Running Man (2025)

The original adaptation of The Running Man came out when I was a baby, but it was a film that frequently appeared on my dad’s television throughout the ’90s. So it’s no surprise that I eventually checked out this new version. A cyberpunk dystopia where corporations control the world isn’t far off from the political landscape today, but without context for how this society came to be, it’s hard to fully connect with Ben Richards’ anger.

Richards is the protagonist—a man beaten down by the system yet fiercely righteous. He has a sick daughter, a wife who works in sex work, and a personal vendetta against the powers that reign over society. With no other options, he auditions for the Network, a TV corporation that creates a series of deadly games that entertain the masses by putting ordinary people in mortal danger. Unsurprisingly, Richards ends up in the most perilous game of all: The Running Man, where surviving thirty days of being hunted means a shot at a new life.

Wright’s adaptation of King’s novel is clearly a social commentary on today’s society. Corporations rule, the rich get richer, and the poor stay trapped, while morality becomes so twisted that justice is nearly impossible. The message is sharp, but it gets lost in the film’s pacing—and in Glen Powell in a towel.

Powell is one of today’s biggest action stars, but something about this role didn’t quite land. There’s nothing inherently wrong with his performance, but the writing doesn’t give us enough of Richards’ life to make us care. We’re told he loves his family, has a sick daughter, and a wife to protect, yet we’re never shown those connections. Without that bridge, his righteousness feels unearned, and the stakes lose emotional weight.

The film’s true standout performances come from Lee Pace and Colman Domingo. Pace exudes charisma; even masked for most of his screen time, he commands attention. His character is so compelling that I almost wished the film were a prequel, telling his story instead. Domingo is electric as the show’s host, with clear inspiration drawn from Stanley Tucci in The Hunger Games.

Remove some poorly executed action sequences and make Richard’s love for his family the emotional core, and this film could have landed much harder. This is a lesson for today’s action movies: explosions are fun, and plotlines can be simple, but the heart of the story should give us a hero we want to fight alongside, not just one who’s good at his job.

3/5