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Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Opens Soft as Hollywood Assesses the Fallout

A crowded release frame with muddled marketing is cited as the key factor, sharpening scrutiny on Glen Powell’s box-office pull.

Overview

  • The film debuted in second place behind Now You See Me: Now You Don’t with about $16.5 million domestic and roughly $28 million worldwide to date.
  • Critical response has been middling at around 65% on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise for set pieces and recurring complaints about the final act; original 1987 writer Steven E. de Souza said reviews note it “stumbles at the end.”
  • Analysts point to tough competition, a reported $110 million production budget, inconsistent trailers, and a male-skewing appeal, alongside corporate restructuring at Paramount during the rollout.
  • Coverage frames the weak start as a setback for Glen Powell’s push as a marquee action lead, though observers note his visibility and recent successes keep longer-term prospects in play.
  • Positioned as a new adaptation of Stephen King’s novel rather than a remake, Wright’s film includes a brief Arnold Schwarzenegger nod on in-world currency that acknowledges the 1987 movie’s legacy.