The Running Man — Review
Source: Paramount Pictures
Between No Other Choice, Roofman, The Long Walk, Rent Free, Good Fortune, and now The Running Man, one of the prevalent themes in 2025’s new releases seems to be stories about ordinary people who are desperate to make ends meet financially, whether it’s based on a true story, grounded in present-day reality, set in a sci-fi dystopia, or a full-blown fantasy. Coincidentally, both Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk and Edgar Wright’s The Running Man are based on Stephen King novels about people who enter deadly competitions for a chance at financial salvation, where the only way to survive is to keep moving. Despite their similarities, these two films could not be more different in terms of tone or style. The Long Walk is bleak, slow-burning, and introspective, while The Running Man is lighter, kinetic, and action-packed. Although King’s The Running Man was first adapted for the screen in 1987 by Paul Michael Glaser, Wright’s version proves the story is more than worthy of a revisit. His adaptation is both a more faithful retelling of King’s novel and a spirited homage to the campy, over-the-top energy audiences loved in the 1987 film.
King’s novel feels even more relevant today than ever before. Glaser’s film functioned largely as a vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic, cheesy one-liners, but by straying so far from the source material, much of King’s biting social critique was lost in the process. Wright restores that edge. His version ensures the satire and class commentary hit as sharply and uncomfortably as they should. With The Running Man, Edgar Wright returns to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World mode, blending propulsive action with clever comedy for a film that’s an absolute blast. Some may argue that the world-building is too fast, thrusting viewers straight into the chaos, but that immediacy is part of its charm. It makes the dystopia feel fully lived-in. The characters already understand the endless rotation of game shows, and the omnipresent commercials remind us that The Running Man is the top-rated television program in this world. Here, contestants, known as Runners, are hunted by professional assassins called Hunters. Any Runner who manages to stay alive for thirty days wins a staggering grand prize of one billion dollars. Meanwhile, their every move is broadcast to a bloodthirsty public cheering for their demise. The result is a tense, high-stakes spectacle where survival itself becomes entertainment.
Glen Powell stars as Ben Richards, a working-class man who enters the competition as a last resort, willing to put his life on the line to earn the money needed to save his sick daughter. He’s a perfectly relatable protagonist with a positive motive, making him easy to root for. Powell is as charismatic as ever. His presence is magnetic, bringing charm and cracking jokes one moment and seething with frustration the next. He is full of rage, but understandably so. Who wouldn’t be angry at a system that makes survival feel like a privilege rather than a basic human right?
Source: Paramountt Pictures
Colman Domingo devours the screen as Bobby Thompson, the flamboyant host of The Running Man. He commands every scene with infectious showmanship, like the ringleader of a twisted circus. Another one of the film’s biggest highlights is Michael Cera. To avoid revealing any further details about the plot, I’ll refrain from elaborating on the role he plays or the context of his scenes. But one thing is for sure, he has never been funnier.
The screenplay, music, and editing all work in sync to keep the momentum surging. The film seldom loses steam. In fact, one criticism of the film could be that it almost feels too rushed, especially in the final act, which is a bit clunky. Still, the high-speed style matches the adrenaline rush of the story itself. Above all, The Running Man is a crowd-pleasing thrill ride. Whether you’re looking for laughs, action, suspense, romance, thrills, or thought-provoking social critique, Wright’s film has something for everyone to enjoy.
Ultimately, The Running Man succeeds as both scathing social commentary and pure entertainment. Edgar Wright delivers a film that feels urgent, funny, and uncomfortably relevant, all while showcasing his signature visual flair. He strikes the ideal balance between staying faithful to the source material and capturing the tone audiences loved from the 1987 film. It is energetic, cheesy, and gloriously over-the-top in all the best possible ways, yet it never loses sight of its timely message. As thrilling as it is to watch, The Running Man also serves as a powerful reminder that the most terrifying dystopias are the ones that feel only a few steps removed from our own reality. Wright’s assured direction pulls us deep into this world, making us feel the same rush of adrenaline and anxiety as the protagonist, as if we, too, were contestants on The Running Man. But then again, in a way, aren’t we? We’re all just out here running around, doing our best to survive.
The Running Man hits theaters on November 14, 2025.
