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Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ Draws Split Reviews and Soft Opening as Tech-Age Satire Takes Focus

Stephen King’s approval of the revised ending has centered attention on the film’s commentary about media manipulation and deceptive technology.

Overview

  • Now in theaters, the film is presented as a new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novella rather than a remake of the 1987 Schwarzenegger movie.
  • Industry trackers report a second-place debut at roughly $17 million, a quieter opening than Paramount’s promotion suggested.
  • Coverage highlights the story’s use of AI and deepfakes to depict truth distortion and surveillance in a near-future media state.
  • Critical response is divided, with praise for Wright’s direction and the ensemble (including Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace and Colman Domingo) alongside complaints about tonal imbalance and pacing.
  • Lee Pace describes his masked hunter as a manufactured “hero” for the show’s audience, reinforcing the film’s themes of performance, image control and curated personas.