Slightly underwhelming, but Glen Powell and Edgar Wright still made it entertaining enough.
I have been a fan of Edgar Wright for what feels like forever, and add a Stephen King adapation into the mix, and I was never not going to watch a new imagining of The Running Man.
But by the end, I was a little bit torn.
Plot Summary of The Running Man (Spoiler-Free)
The Running Man takes place in a near-future America where corporate media dominates everything, and most people are scraping by in poverty.
Ben Richards, played by Glen Powell, is a guy doing his best to provide for his wife, Sheila, and their sick toddler, Cathy, and after getting blacklisted from work, he decides the only way to get some quick cash is to enter game shows, which quickly escalates when he’s selected for the deadliest one of all, “The Running Man.”
Contestants must survive for 30 days while being hunted by professional killers, led by McCone, and the last person alive wins $1 billion, which nobody has ever won.
As Ben fights for his life, he quickly realizes why.
The Running Man Review: Is It Worth Watching?
The Running Man is certainly not Edgar Wright’s best work, that’s for sure (Hello Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy) , but it’s entertaining enough, where Glen Powell absolutely carries it .
While watching this film, it felt like I was on a roller coaster with some tracks missing, as the highs were genuinely thrilling, while the lows were frustratingly obvious, mostly in the writing and pacing, and where some characters just felt like they were thrown in just to fill a spot, and some plot points could have used more time to breathe.
The world-building is one of the things that worked really well though, as this is not just a game show gone wrong, it’s a society where everyone’s desperate for money and fame, where medical care is a luxury, and where violence is entertainment.
It all feels disturbingly close to reality, especially when you consider how obsessed we are with reality TV and viral moments today, and Wright does a great job of leaning into it without getting preachy.
Glen Powell is the star of the film though, and I’ve been noticing him for a while, but this role really cemented that he’s got star power, where he brings charisma, vulnerability, and a dash of cockiness that makes Ben both quite enjoyable to watch.
Now, onto Edgar Wright.
You can see his fingerprints all over the sequences, with the energy, the editing, the pacing – car chases, narrow escapes, fights in tight spaces – they’re all quite thrilling and visually exciting, but there are moments where you feel it could have been upped a notch, too.
Where the movie struggled most for me though is in the writing, as the script doesn’t always hit the mark, and while it starts strong with social commentary and clever nods to media obsession, by the second act, it settles into your standard action territory, when you want just that little bit more.
Some of the supporting cast is underutilized too, and Colman Domingo as Bobby T brings energy, and Michael Cera is a fun surprise as a small-town revolutionary, but a lot of other characters barely get a moment to shine.
William H. Macy, Katy O’Brian, and Daniel Ezra all do solid work, but the movie doesn’t give them enough room, and then there’s Emilia Jones’ character, which just felt like filler.
The pacing is another issue I had, and at over two hours, it could have been trimmed by at least twenty minutes, as some scenes do drag, particularly in the middle where it stops focusing on Ben and instead bounces between different side characters and plot threads that don’t feel fully developed.
A positive nod to the humor on show however, as the film features a subtle, sarcastic edge that runs through much of the dialogue and situations, where it’s playful in places, grim in others, but it does help balance out the action nicely.
But overall, The Running Man is an action movie with some fun performances and chaotic energy, and while it’s far from flawless, it was entertaining enough, just.
What I liked (And What I Didn’t like)
Pros
Glen Powell’s Performance
Powell really does carry this film so much.
Action Sequences
The action is fast, fun, and visually engaging.
Humor
Subtle sarcasm and playful moments balanced the intensity of the action perfectly.
Colman Domingo’s Energy as Bobby T
He’s fiery, entertaining, and gives the supporting cast a memorable punch.
Michael Cera
Cera brings unexpected charm and humor, even with limited screen time.
Social Commentary
The film touches on relevant ideas about society’s obsession with reality TV and sensationalism, and while it doesn’t always hit the mark, it does pretty well.
Cons
The Script
The dialogue and plot aren’t always as clever or go as far as it could have done, with some moments feeling a bit rushed.
Pacing Drags In The middle
The second act slows down too much to the point is loses some of the early energy.
Runtime
Some scenes could have easily been trimmed without losing anything.
Emilia Jones Introduction Feels Pointless
Why care?
Ending
The finale delivers action, but the emotional payoff could have been a lot better.
Who Might Like The Running Man
- Fans of Edgar Wright’s style
- People who enjoy action movies
- Fans of Stephen King adaptations
- If You like dystopian settings
- Fans of Glen Powell
- People who like dark humor mixed with action
- Viewers interested in social commentary on media and reality TV
- Anyone who enjoyed the original ’80s film and want a fresh take
Who might dislike The Running Man
- People expecting a tight, perfectly paced thriller
- Fans of ensemble casts who want more character development
- Viewers looking for deep emotional storytelling
- Anyone sensitive to cynical social commentary
- Fans of Wright’s previous work who expect something groundbreaking
Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching The Running Man?
Overall, yes.
It’s far from perfect, but it’s a messy, thrilling ride that’s worth your time if you like action and chaos, but I won’t lie, considering the director, I was expecting a bit more, but I found it watchable enough.
The Running Man Trailer
Simon Leasher
A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More
And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.
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