$61M Patrick Swayze Movie Was a “Big Source of Inspiration” for Doom: The Dark Ages, Eternal, 2016 (2025)

Medieval mayhem meets barroom brawls, discover how a Patrick Swayze movie shaped Doom: The Dark Ages, launching May 15th.

The wait for Doom: The Dark Ages is almost over, with its launch set for May 15th. Once again, id Software is looking to redefine demon-slaying mayhem. Armed with medieval weaponry, gothic landscapes, and a heavy dose of storytelling, this new chapter promises a bold, single-player adventure.

With no multiplayer component, the game dives deeper into narrative than ever before. Drawing from a wide range of classic movies to shape its dark fantasy world and mythic hero’s journey, the team has woven together some surprising influences.

The surprising movie that helped shape Doom: The Dark Ages

In a recent interview with Vice, id Software’s Hugo Martin and Marty Stratton shared some insights on the project’s development and how it all took shape. While fans of Doom 2016 and Eternal know that the series often draws from classic action movies.

However, with the shift to a darker, fantasy-driven setting, the team was pushed to explore an even broader range of influences. With The Dark Ages being a fully single-player, story-focused game, Martin and Stratton emphasized that crafting a deep and inspiring narrative was a top priority.

That’s where Roadhouse (1989), the $61 million cult classic starring Patrick Swayze, surprisingly entered the picture. Though it’s not a fantasy film, the movie’s clean, satisfying action structure served as a powerful blueprint for the Slayer’s journey.

Both the game and the movie follow a similar narrative of a lone, highly skilled protagonist as he restores order and confronts evil. While Roadhouse was a big part of the inspiration, of course, it wasn’t the only influence. Martin said:

Roadhouse is a big source of inspiration. But the structure of the story. Really, this started with a deep dive, like a study of the action film genre. Looking at all the great films from the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s.

The team also cited Conan the Barbarian as a major touchstone, leaning into its sword-and-sorcery aesthetic, as well as other classic ’80s and ’90s action films. The goal was clear: deliver a gripping, mythic action story that feels timeless and instantly engaging.

Why Roadhouse and Doom: The Dark Ages are a perfect match

At first glance, a movie about bar fights and small-town corruption might seem like a strange pick for a medieval demon-slaying epic. But if you dig a little deeper and start connecting the dots, it will make perfect sense why the developer used it as an inspiration.

The movie tells a lean, focused story about one tough, principled man (Patrick Swayze’s Dalton) taking on overwhelming odds with skill, discipline, and a very sharp jawline. Similarly, The Dark Ages focuses on the Slayer as a lone figure battling impossible forces in a brutal world.

It’s about cleaning up chaos, facing down corruption, and doing it all through pure, unstoppable action. By studying the way Roadhouse built tension, handled escalating conflict, and delivered cathartic action payoffs, id Software found a perfect blueprint for shaping The Dark Ages’ narrative flow.

The Slayer doesn’t just rip and tear because it looks cool (though it absolutely does); he’s on a mission rooted in mythic, personal stakes. From this interview, one thing is clear: the game is about to hit hard, and this might just be the most memorable chapter in DOOM’s blood-soaked history.

Doom: The Dark Ages is releasing on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 15.