User reviews

The movie is definitely not a disaster. You're not sitting there thinking "wow, what a trainwreck." The action hits, a few set pieces are genuinely exciting, and technically the movie is solid. But by the time the credits roll, it all feels surprisingly generic, especially considering who directed it.

Edgar Wright is usually a guy with a really recognizable style; very sharp editing, playful visual flair, a real sense of personality. But here it honestly feels like the studio sanded most of that off. The whole thing comes across weirdly safe and standard, like a "we don't want to scare anyone" studio project. If his name wasn't on it, I'm not sure you'd even guess it was him. It feels more like work-for-hire than something he was burning to make.

The good stuff first: when the movie goes into full action mode, it works. The chases and fights are shot clearly, you can tell what's going on, there's some good impact, and it's rarely boring while bullets are flying. The other big positive is Glenn Powell as Ben Richards. He really carries the film. He sells that mix of desperate dad who just wants to save his family and slightly unhinged guy who actually stands a chance in this rigged death game. You do end up wanting him to make it through and at the same time enjoy watching him tear into the hunters and this messed-up system.

The world itself is also cool in theory: a dystopian future where a media mega-corporation basically runs the country, a show called 'The Running Man' where three contestants are turned into public enemies through AI-generated videos and propaganda so the whole world hates them and wants them dead, and they're hunted by both regular citizens and professional killers. If they survive a month, they get a billion dollars and a new life. Ben signs up because his daughter is sick, he got blacklisted from every job for trying to do the right thing, and now he can't even afford basic medicine. The media/propaganda angle is not subtle at all - it's very on-the-nose; but that's fine, the concept can handle being blunt.

On top of that, the tone is all over the place. The world they're showing here really calls for a more serious, heavier approach: poverty, desperation, public executions as entertainment, a father throwing himself into a death show to save his kid... it's dark stuff. But the movie keeps dropping in jokes and light banter. It's not full-on Marvel quip spam, but it's enough to keep undercutting the seriousness. And the problem is, most of the jokes aren't even that funny.

You can also feel the strain of trying to stay closer to the Stephen King book. On paper that's a smart move and it definitely has nothing to do with the cheesy 80s Schwarzenegger version beyond the basic premise. But on screen it sometimes plays like they tried to cram in as many book elements as possible without giving them enough time to breathe. That leads to some bloat, weird pacing, and a general sense of "there's a better, tighter version of this story hiding in here somewhere."

As a straightforward action movie, it's watchable and even pretty fun in parts. You get good action, a strong lead performance, and an interesting world that's at least engaging on a surface level. But if you walk in expecting a new Edgar Wright classic, you're almost guaranteed to walk out disappointed. As a random action flick, it's "okay to good." As an Edgar Wright movie, it's firmly on the weaker end of his filmography. For me, it is entertaining enough for one viewing, but nowhere near as good as it could've been.

The Running Man had everything it needed to become an unforgettable remake for a new era: a superb director with an enviable track record in Edgar Wright, a unique premise based on a Stephen King novel, an iconic 80s adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, a huge budget, and a charismatic lead in Glen Powell.

Yet somehow, it ended up becoming the most generic, bland-looking adaptation imaginable-something that could easily pass for yet another forgettable Netflix action movie.

Despite its premise being more relevant than ever in today's society, the film squanders every opportunity. Instead of leaning into its unsettling themes, it delivers a shallow, almost childish message. The story steadily loses steam scene by scene, drifting into randomness and culminating in a terrible third act that strips away any real stakes or emotional resonance, all in favor of a cliché happy ending clearly aiming to set up a sequel that will never happen.

The visuals and action sequences are equally uninspired. They're entertaining, sure, but they have none of the flair, wit, or creativity that define Edgar Wright's style. Ironically, the film's entertainment value rests almost entirely on Glen Powell's shoulders-he brings energy and charisma despite a script that gives him little to work with.

In the end, The Running Man is an entertaining enough popcorn flick, but it leaves absolutely no impact. It's a painfully wasted opportunity that could-and should-have been so much more.

Glen Powell stars as Ben Richards, who signs up for a TV show where contestants are hunted by killers; if they can survive for 30 days, they win a fortune in prize money. Josh Brolin is the villain of the piece -producer Dan Killian - who will go to any lengths to ensure the show's popularity and high ratings.

The 1987 adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man, starring everyone's favourite Austrian bodybuilder, is a lot of cheesy '80s action fun, but it's far from my favourite Schwarzenegger movie. That said, I'd rather rewatch Arnie dropping corny one-liners while battling cartoonish, colourful, over-the-top villains than sit through Edgar Wright's version for a second time. The tone of the new film feels all wrong - Wright attempts to combine satirical humour with hard hitting violence, but fails to pull off the trick: he's no Verhoeven. He should have either leaned into the campiness, as per the original film, or gone serious and super dark and ultra violent - in attempting to do both, he merely succeeds in making his film feel very uneven.

This new adaptation is also unnecessarily long (2 hrs and 13 mins), losing a lot of steam in the second half. I was willing to give the film a fair crack of the whip, 'cos when Wright is on form he is great, but I really found my mind wandering once the film passed the hour and a half mark. The action scenes fail to get the adrenaline pumping - I felt no jeopardy for Ben Richards whatsoever - and the humour doesn't land (only the Y/Why? Gag made me laugh). I really wanted this to be good, so it pains me to say that The Running Man is far from Wright's best work and will probably be forgotten about fairly quickly (unlike Arnie's film, which is a cult classic).

4.5/10, generously rounded up to 5 for IMDb.

This is, for 90% of the film, entertaining stuff, but without spoilers, why oh why do so many films feel the need to make endings so poor? I appreciate that for a lot of viewers good v bad is a pure binary, and that an ending has to be clear - but it makes for poor story telling. I think I am part of the target audience for this film, but I wish the film makers would credit us with being able to deal with nuance and ambiguity. The ending felt ridiculously contrived and, almost, abbreviated - for me it undermined what was a rollicking, fun, action film.

Having said all of that, it worth saying I'd still recommend this movie, Glen Powell clearly has fun in the title role. I saw the original when it came out in the late 80's - and this version is nothing like the original, other than very superficially. This film does, however, have a number of references to the first version - not least the picture of Arnold on the currency.

This is well Directed, if somewhat predictable and cliched. The action is unrelenting, and enjoyable. The script doesn't get in the way. Inevitably, one can look at the current state of politics and transpose this dystopian story onto current events - there did appear to be a deliberate slant in this film.

An entertaining movie - mostly.

Really wanted to love this. I'm a big Stephen King fan and was curious how they would carry out an updated version of the movie. They had me all the until the last quarter of the movie where it felt like they just didn't know how to end it. Scarf girl wasn't necessary and better use of Lee Pace could have made the ending better.

Remake of 1987 film and adapted from Stephen King novel, The Running Man sees Ben Richards (Glenn Powell) entering a dangerous game with higher stakes for the sake of his family.

The major reason why this movie had me interested was because of Edgar Wright, who has given amazing flicks year-after-year.

With regards to narrative, it was simple yet was weak in construction. While the first half had some intriguing elements, the second half was sluggish, stretched and lost it's steam, even before reaching the final act. The cast did a decent job in terms of performances. Glen Powell was charismatic and Josh Brolin was evil in his own ways.

Edgar Wright's kinetic flavour isn't quite as present here as it has been on Baby Driver. There are certainly some finely crafted action sequences, however it stretches on for too long. The humour jokes didn't land, in most of the cases. The camera work and strong background score was missing, as we have seen in other movies from the director.

The world felt quite two-dimensional. It was on the precipice of making an interesting point but settled in a elementary commentary. This was a disappointment in terms of leaving an impact.

Overall, The Running Man is an underwhelming flick, given the director's strong filmography, although it has some cool moments.

My Rating : 6/10.

I think that most of us have probably all seen the 80s cult classic Running Man starring Arnold and when I heard that this version was going to be closer to the book which I haven't read. I was intrigued, would it be good? Another remake of an Arnold film like Total Recall, is it necessary?

For me personally it delivered and was the 80s action throwback that I was looking for.

Glen Powell stars as Ben Richards, a down and out rebel working pay check to pay check to provide for his family who gets blacklisted and has no other choice but to enter The Running Man due to his child needing medication.

Colman Domingo is great as Bobby T, the host of The Running Man TV Show, hamming it up all the way and working alongside Josh Brolin's Dan Killian (a shady network producer).

The film was well acted, decent special effects and action scenes and you really felt the weight of Powell's character as he tries to evade the hunters on his trail, lead by their illustrious masked leader (played by Lee Pace).

There seems to be a lot of mixed reviews of this and some outright hating it (Nerdrotic, The Critical Drinker). I think where this stems from is it isn't the usual flare from Edgar Wright that we are used to, does that make it a bad film? No, by no means.

All I really wanted was to switch my brain off and be entertained by some cheesy manly action, did I get that, yes.

There was also some political commentary which I found very welcoming about society, the government, deepfakes etc.

I would highly recommend you give this a shot yourself and don't rely on the critics to decide for you if you'd enjoy it or not.

I've never read The Running Man novel, and I thought the 1987 Schwarzenegger film was a fun but forgettable piece of cheesy sci-fi. That's why I was genuinely excited for a new take-especially with Edgar Wright directing. I adore Baby Driver and Hot Fuzz, and I've never disliked anything he's made. While his 2025 version doesn't break that streak, it's easily my least favourite of his films, though still an enjoyable watch overall.

Glen Powell steps in as Ben Richards, a desperate father who agrees to compete on the deadly TV show The Running Man to save his seriously ill child. The month-long hunt for a billion-dollar prize sets up plenty of opportunities for standout supporting roles, and the cameos are a lot of fun. My favourite stretch involves Michael Cera, whose scenes with Powell have great energy and chemistry.

Where the film let me down was in its pacing and surprisingly heavy exposition. For a director known for sharp, kinetic action, Wright delivers a film that feels a bit low-energy and light on set-pieces, especially for a 2-hour-13-minute runtime. The action that is there works, but the storytelling feels too spread out, and the script over-explains things instead of trusting the audience. It also lacks the usual Edgar Wright stylistic punch, which made something feel slightly off.

Even so, Powell gives a committed performance, and the supporting cast-especially Coleman Domingo-brings a lot to the table. The action is fun when it arrives, and despite some characters needing more screen time, everyone makes their moments count. The 2025 Running Man is a great film delivered in an average way, but it's still entertaining and absolutely worth a look, even if it falls short of greatness.

Absolutely baffling that Edgar Wright gets hold of a Stephen King novel and it comes out like his most studio-approved movie yet. Where is the edge? The style? The wit is filtered, the action diluted. Don't get me started on the ending - be bold you cowards!

A few of the sequences save the movie from being completely dull. Cursed Home Alone and the hotel stuff give the movie some of its life, the rest supplied by the actors in top form. Powell, Brolin, Domingo, Cera, and Brother Day (Pace) are excellent here.

It needed a tighter script, clever editing and any idiosyncrasies. Basically, it needed an Edgar Wright who still had things to prove. Maybe he was scared of another Ant-Man scenario? Who can say.

Perhaps it's unfair to judge the film with Hot Fuzz seared into the synapses, but an inherent injustice is thematically appropriate, and I am feeling mighty wronged.

I loved it and I don't care if some people say it's a popcorn movie.

It so very book accurate adaption, except some tiny details but I don't want to spoil it.

I feared that it will become a comedy action from what I seen in the trailer, but when it has to be deep, it can be deep. And I need to mention one more thing as a huge Stephen King fan.

King is the King! This man in 82' said that people will manipulate photos and videos and look at that, we are living in it right now. The story has a huge social criticism and it is very current. In my opinion the movie did a good job of reproducing the book, I recommend it to any fellow King fan, I think you won't be disappointed.

People might say that it's a good popcorn movie, but I gotta say that a good popcorn movie is still a good movie. Glen has done a great job on acting.

As you know, the story is from Stephen King so it has some sort of guarantee that the plot wasn't gonna be that bad. In fact, i view that it is quite good even though there is a lack of depth in some part. Still, for a two hour movie, it has done a pretty great job on capturing the story. Although in some scenes, it's quite prolonging.

This movie is surely fulfilling the criteria of whatever action movie should have. There's an excitement as it will make you rooting for the runners. Some scenes may be predictable, but it is not easy as it seems. So just go watch it, it won't disappoint you.

It didn't make a lick of sense, the addition of running in the world and the hunters being just dudes in camo and ski masks, the girl only exists for a minute around an hour and half into the movie... It was worse by far in every respect than the Arnie movie, it felt an hour too long, it was dumb rather than a romp or farcical l.

It was too silly to be serious, scenes were too long-winded to be fast-paced, the action existed and were fine for what they were, but it was too many plot points and too many subplots, and too many focus-shifting, the producer and host being different people was messy, and the last couple of scenes after the plane fight were moronic.

It just felt like a bunch of poor to average fight and action set pieces and the movie was just there to put them in order and give them an excuse to happen.

It wasn't fun, compelling or interesting at all, but it wasn't actively bad.

A great popcorn movie. Not done in a particularly skillful way, but it's just good old fashion entertainment.

The cast was great, Glen Powell did a nice job. I'm coming around to him, he always delivers even if he isn't a-class.

The world felt quite two-dimensional. It was on the precipice of making an interesting point but settled in pretty elementary commentary. However, I think it's okay in this instance as it keeps the movie feeling like a low-investment, simple watch.

The humour either landed a big laugh or a disappointing cringe. Overall the jokes felt a bit forced, like a mildly funny person desperate to be perceived as the 'funny friend'. Thankfully, Powell's delivery helped elevate.

The same goes for the story, which again, was simple and entertaining but completely loses steam in the final act delivering a very average clunker of an ending that was generic and unsatisfying.

Still worth a watch though, but no reason to see it on the big screen.

The Running Man is a lively, vibrant, and in your face blockbuster that is sure to entertain

The story takes place in a dystopian future, where desperate protagonist Ben enters 'The Running Man', a life or death game show that sees him hunted for sport. Winning means he can lift his family out of poverty with untold riches. Failure means death. It's a good concept and it is executed well. Edgar Wright immerses us in the world very easily from the outset, getting us up to speed with some slightly clunky but effective exposition. From then on, the film maintains a vicious pace, as the title suggests. It has a fierce momentum thanks to plenty of great and varied action sequences. It's a highly entertaining piece and has a few good twists and reveals, with some nice creative flourishes too. The whole world feels gritty and lived in, and is designed really well.

I must say though, the film doesn't wield any subtlety with its themes. Everything is very on the nose and obvious, and I think there was scope to add a bit more depth here. A conversation late in the film with Powell's Ben Richards and Emilia Jones' Amelia showed what the script could have been, but ultimately the social commentary was a bit one dimensional unfortunately. I also thought there was scope, given the current climate, to comment a bit more on technology and media which again, felt slightly one dimensional. At the end of the day though this is a big blockbuster movie, so maybe I am expecting too much. This was never to the detriment of the film as it was, it just felt like a slightly missed opportunity.

What really can't be faulted though are the performances. Glen Powell is a proper movie star and he shows it once more with another fantastic leading role. He is so magnetic and extremely likeable which works so well for this role as it so easy to root for him. Supporting cast members like Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin were brilliant. Domingo in particular brought such a fun flamboyance to his character which made for a great watch. Michael Cera had a great role which he ekes every bit of comedy and drama out of. It's a really fun cast and they all rise to the occasion.

Overall then I had a really good time with this movie. The story is fun, and while I feel it was ripe for more impactful social commentary, it still did a very good job of entertaining. The action is lively, the direction solid, and the cast really fun. A guaranteed good time at the movies!

Edgar Wright's The Running Man isn't just a remake, it's a reinvention. Instead of recycling the beats, tone, and camp of the 1987 Schwarzenegger film, Wright delivers a razor-sharp dystopian action thriller that actually feels made for 2025. It's bold, timely, and wildly entertaining.

I heard people were divided on this one. Honestly? I don't get it. This is exactly what a modern adaptation should look like. It's not trying to be the original. It's not mimicking nostalgia. It's a fresh, ambitious take wrapped in the cultural anxieties of today... surveillance, manipulated narratives, viral outrage, and a society that confuses entertainment with punishment. The commentary is there if you want it, but it never hits you over the head. Most of the people it's skewering probably won't even realize it.

If you've caught our live show on YouTube, you already know my stance on Glen Powell. Hollywood's current "It guy"-is usually a big shrug. But credit where it's due, he delivers here. Powell brings a surprising mix of charm, desperation, and physicality. He gets comedic beats, he nails the intensity, and yes... the film gives the ladies a little something too. This is easily one of his best roles to date.

Wright's biggest deviation from the original? Moving the action out of the neon game-show arena and into the streets. Here, runners aren't in a controlled death maze-they're dumped into the real world and hunted in public, turning everyday citizens into potential threats. The media warps every moment, twisting the public's perception in real time. It feels uncomfortably plausible, which makes it all the more gripping.

The supporting cast is stacked and firing on all cylinders.

Josh Brolin brings grizzled gravitas.

Colman Domingo is phenomenal (as always), chewing scenes with quiet menace.

Michael Cera is bizarre, unsettling, and unexpectedly perfect for this world.

Everyone understands the assignment heightened, theatrical, but always grounded in Wright's controlled chaos, and if you are pissed if this is not the usual film from him, then you should have supported Last Night in Soho, a hidden gem masterpiece that flopped.

Most importantly, the movie knows what it is, a fast, fun, adrenaline-pumping popcorn flick. It's here to entertain you for two hours, to make you forget the outside world while it blasts through tightly choreographed action sequences, slick editing, and Wright's signature kinetic style.

And on that level? It nails it.

I left a 5 star review for this movie.

On first viewing, I decided that it was an insult to the original.

But I've watched it a few times now, and it's a good movie.

It's not the original movie by any means. But apparently, this movie is supposedly closer to the Stephen King novel.

I'm not saying that a movie has to follow a novel exactly. In fact, it doesn't bother me.

But this version is still cool.

What I would say, are the hunters are terrible.

There's nothing notable about them, apart from the main hunter who wears a fabric face mask.

Not scary. As for the others, they're really unmemorable.

Apart from that kid from Harry Potter!

But, I've seen the movie about 5 times. And it definitely grows on you.

It's still a story about massive corp's, and their power in society. Propaganda leading the way.

Enjoyable movie.

I'm an Arnie fan. And usually with his movies, I'm an absoltist. It's Arnie every time.

Look at the Total Recall remake! Ewwww.

But I've changed my review completely from a 5 star. 🤷 I'll admit when I'm wrong.

Run, run, run, and give the people a good show while you're at it. One of the most engaging theater experiences I've had this year, Running Man is a buffet table of cardio, comedy, explosions, and bullets. In this world where the gap between the rich and powerful and the hopeless and broke is very apparent, it holds a mirror up to the audience in a way that's relatable to some. Will I pay rent? Or pay for my kid's medicine? Etc.

The harsh and whacky nature of this film, where salvation seems unreachable, introduces a corrupt elite who comes in as an olive branch, with his own harsh and whacky nature offering a new lease on life to our poverty-stricken protagonist - but no promises. However, the show must go on by any means necessary.

You can practically smell the gunpowder and rage throughout this 2-hour and 13-minute runtime. With an all-star cast that delivers amazing performances, as an audience member you are glued to the screen, just like the citizens within the film, fixated on the fate of our hero. Every moment is visually captivating, and the bursts of humor are perfectly timed, offering relief amid the intensity of this action-packed sci-fi thriller. Running Man works as a fun standalone experience, though revisiting the original may add even more depth and context.

I just got out of The Running Man.

As a fan of both the book and the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, I was looking forward to this, despite the trailers not blowing me away.

I love Edgar Wright. From The Cornetto Trilogy to 2021's Last Night in Soho, he has never disappointed me, so when I heard he wanted to do a more faithful adaptation, I was in regardless.

There is a lot to enjoy here Glen Powell makes another strong case for his leading man, movie star, action hero credentials, it really is The Glen Powell Show. Josh Brolin (who probably filmed his scenes as Killian, in a couple of days) brings big movie star energy and possibly the whitest teeth I have ever seen in a movie. Colman Domingo is a lot of fun and would have probably stolen the movie, if he had a bit more screen time.

I always enjoy seeing Katy O'Brian on screen. I just wish someone would give her a decent sized role in a movie, as she is awesome in everything she does. But like Michael Cera, William H Macy and Lee Pace, she is hardly in the movie. We know nothing about her backstory, and we don't see much of her on the run.

There are a couple of things that drag this movie down. It's message heavy, the action sequences are nothing special, it's tone is inconsistent, it has some pacing issues (it starts off strong, then loses its way in the second act) I was really enjoying it, until after the 'Powell in a towel' scene, after which it started to slow down, we could have lost some of the this section, to expand on the other runners.

It also feels a lot longer than it actually is and the ending is anticlimactic. I'm surprised they went with it. They had a decent ending, right there, 5 minutes before the actual ending.

"The Running Man" is a sci-fi action-thriller film based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Richard Bachman (a pen name for Stephen King). Directed and co-written by Edgar Wright (The "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy, "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World", "Baby Driver", "Last Night In Soho") and starring Glen Powell in the lead role, it functions as a fun action movie with a nice amount of social satire sprinkled in for good measure.

In the distant future, the global economy is on the verge of collapse, with America quickly falling under the reigns of a totalitarian government just to save itself from ruin. Desperate to provide for his wife and infant daughter, the financially destitute Ben Richards (Glen Powell) auditions to appear on "The Running Man", a gladiatorial government-monitored reality TV show where its contestants known as "Runners" have the opportunity to win huge cash prizes if they are able to survive 30 whole days out in the world without being brutally killed. After Ben is selected to compete, he is given a 12-hour head start to avoid the "Hunters", a group of skilled hitmen hired by the TV network to kill Runners on sight by any means necessary. Though he manages to evade the deadly Hunters at first, Ben's survival options soon start to run out as he eventually finds himself dealing with other dangerous matters like violently obsessed fans of the show, underground conspiracy groups, and media manipulation designed to slander his reputation.

The longer things continue the way they are in the world, the more prophetic many dystopian stories from many years ago seem to become in retrospect. One prime example of this would be the 1987 action thriller film "The Running Man", which despite taking place in the then-distant future of 2017, still correctly predicted some frightening technological and social detriments to humanity that are very much still a problem today. This includes the general public's obsession with reality TV, a genre that continues to draw in strong ratings the world over, and deepfakes, a digital alteration of superimposing someone else's face onto another one's body. In the years since that film, the technological and sociological landscape has only gotten worse, with even more issues arising that even Stephen King couldn't have foreseen back in the 80s. In this 2025 remake of "The Running Man", we are shown a film that closer resembles King's story, complete with most of the original satirical look at humanity's decline and the technology used to exacerbate this downturn.

Unlike the original 1987 movie, where Arnold Schwarzenegger's character of Ben is thrust into the spotlight completely against his will, this film's version of Ben voluntarily puts himself in danger's way for the selfless reason of helping his family. When we first see Ben, he is in the office of his former boss begging to be re-hired after he was previously fired due to his short temper and overall bad attitude. As a means to gain some sympathy, Ben cradles his infant daughter Cathy in his arms during his attempt at bargaining, but his ex-boss sees through this and promptly asks him to leave. With his family's finances swiftly depleting, Ben decides to audition for the highest rated reality TV show of all time; "The Running Man", where if he can survive for 30 days, will win over $1 billion in prize money.

This is where the film begins to establish the social hierarchy within its dystopian world, as the contestants on reality TV shows like this are always low income workers desperate to pull themselves out of financial hardships at the sick amusement of the wealthy upper class. When a contestant, otherwise known as a "Runner", is set off on their mission of survival, they have little to no means of supporting themselves other than with their own wit and determination. To make matters worse for them, Runners are also in danger of being exposed by loyal viewers who can also win money by correctly identifying and killing them live on TV, something of which is actually encouraged by the show's producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) and host Bobby Thompson (Coleman Domingo). As a result, you really get the sense that the odds are truly against Ben in this unfair game, something of which proves extra helpful in prolonging the film's entertainment value.

As he's shown us with most of his previous work, Edgar Wright is a master at pacing his movies, and this one is no exception. In spite of its runtime of 133 minutes, the film is quick, erratic, and never boring thanks to Wright's ability to keep his audience focused on what is happening without the need to cut away to something different prematurely. Though I think this does come at the cost of some pivotal moments that could have fully immersed the viewer in an important scene, most of the time you are so caught up in the action and quick nature of what is happening that you tend to overlook these parts at the best of times. After all, it's no easy task to make a two hour plus movie move at such an efficient speed.

Additionally, Wright also does a decent job at showing the dangerous nature of living in this dystopian world where "The Running Man" is not only a popular show for people to watch but also every poor person's last ditch attempt at climbing the social and economic ladder. This is proven by the fact that it is often mentioned throughout the story that nobody has actually lasted the full 30 days of "The Running Man", with the closest anyone has gotten being a mere 29 days. As mentioned earlier, this can all be traced back to the unfair rules imposed by the corrupt television executives who care more about ratings than human life. For instance, Runners constantly have their faces posted up on large buildings and on passing vehicles for everyone to see, as well as what they could look like if they were wearing a disguise. Because of this, moments where we see Ben wearing a fake moustache on a train or dressing up as a Catholic priest in a pub could easily go horribly wrong for him if just one person there is able to identify him from memory alone.

Once again proving himself a capable leading man, Glen Powell finds ways to strike a nice balance between a normal everyman and a tough action hero in his depiction of Ben Richards. In fact, it is established right away that this film's version of Ben cares more about what he is competing for rather than him becoming a celebrity for the show's audience to admire, as he driven solely by the desire to win money to give his family a better life. Despite that, whenever push comes to shove, this Ben can certainly hold his own in physical combat. Because of that, I much prefer Powell's Ben over Schwarzenegger's Ben, as in hindsight the latter is just another typical 80s muscle-bound lead role among many for Arnie.

Though this is mostly a one-man show, there are a handful of memorable moments from the supporting cast, including Josh Brolin as Dan Killian, the calculating, ratings-obsessed executive producer of "The Running Man", and Coleman Domingo as the charismatic host Bobby Thompson. I particularly liked watching Ben interact with Dan, since they offer a nice contrast between upper class and lower class opinions on how things function in this dystopian world. Naturally, the two have differing views on this matter, which sets up for an interesting finale. Likewise, Bobby is an attention-grabbing presenter who knows how to draw in large crowds to watch others literally kill the contestants of the show he hosts. At his core, Bobby is not that much different from most real-life reality TV show hosts, which makes his character disturbingly believable within the context of this movie.

Thanks to the mostly reliable efforts of its star, director, and faithfulness to its source material, the 2025 version of "The Running Man" is a worthwhile reimagining that I believe wins out over the 1987 adaptation. Granted, there are parts that could have been better had Edgar Wright decided to focus primarily on establishing a more pessimistic atmosphere, but I still think the film manages to be as entertaining and thought-provoking as the original novel in the grand scheme of things. With that said, you can still enjoy this movie as either a standard action flick or a satirical analysis of reality TV as a whole, both of which are aspects that I think worked just fine here. For those reasons alone, the film should have little trouble finding at least one satisfied audience.

I rate it 7/10.

I rated this three stars with about 10 minutes left in the movie and changed it to a one star rating after seeing the end. Wow, where to start. The characters were shallow and every time characters were introduced, they just never connected to create a believable scene. The plot was all over the place, and the writing was disjointed. I've seen many of the cast members perform well in other movies. I blame the director, cinematographer, writers, etc. For this cr@ppy production. Message to anyone who had a hand in making this film, create something new instead of wasting your time on a remake.

A new remake has been released, and the now-common practice of comparing it to previous versions and its fidelity to the original material has begun... "The Running Man" is a version more faithful to Stephen King's book, but without Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made that 1987 film unforgettable.

Here, directed by Edward Wright and starring Glen Powell, we have a new version, perhaps more politicized, but also packed with action. At first glance, I liked the film. I feel it has a frenetic pace very much in line with what Wright gave us, for example, in "Baby Driver," but with a political undertone that at times feels a bit forced.

It has a somewhat slower introductory first act, but once the action starts, it doesn't let up.

I think Powell's physical performance is incredible, and it's clear that it's a role he can handle without any problems. The issue arises when he has to act, and sometimes he's not as believable or convincing. We have the antagonists played by Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo, who are good and don't feel out of place.

Beyond being entertaining, I think the film gets a little convoluted when it tries to make a political statement, but it also loses its edge when we realize that Richards is playing the game. It's true that at a certain point he goes from being impossible to escape to being manipulated at will, and he can't be eliminated because the script says so. Beyond that, I think it's a good option for a weekend and it's sure to entertain all audiences.

The man is angry as the hulk, so they say, but he needs to start running to save his family.

This movie has a few interesting ideas and ending points but this movie just does not seem to be able to escape its meh-ness. Cutting the movie down by 20 minutes could have helped.

Needless to say, this movie is like John Wick meets Hunger games. A dystopian society where everyone can be armed to the teeth for a game show.

The Running Man is built on a genuinely compelling concept-an intense, dystopian game-show premise that keeps you engaged and curious about where things are heading. The setup is solid, the world feels interesting, and for most of its runtime the movie does a good job maintaining tension and momentum.

That said, while the journey is enjoyable, the ending feels oddly unsatisfying. It's not outright bad, just a bit underwhelming compared to the promise of the idea itself. It feels like the film rushes to the finish line instead of delivering a payoff that fully matches the buildup.

Overall, it's a good watch with an interesting core and some memorable moments, but the finale holds it back from being truly great. Worth seeing for the concept alone-just don't expect the ending to hit as hard as it should.