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Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Opens to Divided Reviews With a King-Approved New Ending

The film arrives in theaters today in premium formats, foregrounding corporate media power and surveillance.

Overview

  • Paramount’s release is now playing exclusively in cinemas, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema and 4DX showings, after an earlier U.K. bow this week.
  • Wright says Stephen King reviewed and approved the adaptation’s revised conclusion, which diverges from the novel’s finale.
  • Early critiques highlight propulsive action, slick world-building and Glen Powell’s star turn, while pointing to tonal unevenness, a slower second half and a contentious ending.
  • Performances from Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo and Michael Cera draw notice, though several reviews say supporting characters feel underdeveloped.
  • The runtime is 133 minutes, with digital purchase expected in mid-December and a Paramount+ streaming debut projected for January 2026.