The Running Man – Movie Review

The Running Man – Movie Review

Paramount Pictures Presents
In Association with Domain Entertainment
A Kinberg Genre / Complete Fiction Production
An Edgar Wright Film

“THE RUNNING MAN” 

SYNOPSIS
In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY
George Linder, James Biddle, Rachael Prior, Audrey Chon, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary

PRODUCED BY
Simon Kinberg, p.g.a. Nira Park, p.g.a. Edgar Wright, p.g.a.

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY
Stephen King

SCREENPLAY BY
Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright

DIRECTED BY
Edgar Wright

STARRING
Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Katy O’Brian with Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin

The Running Man – Movie Review

I’ll be real with you—I never vibed with the original 1987 Running Man. Schwarzenegger was fine, but it didn’t hit like his other classics. Just kind of sat there in the “meh” pile for me.
Now, that’s not a knock on this new version. It’s doing its own thing. New vision, new flavor. And honestly? It works.
Right out the gate, I got way more political heat than I expected. I thought I was signing up for dystopia-meets-game-show carnage, where the poor get fed to the ratings machine. And yeah, that’s in there. But layered on top is a whole buffet of commentary—class warfare, media manipulation, power plays, and the kind of elite-vs-everyman tension that feels ripped straight from today’s

headlines. I came for escapism, not a CNN segment, but somehow… it still entertained me.
Casting probably saved it. Scratch that—it definitely saved it. There’s this weird undercurrent that makes it feel like a superhero movie without the tights. No powers, no origin stories, but it had that vibe. Maybe it was Lee Pace as Evan McCone, rocking the tactical gear and mask like he was auditioning for a gritty reboot of something Marvel forgot. The action scenes helped too. It’s subtle, but it’s there. At least for me.
Glen Powell as Ben Richards? Solid. He nailed the broken-dad-on-a-mission energy. You believe him. You root for him. He’s got that Punisher edge—rage, purpose, pain—but without the skull logo. I’m a sucker for that kind of character, so yeah, I was all in. Powell sold it. Go Ben! Run!
Lee Pace, again—great villain energy. Cold, brutal, and fun to watch. Just wish he had more screen time. Every time he popped up, you knew something wild was about to go down or tension drama would build.
Josh Brolin plays Dan Killian, the mastermind behind the game show. He does what he can with a pretty thin character. Not his fault—it’s the writing. He’s got moments where he shines, and others where it feels like he’s phoning it in. Still, decent antagonist. And yeah, I kept waiting for him to snap his fingers and erase half the cast. Thanos flashbacks, anyone? Ahh, more comic book movie references, I have to stop but I can’t.
Colman Domingo as Bobby Thompson, the host? He crushed it. Way better than the original’s Richard Dawson (of Family Feud fame). Charisma for days. Daniel Ezra as Bradley Throckmorton, was another standout—great chemistry with Powell in the short time together, and another believable dad in distress. Michael Cera shows up too, doing his usual lovable nerd thing. No complaints there, though his mom in the film? Total headache.
William H. Macy pops in briefly as Molie Jernigan, Ben’s tech guy. Think Punisher’s Microchip, but with less screen time. Budget probably didn’t stretch far enough to give him more, which is a shame. Okay, this is the last comic book reference. Promise.
Now, if you’re allergic to politics in your popcorn flicks, this might not be your jam. The messaging isn’t subtle—it’s loud, proud, and in your face. But if you can roll with that, you’ll get a gritty, fast-paced action ride with some surprisingly strong performances. I didn’t want to run out of the packed theater once. That’s a win.

Jay Katz