It is not only Netflix that has major streaming blockbusters on the way this year. Amazon Prime also has exciting productions that reach millions of viewers at the click of a button. It is precisely this fact is now causing trouble: Director Doug Liman feels betrayed by Amazon given the success of his new film.
In March, Road House launched on Amazon Prime and quickly became the most successful original film of the streamer. The remake of the 80s action classic generated 50 million views in the first two weeks and then climbed to the 80 million mark, as Deadline reported in May.
Amazon release of Road House causes anger: Doug Liman and stars did not receive a bonus
Amazon immediately gave the green light to a sequel. Liman, on the other hand, had little to gain from the success, as he revealed in a recent interview with IndieWire. Even before the film’s release, he was annoyed that Amazon was not releasing the film in theaters. Now he seems even more dissatisfied with the whole thing.
Liman says:
My problem with Road House is that we made the film for MGM to get it in theaters. Everyone was paid as if he was coming to the movies. Amazon changed its strategy and no one was compensated. […] 50 million people saw Road House. I didn’t get a cent, Jake Gyllenhaal didn’t get a cent, [Produzent] Joel Silver didn’t get a cent. That’s wrong.
You can watch the trailer for Road House here:
Road House – Trailer (German) HD
Whether a film is released in cinemas or streamed can have a significant impact on the fees of those involved. often a profit share set, a certain mark should be exceeded at the box office. This does not work with streaming, as there is no classic box office result.
That is why streaming salaries are usually higher from the start to compensate for potential profit sharing and to make the projects attractive to stars. This was apparently not the case with Road House. Based on Liman’s statement, the cast and crew were paid like in a traditional cinema release And there was no bonus for the strong performance at Amazon.
Jake Gyllenhaal contradicts Doug Liman: Amazon has made its streaming intentions clear from the start
Lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal sees things differently. He told Total Film in February:
I admire Doug’s tenacity and I think he is committed to filmmakers and cinema. But, I mean, Amazon has always said it is streaming. I just want as many people as possible to see the film. And I think we live in a world where the way we see and watch films and the way they are made is changing.
Road House celebrated on March 21, 2024 its streaming premiere. Work on part 2 has already begun. Gyllenhaal returns as bouncer Elwood Dalton. It is doubtful at this point whether Liman will direct again.
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