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Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Opens to Mixed Reviews and Soft Box Office

Wright’s re-adaptation leans into media manipulation and deepfake anxieties, drawing praise for craft and pushback on tone.

Overview

  • The film is now in wide theatrical release, with early reports citing a disappointing $28 million opening weekend.
  • Reviews are divided, with acclaim for Wright’s staging and propulsion alongside critiques of tonal muddiness and on-screen branding that undercuts the satire.
  • The story foregrounds media distortion and AI-driven deepfakes as tools of control, a focus repeatedly highlighted in post-release analyses.
  • Glen Powell leads as Ben Richards with Lee Pace as the masked hunter and Josh Brolin as the show’s architect, and Pace has described the narrative’s dual perspectives on heroism.
  • Stephen King has publicly endorsed Wright’s revised conclusion, calling it faithful in spirit while offering a fresh take.