Remaking a cult classic is always a gamble. Remaking the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle The Running Man—a film beloved for its cheese, charisma, and over-the-top violence—requires a bold vision. Director Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead) attempts to pivot back toward the original Stephen King (Richard Bachman) novel, delivering a grimier, more satirical take on the dystopian game show.
The result? A confusing, tonal mess. The Running Man (2025) trades the electric charisma of the 80s for a sluggish, melodramatic narrative that feels twice as long as its runtime. While Glen Powell brings intensity to the lead role, the film is bogged down by boring pacing, generic villains, and a script that relies entirely on ridiculous coincidences rather than clever writing.
“This movie is way more dumb than fun. It trades the charisma of the original for a disjointed, boring slog. It’s a 4/10 experience that overstays its welcome.”
It’s a film that wants to be both a serious political satire and a winking comedy, failing at both.
A World Without Rules (Or Logic)
The premise is familiar: Ben Richards (Glen Powell) enters a deadly reality TV show to pay for his sick daughter’s medication. He must survive 30 days while being hunted. However, the execution of this world falls apart almost immediately.
The world-building is shockingly poor. The film establishes high-tech surveillance—DNA scanners on every street corner—yet Richards evades them simply by wearing a hoodie. The narrative relies on an endless string of “lucky breaks,” in which Richards just happens to bump into the exact hacker, street urchin, or wealthy ally he needs at the exact right moment.
Worse, the public sentiment shifts with zero setup. One moment, the population is brainwashed by deep-fake propaganda to hate Richards; the next, they are rioting in his favor without any catalyst or exposure of the truth. It feels unearned and hollow.
The “Hunters” vs. The Gladiators
The biggest sin of this remake is the antagonists. The 1987 film gave us iconic, colorful “Gladiators” like Subzero and Captain Freedom. This film gives us… generic guys in masks.
There is zero personality to the threat. The Hunters are boring, faceless goons who show up, get beaten, and are forgotten. Even the reveal of a major actor (Lee Pace) behind one of the masks lands with a thud because the character was given nothing to do but sit in the background. Josh Brolin, playing the ruthless producer, is criminally underutilized, appearing briefly at the start and end with none of the menacing presence required for the role.
Pacing Issues: The 30-Day Drag
The movie attempts to adhere to the “30 days of survival” structure, but it kills the momentum. The middle hour of the film is a bore, filled with repetitive family drama and side quests that feel like filler. Instead of a tightening noose of danger, we get Richards wandering from one quirky cameo (like Michael Cera) to another, with the tension dissipating with every scene.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Glen Powell’s Performance: He brings a necessary intensity and physicality to the role. | Boring Villains: The “Hunters” lack the personality and fun of the original’s Gladiators. |
| Visual Polish: The cinematography and color palette are technically competent. | Terrible Pacing: The middle act drags significantly; the film feels 3 hours long. |
| Book Accuracy (Sort of): Attempts to use the darker ending and themes of the novel. | Nonsensical Plot: Relies on impossible coincidences and ignores its own logic (DNA scanners). |
| Action Set Pieces: A few moments, like the plane sequence, offer brief excitement. | Tonal Whiplash: Can’t decide if it’s a gritty satire or a goofy cartoon. |
The Running Man (2025): This is a massive missed opportunity. It strips away the fun of the 80s classic but fails to replace it with a compelling, gritty narrative. It is a "below average" film that wastes a high budget and a talented cast on a script that feels like a first draft. Unless you are a die-hard Glen Powell fan, there is no reason to rush to the theater. Watch the Arnold Schwarzenegger original instead—it’s smarter, funnier, and infinitely more entertaining. – Asmodeus