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Early Reviews for Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Applaud Craft but Fault Blunted Satire

The film opens Nov. 14 following high-profile praise from Stephen King.

Overview

  • The adaptation stars Glen Powell with Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo, and critics commend the performances, visuals and propulsive action.
  • Multiple outlets say the movie’s tonal swings and softened critique undercut its impact compared with expectations for a sharper social satire.
  • Wright’s version hews closer to King’s 1982 novella than the 1987 Schwarzenegger film, foregrounding media manipulation, surveillance and AI deepfakes.
  • Paramount is releasing the R-rated, 133-minute thriller in theaters on Nov. 14, with premium-format previews on Nov. 13.
  • King publicly endorsed the new take, while early reviews largely skew negative even as some highlight standout set pieces and polished execution.