The Running Man (2025)
6.795 /10
1090 Reviews
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Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by The Running Man's charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition 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.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Ben Richards
... Bobby Thompson
... Dan Killian
... Molie Jernigan
... Evan McCone
User reviews
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ movieswetextedabout.com/the-running-man-movie-review-a-lot-of-running-for-an-underwhelming-finish-line/
"The Running Man falls short of the potential that Edgar Wright and the source material suggested, though it's an efficient vehicle for the talent and charisma of Glen Powell and presents themes that could and should be incisive.
Its narrative repetition, unnecessary exposure of its messages, and unsatisfactory ending prevent it from becoming a memorable dystopian thriller. It's competent and perfectly acceptable entertainment, but it lacks the impact and significance it promised.
We're left with the echo of an undeniable truth: even in the most rigged and predatory spectacle, the fire of hope and rebellion can't be televised, bought, or silenced."
Rating: C+
Director:
Genres:
Release Date:
2025-11-11
Run Time:
133 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
The Running Man
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ movieswetextedabout.com/the-running-man-movie-review-a-lot-of-running-for-an-underwhelming-finish-line/
"The Running Man falls short of the potential that Edgar Wright and the source material suggested, though it's an efficient vehicle for the talent and charisma of Glen Powell and presents themes that could and should be incisive.
Its narrative repetition, unnecessary exposure of its messages, and unsatisfactory ending prevent it from becoming a memorable dystopian thriller. It's competent and perfectly acceptable entertainment, but it lacks the impact and significance it promised.
We're left with the echo of an undeniable truth: even in the most rigged and predatory spectacle, the fire of hope and rebellion can't be televised, bought, or silenced."
Rating: C+
With his young daughter in need of some basic medication that he and his wife cannot afford, “Richards” (Glen Powell) sets off to enrol in the most taxing of television game shows. If he can stay alive for thirty days, he will win a gazillion new dollars and be able to live, with his family, like a king. Of course, he learns fairly quickly that this will never be a fair fight as the show’s boss “Killian” (Josh Brolin) makes quite clear. This is going to be brutal stuff, with the population actively encouraged to report his whereabouts for a cash bonus, so the goons or the “hunters” can come and waste him. Now he isn’t exactly your average ye-ha ninja type. He’s more your decent, gym going, family man - so what chance he can adapt and survive in the face of betrayal and bullets? It starts off quite promisingly, and as usual Powell is fully aware that much of his appeal on screen is down to his willingness to wear (nor not) a skimpy towel, but once we get into the adventure proper this all reminded me too too much of a “Hunger Games” production - complete with remote television cameras and exuberant live television coverage from “Bobby T” (Colman Domingo). There’s a blink and you’ll miss it cameo from William H. Macy which could have been delivered by just about anyone and if you’re especially eagle-eyed you might spot Sandra Dickinson here as she and Michael Cera attempt to provide our runaway with some much needed moral support. “Richards” accrues cash for each kill and for each day he survives, and that also reflects the level-up, video-game, style of these adventures with each getting more lucratively perilous and him becoming more like John Wick as the days go by. The sense of menace? Well that doesn’t really survive an increasingly relentless sequence of predictable CGI-driven pyrotechnics and it just possible that Powell isn’t the best casting here. He’s easy on the eye and charismatic, but he isn’t convincing at any stage as things heat up and neither are Brolin or Domingo who just overact. It could readily lose half an hour without compromising the gist of the original Stephen King story and I just couldn’t help thinking it was released too close to “The Long Walk” which is similar in concept and better in delivery. It’s watchable enough, but I’m not sure I will remember it any more than Arnie’s more static, studio-based, version from 1987.
Pretty fun and entertaining remake/re-adaptation that features a fine performance from Glen Powell alongside solid action scenes. Josh Brolin's shear presence made home quite good even if it's a thinly written character and one who doesn't have a ton of screen time. Nothing groundbreaking but still worth checking out. **3.75/5**
There's often a very good reason why they say a film is "adapted" from a literary work.
Such was the case with the 1988 film, "Running Man". Ably adapted from Stephen Kings literary work, it condensed a much longer tale, into a manageable and entertaining package.
Regrettably, what has been repeatedly touted as an advantage, that is the new film, following the literary work of King more closely, is anything but. This is an overly long, at times thoroughly boring film, that's lacking in both pace and direction. Worse still, its narrative is devoid of depth and wit, leaving characters who feel more like caricatures. Unsurprisingly too, its woke. Who didn't see that coming?
The net result is a film I personally found so tiresome and dreary, I ended up rewatching the thoroughly satisfying original, to cheer myself up.
In summary, overly long, lacking in pace and direction, narratively impoverished, populated by card board cut out caricatures. My advice, if you are new to this tale, watch the 1988 original. Its leagues ahead of this burnt offering.
### **Review: *The Running Man (2025)***
**Score: 7/10**
Comparing any remake to the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic is a brutal contest. The original is a beloved, muscle-bound, high-camp satire of 80s media and authoritarianism, where the puns are as thick as the biceps. The 2025 adaptation wisely doesn't try to be that. It takes Stephen King's (writing as Richard Bachman) original dystopian novel and the core concept of a deadly game show—where convicts run for their lives while being hunted by celebrity "Stalkers"—and grafts it onto a sleek, modern framework. The result is a surprisingly tense, socially conscious thriller that largely succeeds on its own terms, though it can't escape the long shadow of its predecessor's iconic swagger.
**Where the 2025 Version Excels (And Diverges Radically):**
* **Tone & Atmosphere:** Forget the garish, neon-lit spectacle. This version is a **gritty, grounded, and genuinely stressful survival thriller**. The focus is on claustrophobic chase sequences, clever evasion, and the psychological torment of being hunted. It trades the original's cartoonish gladiators for more believable, tech-augmented hunters and a game that feels like a sinister, nationwide social media event.
* **Social Commentary:** While the 1987 film satirised game shows and TV culture, the 2025 update is a sharp critique of **algorithmic entertainment, surveillance capitalism, and influencer culture**. The "Running Man" show is a TikTok/Twitch hybrid gone horribly wrong, where public approval and viral engagement dictate a contestant's fate. It feels frighteningly plausible.
* **The Protagonist:** Our new Ben Richards is no invincible super-cop. He's a desperate, resourceful everyman, played with a compelling mix of vulnerability and grit. His fight feels more like a struggle for survival than a one-man revolution, making the stakes feel more immediate and personal.
**Where It Stumbles in the Comparison:**
* **The Charisma Deficit:** This is the unavoidable trade-off. The new film lacks the sheer, **iconic bravado and quotable lunacy** of the original. There's no equivalent to "Here is Sub-Zero... Now, plain zero!" or a villain as deliciously hammy as Richard Dawson's Killian. The 2025 version's antagonists are sinister and slick, but they aren't *fun* in the same way.
* **A Sombre Experience:** It is a far more serious film. The dark humour and satirical edge of the original are replaced with a relentless, anxious tone. You won't leave with a pumped fist and a smile; you'll leave feeling like you've narrowly escaped a digital panopticon. For fans of the original's flavour, this can feel like a loss.
**The Verdict:**
If you go in expecting a nostalgic rehash of Arnie's one-liners and explosive set-pieces, you will be **bitterly disappointed**. However, if you can accept it as a **complete re-imagining** that uses the same premise to tell a different story for a different era, it is a successful and compelling film.
It stands as a strong, **7/10 dystopian thriller**—tense, smartly updated, and visually distinct. It understands that today's horrors are less about theatrical dictators and more about omnipresent screens and crowd-sourced cruelty. The 1987 film is a time-capsule classic of 80s excess; the 2025 version is a sleek, paranoid warning for the digital age. They are two very different victories.
Oh dude...end it at the plane crash. The man who runs is good at running. Nice skill set like that guy who transports things. Lots of movers these days. Should have been called Marathon Man.
Cast & Crew of
The Running Man
Cast
... Ben Richards
... Bobby Thompson
... Dan Killian
... Molie Jernigan
... Evan McCone
... Elton Parrakis
... Amelia Williams
... Bradley Throckmorton
... Sheila Richards
... Gary Greenbacks
... Jenni Laughlin
... 'Frank'
... Richard Manuel
... Tim Jansky
... YVA Manager
... Stacey
... Cathy Richards
... Cathy Richards
... Decker
... 'Captain Holloway'
... 'Donahue'
... 'Duninger'
... Cynthia
... Bud
... NCG Wall Patrol
... NCG Goon #1
... Henry
... NCG Goon #2
... NCG Goon #3
... Registration Technico
... NCG Goon #4
... Dr. Raznor
... Duvall
... Katt
... Crothers
... Julian
... Agent Dugg
... Ariané Americano
... Amoré Americano
... Antoné Americano
... Adriané Americano
... Bruce Americano
... Elizabeth
... Stage Manager
... Warm Up Guy
... Opening Titles Dad
... Opening Titles Mom
... Opening Titles Son
... Opening Titles Son
... Hero Citizen
... Cabbie
... Ticket Agents
... Kid on Train
... Charlotte
... Netmart Cashier
... Roberts
... YVA Patron
... Stoned Dude
... Belinda Brave
... Ma
... June
... Hopeless Dude
... Negative Dude
... Final Dude
... Shake Shack Cashier
... Motel Owner
... Motel Guest #1
... Motel Guest #2
... Greg
... Jeff
... Jeeto
... Victoria Parrakis
... Zaza
... Mulisha Boyz #1
... Mulisha Boyz #2
... Pitbull Shepherd
... Protestor
... Checkout Girl
... Announcer (Voice)
... Dog on a train (uncredited)
Crew
... Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Director
... Novel
... Screenplay
... Concept Artist
... Director of Photography
... Editor
... Production Sound Mixer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunts
... Best Boy Grip
... Casting Associate
... Production Design
... Costume Design
... Set Decoration
... Second Unit Director
... First Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Special Effects Supervisor
... "A" Camera Operator
... Steadicam Operator
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Screenplay
... Second Unit First Assistant Director
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Executive Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Producer
... Original Music Composer
... Standby Art Director
... Fight Choreographer
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Second Unit Director of Photography
... Co-Producer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Associate Producer
... Hair Designer
... Makeup Designer
... Supervising Art Director
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Chief Lighting Technician
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Special Effects Technician
... Special Effects Technician
... Special Effects Technician
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Key Makeup Artist
... Key Hair Stylist
... Hairstylist
... Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Designer
... Sound Designer
... Sound Effects Editor
... Foley Supervisor
... Foley Editor
... Foley Editor
... Foley Artist
... Foley Recordist
... Choreographer
... Camera Operator
... Chief Lighting Technician
... Production Sound Mixer
... Makeup & Hair
... Assistant Art Director
... Title Designer
... Special Effects Makeup Artist
... Other
... Casting
... Casting
... Casting
... Visual Effects Producer
... Executive Producer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Music Supervisor
... Conceptual Design
Videos & Photos of
The Running Man
Videos (3)
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