Trivia

The film was shot in the Dominican Republic, with the only shots actually in the Florida Keys being that of Fred the Tree. Fred is an Australian pine, which is not local to the area and likely brought via bird droppings. It took root in the old abandoned bridge where it lacks soil and is exposed to the sun, salt water, and winds. Locals view it as a symbol of surviving and growing in adversity. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, locals were surprised to find it alive. Locals will even decorate it for the holidays.

The film was made with a theatrical release in mind. However, MGM and Amazon got cold feet, and felt the film would be unfairly compared to the original Road House (1989), and be critically savaged on those grounds alone, resulting in a poor box office take. The theatrical release was therefore canceled, and the movie was sent straight to streaming. This upset director Doug Liman, who felt short-changed, especially after learning that the same company did the opposite with The Beekeeper (2024), a film that was intended to go straight to streaming, but was given a theatrical release, where it defied expectations and became an unexpectedly big hit. Out of protest, Liman boycotted his own film's premiere at South by Southwest. Jake Gyllenhaal said, "I adore Doug's tenacity, and I think he is advocating for filmmakers, and film in the cinema, and theatrical releases. But, I mean, Amazon was always clear that it was streaming."

The restaurant next to the Stephen's book store is named "The Double Deuce Restaurant," which was also the name of the bar in the Road House (1989) film.

Jake Gyllenhaal underwent extensive training with renowned trainer Jason Walsh to prepare for his role as an ex-UFC fighter. The preparation involved a multi-leveled regimen focusing on strength, conditioning, and nutrition, highlighting Gyllenhaal's dedication to the role.

The centerpiece of the production was the main roadhouse set, designed by production designer Greg Berry and then built from scratch from the ground up. Perhaps the greatest testament to the quality of the construction was the fact that the Road House set --- including its thatched roof --- withstood the force of Hurricane Fiona, which blew through the Dominican Republic filming location in September 2022.