As a seasoned movie enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Doug Liman’s recent comments about the streaming release of Amazon’s Road House remake strike a chord with me. The film industry is a complex beast, and it’s always fascinating to hear behind-the-scenes tales from those who navigate its treacherous waters.
The remake of “Road House,” produced by Amazon, was a massive success on streaming platforms earlier this year, setting a new record as Prime’s most successful original production. This achievement raises questions about how the action film might have fared in cinemas if it had been released there instead, particularly considering director Doug Liman’s criticism of Amazon for not releasing it in theaters before its premiere. Now, several months later, Liman has expressed additional thoughts about the movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal being exclusively available on streaming platforms.
While Liman is currently marketing his new film, “The Instigators“, featuring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck as fugitive thieves, he recently delved back into thoughts about the launch of “Road House“. He shared additional insights regarding how the streaming studio managed the project, in his own words:
Initially, let me clarify that I have no problem with streaming content. The reason we require streaming movies is so that writers, directors, and actors can all earn a living. Not every film needs to be shown in a cinema. In fact, I am a strong supporter of TV series, streaming movies, and theatrical releases – the more options the better!
As a passionate fan, I’ve been reflecting on an intriguing revelation shared by director Doug Liman in an interview with IndieWire. He mentioned that he, along with other filmmakers and stars of the iconic action movie “Road House,” didn’t receive any backend compensation for its massive success on Amazon Prime. It seems the studio pocketed all the earnings from the millions who enjoyed the movie, instead of distributing it fairly among those who brought the project to life through their creative efforts as producers, writers, directors, and actors.
Furthermore, if “Road House” turned out to be successful in cinemas, it would not only have delighted audiences with the remake of the ’80s favorite, but also contribute financially to these cinemas as part of the box office earnings. Initially, when Liman expressed his discontent regarding “Road House”, he mentioned that the original agreement for the movie was made with MGM, intending to produce it for theaters. However, when Amazon acquired MGM a few months before “Road House” was about to begin filming, they reportedly advised Liman to create an excellent film and left the decision on its release open-ended.
Previously, Liman had mentioned that Road House was exceptionally popular among audiences, even surpassing the success of Mr. and Mrs. Smith from his early 2000s and The Bourne Identity. This prediction turned out to be accurate, given the overwhelmingly positive audience feedback. For instance, TopMob’s review of Road House awarded it 4 out of 5 stars. Additionally, Liman pointed out that UFC’s Conor McGregor’s fanbase could have significantly boosted theater attendance as well.
Liman’s upcoming film will premiere in cinemas on August 2, followed by its release on Apple TV+ starting August 9. Here’s what he shared about working with Apple and Amazon:
As a dedicated gamer speaking about my experience with Apple, I’ve always made it clear that their platform was designed for streaming games. From day one, our contracts ensured we were fairly compensated for streaming content, a concept known as a streaming buyout. So, right from the start, Apple has been transparent and honest in its dealings.
Doug Liman won’t be physically fighting for the release of “The Instigators,” a project he attributes to his collaboration with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, which provided him the freedom to express his unconventional style during filmmaking. Don’t miss it on Apple Original, available starting this weekend.
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2024-08-01 04:37