Jake Gyllenhaal vs. Patrick Swayze: Which Version Of Road House's Dalton Would Win In A Fight
Summary
- Daltons in both Road House movies have different fighting styles and backstories.
- Gyllenhaal’s Dalton has more experience and a weight advantage over Swayze’s Dalton.
- Gyllenhaal believes his Dalton would win with modern technology, but Swayze’s Dalton would dominate in the ’80s.
Since the original Road House and its 2024 remake portray their versions of Dalton as overpowered heroes, their invincibility in their respective worlds raises an intriguing question: Who would win if the two had a one-on-one showdown? Doug Liman’s contemporary take on the 1989 cult-classic Road House may not have landed in every viewer and critic’s good books. However, most have unanimously agreed that, without comparison to the original, the Road House remake is a fun action-comedy flick that never leaves a dull moment with its hilarious one-liners and high-octane fight sequences.
Some have also agreed that, even though the remake may never match the original’s legacy, it has its own merits and even improves some narrative elements of the original. For instance, Dalton’s backstory in the Road House remake is more fleshed out, giving audiences a better understanding of his motives as a fighter and bouncer. When it comes to fighting skills, however, it may be a little harder to determine which version of the character ranks higher.
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Road House 2024’s 14 Easter Eggs & References To The Original Movie
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Jake Gyllenhaal’s Dalton Would Beat Patrick Swayze’s In A Fight (Based On Both Movies)
He Seems Much Bigger & Also Has More Experience
Since a heavier fighter always has an advantage over a lighter one, combat sports always have weight classes. Owing to this, since Jake Gyllenhaal’s Dalton seems to be at least one weight class above Patrick Swayze’s, he would have a clear edge over him. Apart from that, the original Road House movie does not reveal much about Dalton’s past. However, as his fighting style suggests, he seemingly combines Tang Soo Do karate with traditional street brawling. His history suggests that most of his fighting experiences came from fist fights in bars.
Before retiring from the sport, the remake’s version of the chaarcter was among the best fighters in the MMA organization, making him one of the top athletes (if not the best) in his sport.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Dalton, on the other hand, is portrayed as a former elite mixed martial artist who fought in the UFC. Before retiring from the sport, the remake’s version of the character was among the best fighters in the MMA organization, making him one of the top athletes (if not the best) in his sport. His long combat sports experience also proves he would likely take down the original movie’s Dalton with ease.
The Road House remake also establishes that Dalton becomes absolutely ruthless when he loses his cool. He even killed his best friend in the heat of the moment during a UFC fight. Swayze’s Dalton, in contrast, is usually more composed in his approach and does not seem to have as many skeletons in his closet as Gyllenhaal’s version. Given how Gyllenhaal’s character overpowers a bigger threat like Conor McGregor’s Knox in the remake after losing his temper, his raw aggression and ferocity would likely help him land a clear win.
It must be noted that Patrick Swayze’s Dalton has some nearly superhuman tricks (like throat-ripping abilities) up his sleeve, which might help him win.
What Jake Gyllenhaal Said About His Dalton vs Patrick Swayze’s
Gyllenhaal Has Mixed Feelings About Which Dalton Would Win
When Jake Gyllenhaal was questioned about the same (via Collider), he recalled how the original movie established that “size doesn’t matter.” He then explained that “due to technology and the advancements in technology,” his Dalton would win the fight. However, as Gyllenhaal suggested, if the two Daltons were face to face in the ’80s, Patrick Swayze’s character would dominate. Taking the opportunity to quote another famous line from both Road House movies, Gyllenhaal also reminded the interviewer that “no one ever wins a fight.”
Given how both Road House films are works of fiction at the end of the day, the answer to who among the two Daltons would win a fight remains a matter of creative interpretation and a viewer’s bias. As Gyllenhaal, too, suggested in the interview, many variables and factors can come into play when two fictional characters’ fighting styles are compared. While the comparison between the two iterations of the same Road House character can still be fun, it should not be taken too seriously.
Road House (2024)
Road House is a remake of the original 1989 film, which followed protagonist Dalton, a Ph.D. educated bouncer at the roughest bar in the south known as the Double Deuce. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Dalton, with two major changes including Dalton being a retired UFC fighter and the bar locale being in the Florida Keys.
- Director
- Doug Liman
- Release Date
- March 21, 2024
- Studio(s)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , Silver Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Prime Video
- Writers
- Anthony Bagarozzi , Charles Mondry , David Lee Henry
- Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal , Daniela Melchior , Billy Magnussen , Jessica Williams , Joaquim De Almeida , Conor McGregor , Lukas Gage , Arturo Castro , B.K. Cannon , Beau Knapp , Darren Barnet , Dominique Columbus , Bob Menery
