Road House

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Road House

R

1989

1h 52m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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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).

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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.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Mar 29, 2024

4/5

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.

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Sean T. Collins

Decider

Jul 12, 2019

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

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

Mar 27, 2019

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.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Apr 13, 2024

C+

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.

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Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Mar 31, 2024

A sweaty and brawny classic of excess and coolness.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Mar 29, 2024

1.5/4

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

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Ollie W

@RT90619198 Sep 23, 2026

A preposterous film where everyone carries a knife and gets into knife fights for really no reason whatsover. Do places like this actually exist somewhere in America. Some crappy little bar can afford a gigantic security team. The film consists of nonstop punchups. It’s difficult to buy Patrick Swayze as a hardman tuff guy.

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D P

@RT45936356 Sep 23, 2026

Didn't catch it when it was a thing. I knew it existed, though. I didn't really imagine Patrick Swayze starring in something so x-rated. The whole thing was meh to me.

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AC C

@Mon_Alisa Sep 20, 2026

Surely they’ll talk it out this ti…oh no they’re punching again. All jabs aside (👀) I’m a sucker for all things Patrick. Especially sweaty shirtless Tai Chi scenes.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 20, 2026

Road House = a *3* star Movie!

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Pudding C

@op-pudding Sep 19, 2026

a fun watch at Sam's

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 Aug 20, 2026

Very entertaining, with non‑stop action. So‑called "professional" critics—especially Millennials—bash films through generational bias, forgetting to place them in historical context. This classic ’80s entry became a cultural icon for several reasons: Swayze’s presence above all, plus the music, the solid cast, and a parade of fights, explosions, gratuitous nudity, and violence, all in the spirit of the times, with the lone hero delivering his brand of justice. The direction is adequate, the script dumb—but it’s the kind of dumbness you can actually enjoy.

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Rowdy Herrington

Director

Patrick Swayze

Dalton

Kelly Lynch

Doc

Sam Elliott

Wade Garrett

Ben Gazzara

Brad Wesley

Marshall R. Teague

Jimmy

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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

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