Film opinion: Five films to watch if you liked ‘Road House’

It has been announced that Guy Ritchie will be directing the Road House sequel, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor, and a change of director may come with a change of style.

Ritchie’s notorious British crime-thriller motion will be put to the test come the potential release date in 2026, but how can you best prepare yourself for Road House 2?

Well, Film News Blitz writer Joe Matthews is here with five films you should watch if you enjoyed Road House, and are looking forward to its next addition.

‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E’ (2015)

We start off the list with Ritchie’s spy thriller The Man from U.N.C.L.E, which follows the story of Henry Cavill’s Napoleon Solo, who is forced to team up with his Russian counterpart Ilya Kuryakin, played by Armie Hammer, at the height of the Cold War.

With a stunning score and charming writing, this film gives a little taster for what Ritchie can bring to the screen, and with Road House 2 likely to be a crime/action thriller, the stunning chase scenes and demonstrable hand-to-hand combat show us the project is in good hands.

‘Bullet Train’ (2022)

In Road House, Gyllenhaal played a somewhat reserved protagonist, keen to develop a change in character, as he wishes to make up for past mistakes. 

Brad Pitt’s Ladybug in Bullet Train isn’t too dissimilar; all he wants to do is complete one final assignment and then be done with his life as an assassin.

Naturally, he finds himself embroiled in a much more complex situation, showered in deceit, intrigue, and snake venom.

So, if you liked Elwood Dalton’s character path, or the intense fight scenes laced with humour, then David Leitch’s 2022 film Bullet Train should tick all the same boxes.

‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ (2014)

Kingsman: The Secret Service was a huge box office success, creating a worldwide gross of over $400 million from a budget of around $80 million. 

This made it the third highest-grossing film of 2015 with a budget of under $100 million, only behind Minions and Fifty Shades of Grey.

Headed by Taron Egerton, appearing in his first major big screen movie, this witty and unpredictable take on the British spy film niche surprised many with the quality on show. 

It was also neatly sandwiched by the release of two James Bond films, with Skyfall being released in 2012, and Spectre at the end of 2015.

So, with the eyes of the world firmly set on the British spy genre, Kingsman had a lot to live up to, and despite almost being a parody of the aforementioned licensed gun, you wouldn’t be misconstrued in saying it succeeded.

‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (2001)

Whilst Kingsman had wit coming out of its ears, Ocean’s Eleven undeniably takes the cake for humour, action and an end-of-act revelation when it comes to action-thrillers.

Following a charismatic George Clooney, as Danny Ocean, he puts together a team of highly skilled specialists with the aim of rolling out one of the biggest casino heists of the century.

The cast is one to be studied, as accompanying Clooney is Brad Pitt, who was still fresh off the success of 1999’s Fight Club, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Andy Garcia, and even Julia Roberts.

If you liked Roadhouse, you’ll love Ocean’s Eleven, as well as probably Ocean’s Twelve and Thirteen.

‘The Gentlemen’ (2019)

As much as the other suggestions in this list are sure to scratch the Road House itch, it is The Gentlemen that will completely eradicate the film hangover.

Another movie directed by Ritchie, the story follows on from the announcement that an American named Mickey Pearson, played by Matthew McConaughey, wants to cash out from his marijuana empire in London.

What follows is a narrative filled with plots, schemes and blackmail set to keep your eyes glued to the screen for just under two hours, so if you’re wanting to know what a Ritchie rendition of Road House will look like, The Gentlemen will give you a fantastic insight.

With next-to-no information about Road House 2 having been revealed, you’ll likely have plenty of time to catch up on these five brilliant films, alongside the rest of Ritchie’s filmography, should you so please; I mean, who wouldn’t?

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