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Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Draws Mixed Early Reviews Ahead of U.S. Release

Early critiques highlight stylish action alongside a blunted satirical edge.

Overview

  • The film opens widely in the U.S. on Nov. 14 after rolling out in the U.K. this week, with reviewers publishing first takes between Nov. 11 and Nov. 13.
  • It reimagines Stephen King’s 1982 novel more faithfully than the 1987 movie, foregrounding authoritarian media, surveillance and manipulated footage in a 2025 setting.
  • Glen Powell leads as Ben Richards, with Josh Brolin as producer Dan Killian, Colman Domingo as the show’s host and Lee Pace as a chief hunter, plus Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Jayme Lawson and William H. Macy in support.
  • Early notices skew negative, citing tonal inconsistency and muted satire despite praise for propulsive set pieces and production craft from outlets that noted Wright’s stylistic flair.
  • Stephen King publicly praised the adaptation and compared it to Die Hard, Schwarzenegger gave his blessing for a currency cameo Easter egg, and the release carries an R rating with a 133‑minute runtime.