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Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Opens With Polarized Early Reviews

Stephen King hails a faithful, high-energy reimagining that some critics strongly rebuke.

Overview

  • The film begins its theatrical rollout this week, with openings starting November 12 and expanding through November 14.
  • Stephen King publicly praised the movie on X, calling it fantastic and comparing its impact to Die Hard.
  • Early reaction is split, with The Independent deeming the film a near-total failure that blunts the novel’s urgency.
  • The adaptation hews closer to King’s 1982 novella, framing a 30-day televised hunt shaped by propaganda and network manipulation.
  • Director Edgar Wright highlights timely concerns such as deepfakes and mass surveillance that the story treats as warnings.