Read this movie review to find out if The Running Man 2025 is worth watching

About The Running Man 2025

• Directed by Edgar Wright
• Written by Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall
• Synopsis: “Set in an oppressive future where the government controls the media, Ben Richards volunteers to participate in a deadly game show, which will see him hunted by professional killers over 30 days. Should he survive, he’ll win a cash prize that will help save his sick child and lift his family out of a horrid living situation.”
• Release date: November 14, 2025
• Starring: Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Katy O’Brian, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, David Zayas, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, Karl Glusman, and Sean Hayes

Watch the trailer below:


Warning: Mild Spoilers for The Running Man

What Happens in The Running Man (2025)?

The movie focuses on Ben Richards (Glen Powell). He’s an unemployed guy living in the slums with his wife, Sheila Richards (Jayme Lawson), and daughter.

An oppressive company, called “The Network,” has taken over. It takes advantage of the underclass and appeases them through sadistic entertainment. The two are struggling to raise money for their sick daughter. So he volunteers to be on the final episode of The Running Man. It’s a game where someone has to survive 30 days while being hunted by assassins and opportunistic citizens.

Who are the Main Characters, and How is the Acting?

Glen Powell does a good job as the reluctant hero fighting for his family. His love for his daughter is what motivates him to risk his life, and the audience is rooting for him. But he was miscast. He’s far too attractive to take seriously as an everyman. He’s so handsome that his minimalist disguises, like a blind priest, are laughable. His washboard abs are hard to reconcile with his “washed-up loser” persona. Tom Hanks or even William H. Macy (who has a cameo) would have been a better choice.

Coleman Domingo plays the game show host Bobby Thompson and has the showmanship to sell the role. It’s hard to top Richard Dawson, but he does well. Josh Brolin plays the slimy executive Damien Killian and captures the villainous sneer.

But the acting rarely rises above the weak script and lazy characters. Of everyone, Michael Sera’s small role as an anarchist tech genius is more moving than the whole film.

Is The Running Man (2025) Technically Well Made?

The special effects are well done and visceral. The cinematography is stylish. Especially when contrasting the squalor of the slums with the opulence of the rich. It’s an immersive, tactile world. But it feels murky, desaturated, and flat compared to Wright’s previous work. Some shots lack vibrancy despite using similar digital equipment as in his previous movies.

Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall team up again to write the screenplay. But it lacks the bite of their previous adaptation, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Technically, the movie is well done, but it falls short.

What’s Good and Bad in The Running Man (2025)?

The good thing is that the story is more faithful to the original novel. Some moments are taken exactly from King’s story. But every moment is watered down or given a happier twist.

That’s the problem with the movie. The original was less about the game and more about Ben learning about the social inequalities of the world. The remake desperately tries to capture the frenetic action of the first film and the third act feels empty and rushed.

Final Verdict: Should You Watch The Running Man 2025 (2025)?

The remake of The Running Man is an uneven exercise in entertainment. It’s a slog to watch in the third act that loses momentum despite occasional bursts of energy. While it delivers enjoyable action and humor, particularly through Powell’s performance, its social commentary lacks depth and coherence. The film struggles with a juvenile script and ultimately overstays its welcome with a poorly executed final act. Despite these shortcomings, it offers a thrilling ride reminiscent of 1990s pop culture, yet falls short of capturing the complexities of contemporary society.

Overall: Skip The Running Man 2025

The Arnold Schwarzennegr film was mindless entertainment. So this one is fine if you’re just looking for action. But if you’re looking for a faithful adaptation of the book, then you’ll be disappointed. So, I’m giving The Running Man (2025) 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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