (Patrick Swayze) all over the country is beside the point. Dalton was hired to do one thing, and that’s kick ass. Actually, he is hired, time and again it seems, to clean up seedy bars to attract a more docile and higher-paying clientele. Like any great craftsman, Dalton has a system for handling ne’er-do-wells, which only leads to ass-kicking as a last resort. The “Road House” bar on the outskirts of Kansas City is full of last resorts. It’s 1989, so we need an evil millionaire (Ben Gazzarra), extortion, explosions, blonde knockouts (Julie Michaels, Kelly Lynch), and lots of shirtless Swayze. Dalton lives in an incredible loft apartment in a barn (how he’d deal with the Western Missouri winter is beyond me) and drives beat-up muscle cars. Although this is a movie that knows exactly what it is — and is better for it — the villain’s antics become more absurd and lose me with the “monster truck” incident in broad daylight. The bar itself is an incredible dive — with the wire net protecting the band from airborne beer bottles as a perfect touch — and Herrington’s camerawork provides makes you feel like you’re watching the action from a torn barstool. The plot also has one of the best “Chekov’s Gun” inclusions ever put on-screen, culminating in a much-anticipated Mortal Kombat-like fatality. Road House is pure 1980s ridiculousness and fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

Full Review

Kevin B

Absolutely fantastic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Sams K

For me this is a cult movie! Iconic! Patrick 4 ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Rowdy Herrington

Director

Patrick Swayze

Dalton

Kelly Lynch

Doc

Sam Elliott

Wade Garrett

Ben Gazzara

Brad Wesley

Marshall R. Teague

Jimmy

Road House: Official Clip - Find That Prick!

1:29

Road House: Official Clip - I Love You, Mijo

2:13

Road House: Official Clip - You're Too Stupid to Have a Good Time

1:43

Road House: Official Clip - Three Simple Rules

2:07

Road House: Official Clip - Pain Don't Hurt

2:07

Road House: Official Clip - This Is Our Town

2:11

View more videos

Lethal Weapon 3

60%

61%

Lethal Weapon 3

Watchlist

Lethal Weapon

80%

86%

Lethal Weapon

Watchlist

Lethal Weapon 2

82%

78%

Lethal Weapon 2

Watchlist

Die Hard

94%

94%

Die Hard

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Die Hard

Die Hard 2

69%

70%

Die Hard 2

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Die Hard 2

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

What I’m Watching: With Hank Azaria

Five Favorite Films with Ted

25 Movies So Bad They’re Unmissable

View more photos

Synopsis

The Double Deuce is the meanest, loudest and rowdiest bar south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and Dalton (Patrick Swayze) has been hired to clean it up. He might not look like much, but the Ph.D.-educated bouncer proves he's more than capable -- busting the heads of troublemakers and turning the roadhouse into a jumping hot-spot. But Dalton's romance with the gorgeous Dr. Clay (Kelly Lynch) puts him on the bad side of cutthroat local big shot Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara).

Director: Rowdy Herrington
Producer: Joel Silver
Screenwriter: R. Lance Hill, R. Lance Hill, Hilary Henkin
Distributor: United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Silver Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.4M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now