Sam Elliott’s iconic action movie that helped spawn a 37-year franchise has grown into a streaming hit ahead of the next installment. Elliott’s movies and TV shows have included a number of classics across various genres. From his role as Virgil Earp in Tombstone to his appearance in Netflix sitcom The Ranch, Elliott has been involved in a number of projects that have helped him showcase his acting skills. Some of his most recent work includes Taylor Sheridan TV shows, including the Yellowstone prequel 1899 and the oil drama Landman, where he stars opposite Billy Bob Thornton.

But one early action movie in his career spawned a franchise that, to this day, is still finding success decades later. This movie is Road House, a 1989 action movie about a professional bouncer who gets hired to help a bar in Jasper, Missouri fend off the organized criminals that have decided to stake a claim there. While Patrick Swayze stars as the main character, James Dalton, Elliott plays his mentor, Wade Garrett, who has his own important role in the movie. Earning mixed reviews, Road House eventually became a cult classic.

Sam Elliot’s Road House Is Kicking Back On HBO Max’s Charts

Despite the film coming up on 40 years old, Road House has maintained enough popularity to continue finding success in the streaming age. According to new data from September 3, 2026, the action flick has become the Number 10 movie in the United States on HBO Max. It’s an impressive feat for the film, which now finds itself as one of the top movies in the US, no doubt thanks to its cult classic status. While Swayze’s performance is a key draw, Elliott’s role is also of memorable importance to the movie.

The biggest reason why Road House has done so well is because of how much it’s history has turned it into a classic action movie. While it’s not a typical shoot-em-up or martial arts-style film, it uses its premise to its advantage, employing a unique form of action that meshes well with its storytelling. It makes the film memorable, while also making it accessible for new audiences who want to see why the movie’s earned such a positive reputation over the decades.

The Film Spawned A Decades-Long Franchise That’s About To Return

What makes Road House all the more impressive is how it was able to establish a decades-long franchise that’s still going to this day. While the first movie got an underwhelming, direct-to-video sequel in 2006, the franchise made a huge return with 2024’s Road House remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Much like the first movie, critics were mixed about it. However, it became a massive hit on Prime Video, to the point where Amazon confirmed the development of a sequel, which began filming in October 2025.

Road House 2 will see Gyllenhaal return, with the movie’s release date unknown at the time of writing. However, Elliott‘s version of the movie remains a popular one, with its HBO Max success reflective of its continued success. With the movie only just reaching US charts, it will likely continue to soar as more eyes arrive on it.

Release Date

May 19, 1989

Runtime

114 minutes

Director

Rowdy Herrington

Writers

Hilary Henkin, R. Lance Hill

Producers

Joel Silver