How Glen Powell’s bid to be ‘the next Tom Cruise’ has suffered major blow with Running Man flop

by

Glen Powell was quickly becoming known as the next big action star, similar to Tom Cruise, but his new movie, Running Man, hasn’t performed well at the box office.

After a series of hugely successful films – including Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, and Twisters – the popular 37-year-old actor seemed to be on a winning streak.

Hollywood was really excited about his fresh take on the 1987 Stephen King film—which originally starred Arnold Schwarzenegger—especially since Edgar Wright, the director of Baby Driver, was involved.

The movie Running Man didn’t have a strong start, earning only $17 million domestically. It was unexpectedly outperformed by Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, which brought in $21.3 million.

The movie didn’t perform well internationally, bringing in just $11.1 million from overseas markets for a worldwide total of $28.1 million. This is a disappointing result considering the film cost $110 million to make.

According to a source, the film’s poor performance could hinder Jeremy Allen White’s chances of becoming a major action star, especially now that Tom Cruise, 63, is considering leaving the Mission Impossible series.

According to a source, this film was a crucial test for the actor – his first big-budget movie where he was the lead. Hollywood is hoping to establish him as the next Tom Cruise, but the film’s poor global performance is a significant setback.

Another insider told Daily Mail that Powell is already looking ahead. 

According to an insider, Glen’s success has been a long time in the making. Becoming a major star, like Tom Cruise, takes time and isn’t guaranteed.

Since ‘Running Man’ wasn’t successful, Glen is disappointed because he had high hopes for it. He’s now focusing on learning from this experience and making a better impression with his next project.

He’s got a busy schedule ahead, but people are still eager to collaborate with him. It seems like a temporary setback rather than a complete failure.

The article also pointed out that while Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Running Man wasn’t a huge hit when it first came out – it received mixed reviews and only did okay at the box office – it later became a beloved classic among fans.

According to a source, people seem to have forgotten that the first ‘Running Man’ film wasn’t initially successful, but gained popularity over time. This new version simply wasn’t released at a good moment.

This film feels like a summer blockbuster and would have likely benefited from a release closer to Comic-Con. While its theatrical run wasn’t a huge success, the studio hopes it will find a larger audience on streaming platforms.

Powell’s recent high profile appearances, like hosting Saturday Night Live and starring in the series ‘Chad Powers,’ may have influenced how well tickets sold, according to a source.

Viewers still enjoy Glen’s work, but an insider suggests some responsibility for recent attention also lies with fans who watched both his Saturday Night Live appearance and his show, Chad Powers, at home.

Some people suggested that Powell appearing on Jimmy Kimmel’s show shortly after being suspended by Charlie Kirk might have created a small amount of conflict or negative reaction.

You know, I’ve been hearing some chatter about whether the initial reaction to the movie was affected by Glen being Jimmy Kimmel’s first guest back on the show. It was suggested that some potential viewers weren’t thrilled with that choice, and it might have hurt ticket sales. But honestly, it’s just speculation at this point – there’s no solid proof that actually happened. It could just be a bit of fallout from other things, but it’s hard to say for sure.

Even critics were split on whether Powell could inherit Cruise’s action throne. 

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Powell for comment and has yet to hear back. 

In a review for The Telegraph, Robbie Collin noted that since Glen Powell gained recognition in Top Gun: Maverick, Hollywood seems to be intentionally presenting him as the next Tom Cruise.

However, it’s difficult to imagine a better way to showcase his abilities than by casting him in ‘The Running Man.’ This new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel is fast-paced, visually striking, and incredibly challenging, both physically and technically, as it centers around a reality TV show where the consequences are deadly.

This movie has a similar feel to Tom Cruise’s action films like Minority Report and Collateral. It’s a high-energy, thrilling experience that feels current and relevant without sacrificing its spectacular, over-the-top action.

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney was less impressed.

Edgar Wright’s new version of the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is packed with action, but ultimately feels empty and unsatisfying.

‘It also fails to erase lingering doubts about Glen Powell’s viability as a leading man,’ he wrote.

Sources close to the situation report that Powell is continuing to pursue his goals, though the poor performance of his recent film, ‘Running Man,’ has led to doubts about his aspirations to become a major action movie star.

Read More

2025-11-18 22:04