Critics Have Seen The Running Man. Will This ‘Fun Enough’ Action Thriller Have People Sprinting To Theaters?

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Glen Powell has been steadily working on a lot of projects, and he shows no signs of stopping. His newest film, a remake of The Running Man directed by Edgar Wright, is scheduled for release in 2025. In the movie, Powell plays Ben Richards, who participates in a dangerous reality show where he must avoid being hunted for a month. But what are critics predicting about this upcoming adaptation?

Stephen King, who originally published the novel The Running Man in 1982 under the name Richard Bachman, enjoyed the film, calling it “fantastic.” Early audience reactions have also been positive, describing it as a fun and exciting dystopian action thriller. Eric Eisenberg from TopMob agrees it’s a good adaptation of King’s work, but feels the ending significantly weakens the movie, giving it a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. He then goes on to say:

Honestly, the ending of this movie really disappointed me. For most of its runtime, it was so sharp and thought-provoking, but the way it all wraps up feels incredibly safe and, frankly, like a complete betrayal of everything that came before. It wasn’t just that it wasn’t entertaining – the choices they made just didn’t fit with the story, and the more I’ve thought about it since, the more frustrating it’s become.

Many reviewers have commented on the significant changes to the movie’s ending. Though Jesse Hassenger of AV Club ultimately found the film more good than bad, he felt the last half hour was overly long and uneven. According to Hassenger, Edgar Wright struggled to effectively blend exciting action with social commentary, leading to a B- grade review.

Edgar Wright occasionally demonstrates a talent for action direction, seamlessly combining practical effects with computer-generated imagery – something fans of Hot Fuzz may have suspected. However, he consistently excels at incorporating deeper themes into humorous, genre-based films. Adapting The Running Man feels both too simple for his skills and surprisingly ambitious for his usual style.

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter shares a similar view, noting the director appears “almost constrained” by the film. He feels it doesn’t deliver on its potential for excitement or entertainment. According to Rooney, The Running Man struggles to build tension and doesn’t quite establish Glen Powell as a strong lead actor. He elaborates further:

Powell carries almost every scene, and his energetic, physical performance feels like it was inspired by Tom Cruise, particularly during a tense airplane sequence. While he’s charming and fully commits to the film’s intense action as the character Ben, he doesn’t quite have that extra something to make him a truly memorable hero.

IGN’s Clint Gage believes the movie, while flawed, ultimately works. He notes it doesn’t quite reach the level of sharp satire, serious drama, or groundbreaking action, but it’s enjoyable enough to earn a ‘Good’ rating of 7 out of 10. He explains further:

This film is skillfully made and features delightful performances, witty details, and thoughtful social observations. While director Edgar Wright’s signature style isn’t as prominent as in some of his other movies, the film moves at a good pace and establishes Glen Powell as a strong action lead. It successfully honors its source material, but occasionally feels torn between the tone of the original novel and the more action-packed first adaptation. It excels at several things, though it doesn’t quite master one single element.

In a review for Rolling Stone, David Fear praised The Running Man, highlighting its fast-paced action, director Edgar Wright’s unique comedic style, and a strong performance by Glen Powell. He also noted the film is fueled by a genuine sense of outrage.

Despite the exciting, blockbuster-style fun Edgar Wright delivers with this intense take on dystopian sci-fi, a sense of unease dominates the film. While many directors would soften the harshness and moral ambiguity, Wright amplifies them. Every thrilling moment is quickly followed by a feeling of anger and quiet desperation.

While some critics have found a few things to complain about with this movie adaptation – like its shifting tone and controversial ending – overall, it’s been well-received, earning a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re excited to see Glen Powell in The Running Man, you’ll be happy to know it comes out in theaters this Friday, November 14th.

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2025-11-13 21:09