Movie · 2025 · Action, Thriller, Science Fiction · 2h 13m · R · English
Curator score: 2.3/10 (637.2K ratings)
Hunt him down.
Overview
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.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.3/10
IMDb: 6.4/10
Letterboxd: 3.12/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
Metacritic: 56
TMDB: 6.8/10
Director
Edgar Wright
Production
Paramount Pictures, Complete Fiction, Genre Films, Domain Entertainment
Cast
Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Katy O'Brian, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Karl Glusman, David Zayas, Martin Herlihy, Danny McCarthy, Angelo Gray, Alyssa Benn, Sienna Benn, Greg Townley, Joey Ansah
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, MGM Plus, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, crowd-pleasing dystopian action thriller with a strong premise and a few big set pieces, but it sounds uneven and less sharp than its concept promises. If you want a fast, violent, mainstream spectacle with class-war satire and a charismatic lead, it should deliver enough fun; if you expect a fully realized Edgar Wright showcase or a deeply incisive social critique, temper expectations.
Best for
Viewers who like high-concept dystopian action
Fans of game-show satire and anti-authoritarian stories
Audiences looking for a star-driven blockbuster with momentum
People who can enjoy a flawed but entertaining crowd-pleaser
Skip if
You want Edgar Wright at his most precise and inventive
You need airtight scripts and consistent tonal control
You prefer subtle social commentary over broad satire
You are easily frustrated by weak third acts or messy editing
Overview
The Running Man has the kind of premise that practically sells itself: a desperate man, a murderous televised contest, and a society that treats suffering like prime-time entertainment. That setup gives the film immediate momentum, and the audience reaction suggests it lands as a brisk, accessible action movie even when the writing and structure wobble.
Worth noting
What seems to divide viewers is how far the movie goes beyond the basics. The middle stretch sounds like the strongest material, with enough spectacle and personality to make the ride worthwhile, but the final act and overall polish appear less satisfying than the concept or the director’s reputation would suggest. It plays more like a big studio genre machine than a fully distinctive auteur statement.
Bottom line
Still, the core appeal is easy to understand: a working-class underdog pushed into a brutal system, a nation addicted to watching him suffer, and a lead performance built for momentum and charisma. If you go in wanting a sharp, loud, occasionally messy dystopian thriller rather than a masterpiece, there’s a decent chance it will do the job.
Top Letterboxd reviews
timtamtitus (4★) · 12494 likes
The Long Walk walked so The Running Man could run
Sydney🚀 (3.5★) · 8696 likes
Every bad thing people are saying about this is true, the script is wack, the editing is wack, and Edgar Wright is nowhere to be found (not that I was expecting a great return to form which probably helped my experience) (however there is a split diopter shot), unfortunately I have a condition where I still like any movie I would have thought was awesome when I was 14 years old and I had a blast so kiss it twice
joj66 (3★) · 8053 likes
The true villain is always the healthcare system
Swarnim Thapa · 5309 likes
I dont wanna spoil the movie but he runs
-ˏˋ mak ˊˎ- (3★) · 5268 likes
the father (the running man), the son (the long walk), and the holy spirit (the hunger games)