The Running Man (2025)

Glen Powell is officially the new Tom Cruise, a classic action movie star at ease with comedy, drama and running like hell, which he does a lot of in the enjoyable new remake, THE RUNNING MAN.

If you're going to do yet another remake, you may as well target a goofy movie that wasn't very good to begin with. The 1987 original was always lesser Schwarzenegger, directed by Starsky (from "and Hutch" fame) and dragged down by a preening Richard Dawson. It was a one and done for me in an era of Arnold films I watched on constant repeat.

Everything here is bigger, better, funnier and the stakes are much higher.

The film benefits from Director Edgar Wright's sure hand at the helm. Wright (Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) knows comedy AND action. He's in fine form guiding a great cast through 2+ hours that feels much more like an hour and forty.

I didn't have time to look at my watch, I was having too much fun.

Powell stars as Ben Richards, an everyday hero who's bounced from one job to another in a future America where doing the right thing is frowned upon if it infringes on production.

Stunning Jayme Lawson, who memorably played Pearline in "Sinners", is Richard's wife. They're both worried about him being out of another job and their young daughter's high fever. Living day to day, Richards decides to try out for one of the game shows on government controlled TV.

And what a slate of game shows they are. Glimpses of them provide big laughs and some of the most overt social satire since Paul Verhoeven's classic commercials and TV military adverts in "Robocop" and "Starship Troopers".

After a delicious face off with the slimy head of the network, Dan Killian, played to perfection by the perfectly cast Josh Brolin, (Weapons) Richards is cast on the number one global game show, The Running Man. A dystopian update of the most dangerous game, its a nightly ratings bonanza as three people try to escape 5 trained hunters and everyone on the planet with a cell phone. Any citizen that reports a confirmed sighting wins cash.

It's a great set up, much better executed here than the original film, in a world well designed and imagined by Wright and his production team. Watching Richards walk on foot from his world of the have-nots, through a gate into the lap of luxury of the wealthy city's core has elements of "Elysium" and "Children of Men" blended into a lighter, but still impactful take.

It reminded me of my times on business in Mexico City and Beijing, staying in a plush hotel with superb service and elegance and then driving ten minutes into some of the most overt poverty I've ever seen. Shockingly different worlds, lightly touching each other on the borders. It leaves a mark.

But 90% of the time, Wright's focused on delivering a pure popcorn summer style flick, which he does well.

Colman Domingo (Wicked: For Good, The Color Purple) is fantastic as Running Man host Bobby T, whose theatrics drive the biggest TV ratings possible. Domingo is hilarious and perfectly cast.

I love the way Wright visually sets up the rules of the game with enjoyable visuals and clarity. He's also cast some great actors as Richard's support system on his quest for 30 days of survival and the billion new dollar prize.

William H Macy (Fargo) is Molie, the "Q" character in an underground hideaway sporting every disguise, weapon and type of ammo a guy needs to disappear.

Michael Cera (Superbad, This is The End) is even better as Elton, a guy who really, really hates the network and its goons. The scenes with Richards holed up in Elton's house with Elton's absolutely bonkers Mom are laugh out loud, action packed highlights.

Once the race starts, Wright's entertainment switch never goes off, propelling across the race with non-stop action, laughs and some nice emotional payback as well.

The finale aboard a futuristic V-wing luxury jet is a triumph of stunt work, set design and imagination that left us winded.

For Stephen King fans and Constant Readers, there are so many King Easter Eggs, I bet I missed many of them the first time around. It's hard to miss Richard's freeway chase that leads to Derry and the matchbook noting the garage from "Christine".

Powell serves up the solid core of the flick, Cruise-like in his ability to build an action character you cheer for and invest in. After picking him for "Top Gun: Maverick", Cruise has been a huge supporter and cheerleader of Powell's career.

Why is on display in every frame of THE RUNNING MAN. It flees, explodes and soars its way to a very entertaining B.

Check out the red band trailer below!