New The Running Man (2025) Flops at Box Office, Best Watched at Home
Edgar Wright's 2025 The Running Man lands on streaming and underperforms at the box office. A darker, closer-to-King adaptation with sharper social critique and a polarizing finale.
On December 16, the latest adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man arrived on major streaming platforms. Directed by Edgar Wright and led by Glen Powell, the movie aims for a grittier, more faithful tone than the 1987 version.
What the film is about
- Original title: The Running Man
- Production countries: United States, United Kingdom
- Genre: science fiction, action
- Streaming release: December 16
- Running time: 2 hours 13 minutes
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Main cast: Glen Powell, Coleman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Lee Pace, Jamie Lawson, William H. Macy
A grimmer dystopia for today
Set in a near future or alternate reality, the world is controlled by a media corporation called Network. People live in poverty while they binge on reality shows. A desperate father named Ben Richards loses his job and struggles to afford medicine for his sick daughter. He signs up for a TV game hoping to survive and earn money. The competition has him on the run for a month while hunters chase him. Each day adds a prize and if he wins the pot grows huge, while the crowd can be paid for betraying him.
Edgar Wright's signature approach
The director keeps a fast pace and bold visuals but moves toward darker realism rather than the campy tone of the 1987 film. The production uses retro TV vibes with dance-like sequences and a flashy host, while the hunters wear practical gear. The film nods to the old version yet remains its own take rather than a true remake.
Ending and audience reactions
The ending is controversial, moving toward a hopeful message for society but leaving questions. Some viewers feel the finale is blunt and lacks nuance, while others praise the action and satire.
Expert opinion
Expert comment: Film critic Alex Reed says Wright's revision offers a grim, grounded vision that heightens unease. The action and satire work well, though at times the tone can feel heavy-handed.
Summary
In short, The Running Man 2025 offers a darker take that prioritizes social critique over broad humor. It shows Wright's kinetic directing and delivers tense scenes, but the ending and tone may divide audiences. Overall, it's a solid genre film that works best as a one-night watch for fans of dystopian thrillers.
The core message is clear about the danger of letting entertainment dictate reality. Turn off the show and reclaim your attention.