The Stream: At over 2 hours, this engaging action flick starts to lose steam as it reaches its climax.

The Big Screen: Glen Powell is an action star.

The Final Bill: A relentlessly entertaining action thriller that has showcases Glen Powell’s movie star bona fides.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Edgar Wright
Writers: Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall based on a novel by Stephen King
Stars: Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Lee Pace, Jayme Lawson, Katy O’Brian, Josh Brolin, Daniel Ezra
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rating: R for strong violence, some gore and language
Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Complete Fiction, Genre Films
Platform: In theaters November 14, 2025
Notable Trailers: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Greenland: Migration, Scream 7, Primate

Hey, Streamers! We are fast approaching the end of the year, which brings holiday movies and late in the year blockbusters. The Running Man is likely one of those blockbusters that could have legs through the end of the year. It is a new adaptation of a Stephen King novel of the same name which was made into a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987. Somehow, the themes from the source material are just as relevant today, if not more so. In The Running Man, Ben Richards (Glen Powell) enters himself into a deadly reality game show where he must outrun hunters trying to kill him for 30 days in order to earn money that will get his family out of the slums and guarantee health care for his ailing daughter. Explosions and car chasing hijinks ensue.

Edgar Wright has made The Running Man into an entertaining action thriller set in a vividly realized dystopian future. This version of The Running Man has emphasized the corruption and corporate greed that created an economic divide in the country while also highlighting how base entertainment has curdled the American public. While these themes are depicted in an engaging way, it is also a stark indictment which is surprising for what is otherwise plainly a fun action movie. It’s nice for a simple action blockbuster to have something important to say as well.

Furthermore, everything looks great – from the gritty slums to the glossy urban landscapes. The production design is interesting to look at, especially when it gets destroyed. The action sequences are flashy and exciting. It’s loud and dazzling. Glen Powell commands the screen, doing his best Tom-Cruise-y action-star running and stunting. He’s funny and believable as a desperate man trying to secure cash for his family. There’s a sincerity to him that makes Ben endearing and root-able. Unfortunately, the movie does lose a bit of steam as it nears its end. It’s not repetitive, but if it were 15 minutes shorter, it would probably be even better. As it is, there is a lull as things wrap up, but by that time, you’re in it, so does that really matter. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Ultimately, The Running Man is a high energy, entertaining action thriller that somehow is just as relevant today as when Stephen King originally wrote it. Glen Powell has all of the requisite star power and charisma to keep you engaged throughout. The action sequences are exciting and keep the story moving forward with a near relentless momentum. Even though this movie is longer than necessary, grab a big box of popcorn and run to the nearest movie theater.