Overview

• King told The Times of London he required the film to depict teenagers being shot on screen, criticizing sanitized blockbuster violence.
• Early reactions from Gizmodo, Collider, and UPI praise a faithful, R‑rated rendering that portrays state executions with graphic realism.
• Critics highlight Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson for emotionally resonant, career‑level performances that anchor the story.
• Director Francis Lawrence works from JT Mollner’s script with King’s input, including reducing the required walking pace to 3 mph for plausibility.
• Lionsgate’s experiential marketing has included a reported “treadmill elimination” screening at the Culver Theater where attendees walked for the 108‑minute runtime.