Stephen King’s Secret Sci-Fi The Running Man Is Finally Getting Redemption After Bombing at the Box Office

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This author is incredibly successful – their name guarantees a book will be a bestseller. But they also secretly wrote several novels under a different name, such as .

Originally a dystopian thriller novel, The Running Man was first adapted into a film in 1987 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and again in 2025. Despite a poor performance in theaters, the Glen Powell-led remake is now finding success on streaming platforms, according to FlixPatrol.

Stephen King first published The Running Man in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. He also used this pen name for a novel adapted into a film in 2025, which was based on his 1979 book of the same name. The book was later included in the collection The Bachman Books in 1985.

The film was released to great success and quickly became a hit, surpassing previous contenders at the box office. It has remained popular, staying in the charts for over three weeks.

Here in the U.S., The Running Man is currently ranked eighth on Apple TV and seventh on Vudu. It’s the number one movie on Apple TV in Colombia, Peru, Honduras, and Singapore.

Despite a $110 million budget, the sci-fi thriller The Running Man didn’t perform well in theaters, earning only $68.5 million worldwide after its November 14th release. Critics gave the film mixed reviews (63% on Rotten Tomatoes), though audiences enjoyed it more (78%). Fortunately, the movie has found success with viewers watching it online, helping to make up for its disappointing box office results.

Now that The Running Man is available digitally, it will probably be added to streaming services soon. Typically, this happens about a month after the digital release. Since Paramount Pictures released the movie, it will likely appear on Paramount+ this month.

What Is The Running Man About?

While the book was originally set in 2025, this new movie takes place in the not-too-distant future. The film centers around ‘The Running Man,’ the most popular show on TV – a dangerous game where participants, called Runners, have to stay alive for 30 days while being chased by skilled killers. The entire hunt is televised, and the reward increases with each day they survive, all for the entertainment of a ruthless audience.

The Running Man tells the story of Ben Richards, a working-class man who joins a dangerous competition to get money for his daughter’s medical care. His strength and refusal to give up quickly make him popular with viewers, but also a problem for those in charge.

The sci-fi film stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, alongside William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. Edgar Wright directed the movie and wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall.

The Running Man is available to rent or purchase on all video-on-demand platforms.

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2026-01-02 22:10