The Running Man

Ben Richards is a working-class father whose young daughter needs expensive medical care. With few legal options left, he agrees to enter The Running Man, a televised death contest run by the charming but cold producer Dan Killian. Contestants are hunted across purpose-built arenas by skilled Hunters while viewers vote and advertisers cash in. Ben's street smarts and refusal to play by the script turn him into an unexpected favorite, and his defiance begins to threaten the show's carefully managed narratives. As ratings spike, the game becomes deadlier, and Ben has to outthink the Hunters, protect his family, and reckon with a nation addicted to the spectacle. The show uses publicity and scripted narratives to maximize viewer outrage, ad revenue.

Directed by Edgar Wright and released in 2025, this adaptation credits Michael Bacall alongside Stephen King for the source material. Glen Powell headlines, supported by Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, and Michael Cera, giving the film a high-profile ensemble.

Upon release The Running Man opened wide in multiple markets and drew sizable theatrical and streaming audiences, becoming one of 2025's talked-about genre releases, prompting global streaming deals. Official worldwide grosses vary by territory, so exact totals aren't cited here.

Beyond box office, the film reignited debates about reality TV, surveillance, and how audiences consume pain as entertainment. Memes and essays ran across social platforms, critics compared the new film to earlier adaptations and to current streaming spectacles, and its visual style influenced costume and set design conversations and cosplay.

Critical response leaned mixed to positive, holding a 6.825/10 average from 927 votes. Reviewers praised Wright's brisk pacing and Glen Powell's raw energy, though some flagged tonal shifts and explicit violence. Central themes address media spectacle, class strain, ethical spectatorship, and parental sacrifice, sparking debates about responsibility and regulation too.