'The Running Man' Reviews- The Second Adaptation Of Stephen King's Novel Is Stylised Action Thriller

Glen Powell's movie, The Running Man, was released on November 14, 2025 and has been in the talks for a while now. The movie is based on a 1982 novel written by Stephen King under the name of 'Richard Bachman'. Earlier, a version of the film was released back in 1987, which turned out to be a major hit, and it starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Cut to 2025, the second adaptation of the novel has been released featuring Glen Powell in the lead role. While there are some strong elements in the movie, it's not for everyone, and it didn't grab much attention, as evidenced by audience and critic reviews. So, let's dive deep into Stephen King's world, which has recently been stylised by Edgar Wright (director).

The plot of The Running Man (spoiler ahead)

The Running Man is actually about a common man, who tries to bring change to society. It sheds light on the future, when dystopian America is controlled by an organisation named Network. It shows the hardship of a man, who, to save his family, took part in the game, The Running Man, and what happens in the events unfold how people believe what they see and how they are fooled. The story is about 'Ben Richards' (Glen Powell), who is from a slumside of Co-Op City and is married to 'Sheila' (Jayme Lawson). 'Ben' lost several jobs, which left him frustrated as he had to save his daughter 'Cathy's life, who was suffering from an illness, and her father needed money for that. 'Ben' was left with only one option, which was to take part in the game 'The Running Man'.

While 'Sheila' was against it, the producer thought 'Ben's arrogance and attitude could be the best fit for the game, leading him to persuade him. The rules of the game involved the killing of the contestants, and thus, 'Sheila' was against her husband participating. However, 'Ben' started to run as he was left with no options. What happens in the next half forms the movie.

It shows how people are fooled and believe what they find entertaining. 'Ben' will be wrongly accused, and people will start chasing him with armed men chasing him, while he continues to escape the situation. Finally, 'Ben' would expose the truth eventually, and the film will end with the bad guys losing, but with the message about what would happen in future when people would believe whatever they are shown.

The strengths and weaknesses of The Running Man

Glen Powell and the other stars did their fair share of work, which made the movie work really well, even though something felt off. The first half was nice, with some good action sequences, but it felt dull under the weak pacing. While the trailer was really strong and gave the impression it would be a great movie to watch, the movie doesn't deliver, with jokes that didn't land well. The movie's second half felt slow, and not much new happened, which was a weak point for the film. So, what fans are saying is whether it is a good movie to watch or worth skipping.

To mention, while some found it a good film, others found it weak, and critics, although they praised Glen for his performance, criticised the weak pacing and gaps that were too much to ignore, thereby leaving the film with moderate reviews. One user penned, "Damn, disappointed to see these reviews. The trailers made it look like a fun movie. I read it was projected to do poorly opening weekend. Might check it out anyway." Another user wrote, "I just saw it. Sadly this is easily Wright's worst and most anonymous film. Honestly, I'm not sure I would've ever guessed he directed it if I didn't know beforehand - there's very little of his style or witty sense of humour in this, it just feels like a very by-the-numbers dystopian sci-fi action movie."

Have you watched The Running Man yet? What are your views on the same?

Also Read: Who Is Diana Areas' Partner, Ricardo Galossi? Know All About Their Conflict Before Her Death

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)