The Running Man
Published June 27, 2026
Film info
- Title The Running Man
- Director Edgar Wright
- Year 2025
- Run time 2hrs 13m
- Genres Thriller, Science Fiction, Action
- Tagline Hunt him down
Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by The Running Man’s charming but ruthless producer to enter the deadly competition game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 4:52 | “Maybe got a little heated at the end…” |
| 9:50 | Sadly doesn’t feel like this dystopian future is that far off. |
| 13:34 | I suppose you would have to be good at running to get cast in the lead for this. |
| 14:35 | “Justice.” “Hilarious.” |
| 23:12 | Double sided television is genius. |
| 31:15 | The crowd chanting has a huge Masked Singer vibe about it. |
| 45:59 | It just seems like an entirely impossible challenge, even in a whole city. |
| 51:58 | Ooh, is he doing the rest of it in just a towel? |
| 56:10 | Aww, I didn’t like the rats being on fire. |
| 1:05:58 | Deep fake videos are really, really a problem. |
| 1:14:40 | They’re not great shots, these hunters. |
| 1:17:38 | DNA sniffers in street lamps. Jesus. |
| 1:20:13 | “This country’s ready to blow, and you’re the initiator.” |
| 1:25:17 | It’s like hardcore Home Alone. |
| 1:36:43 | “Our number finally came up for the park.” This life. |
| 1:45:00 | Is this the plane that was in the quiz? I hope that’s important. |
| 1:58:02 | “Stop fucking filming me!” Is the takeaway from this film. |
Thoughts
This is a bit of a mess of a movie but it is wildly entertaining. Glen Powell is very watchable as the action hero, and you can tell he had some encouragement and mild training from Tom Cruise. The concepts are all good, the way it is entirely relatable and the messsages its trying to convey about current society all very obvious.
The action is great, although the final twenty minutes or so, on the plane, all gets very muddled and confusing. Who wants what, what are their motivations, why are they acting this way, it’s not clear. And there are a few plot holes leading up to that as well. But take it for what it is, an entertainment piece with a message about society needing to be a bit better and more human than it currently is, and it’s a good watch.
Rating: 3 / 5