The Running Man (2025 film)

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The Running Man
The Running Man 2025 poster.jpg
US Theatrical release poster
Directed by Edgar Wright
Screenplay by
Based on The Running Man
by Stephen King
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Chung-hoon Chung [2]
Edited by Paul Machliss [2]
Music by Steven Price
Production
companies
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates
  • November 5, 2025 (2025-11-05)(Leicester Square)
  • November 12, 2025 (2025-11-12)(United Kingdom)
  • November 14, 2025 (2025-11-14)(United States)
Running time
133 minutes [3]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States [2]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$110 million [4]

The Running Man is a 2025 dystopian science-fiction action-thriller film film produced and directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Michael Bacall. It is the second adaptation of the 1982 novel by Stephen King, following the 1987 film. The cast includes Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin.

Contents

The Running Man premiered at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, on November 5, 2025. It was released in the UK on November 12 and will be released in the US on November 14 by Paramount Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Premise

The film takes place in a game show called The Running Man, in which contestants ("runners") must evade a team of murderous hunters for 30 days to win $1 billion. [5]

Cast

Additionally, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Ben Richards in the 1987 film, makes a photographic cameo as the face of the movie's $100 bill. [18]

Production

Director Edgar Wright Edgar Wright SDCC 2013 (cropped).jpg
Director Edgar Wright

In 2017, Edgar Wright revealed on Twitter his wish to remake the 1987 film The Running Man , itself an adaptation of the novel by Stephen King. [19] [20] In February 2021, Paramount Pictures announced a film based on the novel was in development. Wright was attached to direct the film, having developed a story with Michael Bacall, who wrote the screenplay. The new adaptation will not be a remake of the original film but a "much more faithful" adaptation of the source material. [21]

Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon were announced as producers under Kinberg's Genre Films, alongside Nira Park of Wright's British production company Complete Fiction. [22] In April 2024, Glen Powell was cast in the lead role. [5] Powell stated that he had reached out to Arnold Schwarzenegger who gave the film his "full blessing". [23] Additional cast members were announced in the following months. [15] [7] Domain Entertainment co-financed the film with Paramount. [24]

Principal photography began in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2024. [25] [26] It took place in London and for at least one week at Wembley Stadium for the shooting of an action sequence. [27] [28] Filming concluded on March 28, 2025. [28] [29] Paul Machliss was the editor, [2] making it his fifth collaboration with Wright. Industrial Light & Magic provided the visual effects for the film. [30]

Music

In September 2025, Steven Price was revealed to have composed the musical score, having previously worked with Wright on The World's End (2012), Baby Driver (2017), and Last Night in Soho (2021). [31]

Marketing

The first footage from the film was screened during Paramount's CinemaCon presentation on April 3, 2025. It was introduced by Domingo who was on stage with Wright, Powell and Brolin. [32]

The film's first trailer released on July 1, 2025, featuring a remix of "Underdog" by Sly and the Family Stone. To promote the trailer's release, Glen Powell collaborated with social media influencer Ashton Hall, by appearing in one of his "morning routine" videos, with the video ending with Hall watching the trailer in a private theatre. [33]

On October 10, 2025, a panel for the film was held at New York Comic Con, which was attended by Wright, Powell and Lee Pace. 12 minutes of footage was shown to attendees, alongside a new trailer, which was released online three days later, featuring a remix of "Don't Bring Me Down" by Electric Light Orchestra.

On October 28, 2025, an advance screening was held at the Paramount lot, which was attended by filmmakers like Joe Dante, Walter Hill, Rian Johnson, Gareth Edwards, Joseph Kosinski, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, The Daniels and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. [34] [35]

Powell appeared via video message on the twelfth episode of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats to introduce the daily challenge inspired by the movie. [36]

Release

The Running Man had its world premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on November 5, 2025, and its American premiere at AMC Lincoln Square on November 9. [37]

The film is scheduled to be theatrically released on November 14, 2025. [38] It was previously scheduled to be released on November 21, 2025, before being moved up to November 7, 2025, and then pushed back to its current date to avoid competition with Predator: Badlands . [39] [40]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, The Running Man will be released alongside Now You See Me: Now You Don't and Keeper , and is projected to gross $23–25 million in its opening weekend. [41]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 62% of 108 critics' reviews are positive. [42] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [43]

Notes

  1. ↑ Bacall is credited twice for writing the screenplay; first as a solo writer and as part of a writing team with Edgar Wright. [1]

References

  1. ↑ "The Running Man - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "British Council UK Films Database: The Running Man". British Council . Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ "The Running Man (2025)". Irish Film Classification Office . October 13, 2025. Archived from the original on November 11, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  4. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (November 6, 2025). "'The Running Man': Edgar Wright on Directing His Most Expensive Movie Ever, Shooting Glen Powell Naked in the Freezing Cold and Getting Stephen King's Approval". Variety . Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Gonzalez, Umberto (April 11, 2024). "Glen Powell to Star in The Running Man for Paramount, Edgar Wright | Exclusive". TheWrap . Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 17, 2024). "The Running Man: Josh Brolin Lands Villain Role Opposite Glen Powell In Paramount And Edgar Wright's New Reimagining". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (January 9, 2025). "The Running Man: Colman Domingo Lands Game-Show Host Role In Edgar Wright's Reimagining At Paramount". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ Kit, Borys (October 28, 2024). "William H. Macy Joins Glen Powell in The Running Man". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ Kit, Borys (October 18, 2024). "Lee Pace Joins Glen Powell as Villain in Edgar Wright's 'The Running Man' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Kit, Borys (October 25, 2024). "Michael Cera, Emilia Jones Join Glen Powell in The Running Man (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 9, 2024). "All-American Star Daniel Ezra Joins Glen Powell In New Running Man Movie From Edgar Wright And Paramount". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ Grobar, Matt (October 21, 2024). "Jayme Lawson Latest To Join Edgar Wright's Paramount Adaptation Of The Running Man". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ Kroll, Justin (December 20, 2024). "Sean Hayes Sets Back-To-Back Films For 2025 With Running Man And Is This Thing On From Bradley Cooper". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (December 19, 2024). "David Zayas Joins Edgar Wright's Paramount Feature The Running Man". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Kit, Borys (October 4, 2024). "Katy O'Brian Joins Glen Powell in The Running Man For Edgar Wright, Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  16. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 16, 2024). "Edgar Wright's The Running Man Adds Karl Glusman". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  17. ↑ Wheeler, Olivia (July 24, 2025). "Emmerdale star lands Hollywood movie role alongside Glen Powell". Belfast Live. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  18. ↑ Lund, Anthony (July 1, 2025). "'The Running Man' Trailer Features Surprising Arnold Schwarzenegger Cameo". MovieWeb . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  19. ↑ @mungui_zero (May 12, 2017). "@edgarwright I don't know where you stand on remakes, but, if you were to do one, no restrictions whatsoever, what movie would tickle your fancy?" (Tweet). Retrieved February 20, 2021– via Twitter.
  20. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (February 19, 2021). "Edgar Wright Set to Direct Stephen King's Dystopian Classic The Running Man". IndieWire . Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  21. ↑ Travis, Ben (March 10, 2025). "Edgar Wright's The Running Man Will Be 'A Very Intense, Dangerous Road Movie', He Teases". Empire. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 19, 2021). "Edgar Wright To Direct Stephen King's The Running Man At Paramount Pictures; Simon Kinberg's Genre Films Producing". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  23. ↑ Drury, Sharareh; Senanayake, Natalia (April 3, 2025). "Glen Powell Got 'Full Blessing' from Arnold Schwarzenegger for 'Running Man' Remake (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  24. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 7, 2025). "Paramount & Domain Capital Group Ink Feature Slate Co-Finance Deal". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ Gonzalez, Umberto (August 26, 2024). "Glen Powell-Led Running Man Sets November Production Start at Paramount | Exclusive". TheWrap . Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  26. ↑ Calnan, Ellie (November 4, 2024). "Edgar Wright's The Running Man starring Glen Powell begins filming in UK". Screen Daily . Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  27. ↑ Juneau, Jen (November 14, 2024). "Glen Powell Films Running Man Remake in London 37 Years After Original Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie". People . Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  28. 1 2 Erbland, Kate (December 5, 2024). "Glen Powell Isn't Taking a Moment of His Wild, Crazy, Totally Surreal Year for Granted". IndieWire . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  29. ↑ Bowen, Zach (March 28, 2025). "The Running Man Wraps Filming As Edgar Wright Shares BTS Photo That Teases Major Change To Stephen King Novel". Screen Rant . Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  30. ↑ Frei, Vincent (July 1, 2025). "The Running Man". The Art of VFX. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Steven Price Scoring Edgar Wright's 'The Running Man'". Film Music Reporter. September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  32. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy; D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 3, 2025). "Glen Powell & Edgar Wright Electrify CinemaCon With First Footage From 'The Running Man". Deadline. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Glen Powell joins in on Ashton Hall's routine". Yahoo Entertainment. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Glen Powell Gets Support from Celeb Friends at 'Running Man' Screening on Paramount Lot". IMDb. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Glen Powell Kicks Off 'The Running Man' Press Tour with Screening & New Featurette". BeautifulBallad. October 31, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  36. ↑ Bell, Amanda (October 15, 2025). "'The Challenge': Another OG Champion Goes Down in 'Worst Performance' Ever". TV Insider. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  37. ↑ Cote, Karla; Malkin, Marc (November 6, 2025). "Chappell Roan Wears Towering Headpiece to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles, Demi Moore Stuns in Balenciaga in New York and More Red Carpet Photos: November 2025". Variety . Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  38. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 14, 2025). "'The Running Man' Dashes A Week Later, 18hz's 'Primate' Busting Out In January". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  39. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 4, 2024). "Paramount Dates & Shifts Slew For 2025: Glen Powell's Running Man, Smurfs, Naked Gun, Vicious & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  40. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 20, 2024). "Paramount Advancing Glen Powell's Running Man Earlier In November". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  41. ↑ Fuster, Jeremy (November 12, 2025). "With 'The Running Man,' Glen Powell Will Try to Cement His Leading Man Status". The Wrap . Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  42. ↑ "The Running Man". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  43. ↑ "The Running Man". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
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