Glen Powell stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
In theaters on November 14 from Paramount Pictures is ‘The Running Man,’ co-writer/director Edgar Wright’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel.
Release Date: Nov 14, 2025
Run Time: 2 hr 13 min
Budget: $110,000,000
The movie stars Glen Powell (‘Top Gun: Maverick’), Josh Brolin (‘Avengers: Endgame’), Colman Domingo (‘Sing Sing’), Lee Pace (‘Guardians of the Galaxy’), Emilia Jones (‘CODA’), William H. Macy (‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’) and Katy O’Brian (‘Love Lies Bleeding’).
Related Article: Josh Brolin Joins Edgar Wright’s New Take on ‘The Running Man’ as a Villain
Initial Thoughts
(L to R) Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man.’
‘The Running Man’ is not necessarily the movie you might expect director Edgar Wright to make; he’s brought his own zippy visual style to genre comedies set in the horror, cop and alien invasion world, but has also plowed his own lane with the likes of ‘Last Night in Soho.’
Still, he does everything he can to liven up a fairly –– yet not completely straightforward studio wannabe blockbuster.
Script and Direction
Director Edgar Wright on the set of Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man,’ starring Glen Powell.
Wright, working alongside Michael Bacall (with whom he adapted the box office flop-turned-cult favorite ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’) here sets his sights on Stephen King’s darkly dystopian tale of a working man trying to help his family by entering America’s most dangerous game show.
In places, it’s almost surprising that Paramount, with its recent, shall we say, political moves, is still putting this one out, since it takes the prescient King book as its basis and mostly smartly updates it for our trying times.
There is a problem inherent in movies such as this which the new ‘Running Man’ (let’s not forget there was a much looser adaptation in the 1980s starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) in that it is tempted to batter you over the head with its message as much as possible. Wright and Bacall don’t entirely escape that particular sinkhole, but they do at least inject plenty of dark humor in to the screenplay.
And as a director, Wright has always been a dynamic craftsman –– while he tones things down here from the days of ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ there is plenty of his flare on display.
Cast and Performances
Glen Powell stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
Glen Powell is really the only person who gets much screentime, and he’s a charismatic central figure who can get across the burning anger of his character.
But on the supporting front, the likes of William H. Macy, Colman Domingo and particularly the director’s ‘Scott Pilgrim’ star Michael Cera have fun in different types of roles.
Final Thoughts
Colman Domingo stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
‘The Running Man’ certainly delivers on the action side of things, and some of its satirical message really hits home. It’s just a problem that it goes on too long with diminishing returns and ultimately wimps out (no spoilers) on King’s big finish.
‘The Running Man’ receives 70 out of 100.
Josh Brolin stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
What’s the story of ‘The Running Man’?
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by The Running Man’s charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort.
But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite – and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Running Man’?
- Glen Powell as Ben Richards
- Josh Brolin as Dan Killian
- Colman Domingo as Bobby “Bobby T” Thompson
- William H. Macy as Molie Jernigan
- Lee Pace as Evan McCone
- Michael Cera as Elton Parrakis
- Emilia Jones as Amelia Williams
- Katy O’Brian as Laughlin
(L to R) Josh Brolin and Director Edgar Wright on the set of Paramount Pictures’ ‘The Running Man’.
