The Running Man (2025)

​“The Running Man” stars Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Katy O’Brian, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin.  Released on November 14, 2025, the film has a man surviving a dangerous game show.

The film is directed by Edgar Wright, who also directed films such as “Shaun of the Dead”, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”, “Baby Driver”, and “Last Night in Soho”.  It is based on the 1982 novel by Stephen King.  There are numerous benefits to participating in a game show.  You get to test your skills, both physical and mental, while aiming to accomplish various objectives, and you have the chance to win plenty of awesome prizes, including cash.  Plus, you get the thrill of being on television.  One particular televised competition shares these similar qualities, but it’s also one where losing doesn’t mean you walk away empty-handed…or even alive.  Stephen King’s 1982 novel introduced this harrowing game show, “The Running Man”, which depicts a perilous hunt in a dystopian world where contestants must survive those intent on murdering them.  Like many of King’s works, this take on society and the corruption of televised entertainment was adapted for the big screen in 1987, with Arnold Schwarzenegger competing for his life as the book’s protagonist, Ben Richards.  Fast forward to the present, and we have a new runner ready to navigate this lethal game show: Glen Powell.  It didn’t take us long to have another Stephen King adaptation arrive in theaters following the brutally emotional adaptation of “The Long Walk”.  Although this marks the second adaptation of “The Running Man”, this version aims to be more faithful to the source material than the 1987 film.  Was this direction able to deliver a thrilling game show worth watching, or will it force viewers to change the channel?  Let’s find out.

The story centers on Ben Richards (Powell), a working-class husband striving to provide for his wife, Sheila (Lawson), and their infant daughter in a society dominated by a manipulative system.  He constantly faces the challenge of earning enough money to afford the necessary medications for his daughter’s illness.  As a last resort, Ben reluctantly agrees to the conditions made by television producer Dan Killian (Brolin) to participate in a popular yet dangerous game show called “The Running Man”.  This competition has contestants evading professional assassins for 30 days to claim a cash prize, with each threat being more severe than the last.  Ben’s quick thinking and rebellious spirit unexpectedly made him a fan favorite during the televised contest, but they also made him a target for the system, fixated on high ratings.  This predicament plunges Ben into a race against time, compelling him to triumph in this twisted game while exposing the truth behind its nefarious creators.

While I was familiar with “The Running Man”, it wasn’t until I experienced the 1987 adaptation a couple of months ago that I got fully invested in its concept.  I can say it was another delightful Schwarzenegger cheese-fest that highlighted the actor’s ability to carry a movie with his charisma and one-liners.  Even before watching the 1987 version, I was pretty eager to see this latest Stephen King adaptation, particularly because of filmmaker Edgar Wright’s involvement.  It bears repeating that I’ve been a big admirer of Wright since I first watched “Scott Pilgrim”, primarily due to his unique approach to comedy and kinetic storytelling.  When I learned that he was helming a new version of “The Running Man”, I felt confident that his energetic vision would be a perfect fit for this violent dystopian setting.  After all, it revolves around a game show where expert killers pursue a runner.  Surely, Wright’s directorial flair would be able to elevate this concept to new heights, right?  Well, the answer to that question is both yes and no.

“The Running Man” is another film that aims to be nothing more than a pure adrenaline rush.  It’s swift, action-packed, and above all else, full of charm and entertainment, just like any other game show we got on television.  It’s not without a few pieces of social commentary on television executives that would make us see reality TV differently.  Outside of that, though, the movie is something you go in, have some popcorn, relax, and enjoy the mayhem.  Part of the fun is due to Edgar Wright’s ability to infuse his dynamic flair into a film’s presentation.  Whether through creative transitions, quirky visuals, or slick action sequences, Wright is a filmmaker capable of tweaking the genre wheel to make a movie polished, innovative, and smoothly paced.  The 2025 adaptation of “The Running Man” offers a few moments distinctly marked by Wright’s style, including dynamic action, snappy editing, and the film's conspiracy-themed videos.  However, compared to his notable works like “Shaun of the Dead”, “Scott Pilgrim”, and “Baby Driver”, this film feels somewhat conventional outside these elements.  It maintains the energetic thrills and charisma the director is known for, delivering an explosive sprint through hell and back.  Sadly, in terms of his “inventiveness”, it didn’t exactly run as much as it could walk at a smoother pace, which can grow a bit tiresome once the second half rolls around.

Fortunately, Edgar Wright wasn’t the only player capable of boosting the film’s charm ratings, as Glen Powell successfully took over the reins of Ben Richards following Schwarzenegger’s run in the 1987 film.  Powell has proven himself to be a draw when it comes to his charisma and cinematic attractiveness, but he also showed himself to be a confident movie star regarding the action and romance genres, as evident in “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Anyone But You”.  Unsurprisingly, Powell managed to prove that further through his performance in “The Running Man”.  His character, Ben, was portrayed as a well-meaning but occasionally short-tempered family man who is constantly screwed over by a system that promotes crappy reality television and savage game shows.  Though reluctant over what this infamous show is capable of, Ben possesses a sense of justice and strives to support his family and expose the game’s rigged nature.  Like his previous performances, Glen Powell maintains a charming personality, making this struggling lower-class worker likable while respectfully expressing the character’s rage without overselling it.  He is easily one of the film’s highlights, regardless of the quality.

As for the supporting cast, they did well in following in Powell’s appealing footsteps, with some having just as fun as the lead actor.  One such case is Colman Domingo as Bobby T, the host of “The Running Man” show.  I’ve seen enough projects featuring Domingo to realize his exceptional acting talent, most of which were award contenders.  His role as a highly dynamic host may be the most enjoyable I've seen from him.  He just went on stage and gave it his all, delivering a lively, compelling performance that kept me from switching channels.  I would even say it’s enough to want to see Domingo host an actual game show someday.  Josh Brolin was also pretty good as the unscrupulous Dan Killian, who plans to use Ben to boost the show’s ratings.  Killian is the kind of person you’d love to hate due to his obsession with televised success, and Brolin immediately conveyed that from the first scene to the last.  Michael Cera also made a decent appearance as one of the rebels aiding Ben after previously collaborating with Wright on “Scott Pilgrim”, notably for his Home-Alone-like booby traps.  Though they sadly didn’t compete with the ones seen in “Violent Night”.  That scene is exactly how you emulate a fun R-rated version of “Home Alone”.

It’s easy to admit that “The Running Man” works well as a cinematic thrill ride.  However, it’s also hard to deny that it struggled to combine its thrills with a script that emphasizes its themes yet lacks the genuine depth of its frustratingly relatable topics.  Like the 1987 film, “The Running Man” explores a corrupt television system that prioritizes success for the upper class, ultimately leaving the majority in poverty.  It tackles the dark side of reality television, where the pursuit of fame and fortune often hinges on manipulation and deceit.  The show dehumanizes the runners as merciless criminals through the use of AI deepfakes, highlighting the extent to which the truth can be distorted for personal gain.  It showcases that even though game shows can be fun, they can also be irritating once you uncover what actually goes on when the cameras are off.  While its themes are worth noting, especially in today’s media landscape, its screenplay can be a bit too blunt in its commentary.  There were even times when it tried to evoke some emotion, whether sadness or frustration, only to fall short in making the sentimentality feel justified, including the third act.  The third act was unexpected direction-wise, but I didn’t think it lived up to the buildup leading towards it.  The film also dragged on a bit longer than it should have, with an over-two-hour runtime, especially as its action finesse started to die down under its repetitive structure.  This is one of the concepts that might have been more effective with a tighter, shorter duration. 

Overall, “The Running Man” strides along at a smoother pace with its thrills and charm, but its bloated, message-laden narrative hinders it from sprinting past the cinematic finish line.  Its aim to deliver an entertaining, vividly violent ride is commendable at best, with director Edgar Wright showcasing his directorial edge through its slick style and fun atmosphere.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much else beyond that to boost its ratings, and its story struggles to elevate its relatable commentary and inventive action throughout its lengthy runtime.  It’s far from another innovative film from Wright, akin to “Scott Pilgrim” and “Baby Driver”, but for those seeking a cinematic adrenaline rush featuring Glen Powell in a towel, this channel is certainly worth tuning into.   

C+