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Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Opens to Divided Reviews

Critics praise the film’s kinetic craft, with some questioning its emotional impact.

Overview

  • The new adaptation of Stephen King’s story, starring Glen Powell, is now in theaters with early reactions split between admiration for its style and critiques of its resonance.
  • Reviewers highlight Wright’s propulsive direction, slick action set pieces and retrofuturist world-building, with Powell’s performance frequently cited as the film’s anchor.
  • Several outlets describe uneven tone and thin character work, with some calling the experience fun yet ultimately forgettable.
  • The film stays closer to King’s 1982 novella than the 1987 movie but features a changed ending that King has publicly endorsed without revealing specifics.
  • Wright includes a playful nod to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s legacy version, with the actor’s image appearing on in-universe currency, as noted by multiple reports.