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The Running Man Opens to Strong Action Notices and Scrutiny of Its Social Bite

Stephen King publicly endorsed Edgar Wright’s revised ending, framing a re-adaptation that hews closer to the novel than the 1987 film.

Overview

  • Paramount’s new take on Stephen King’s story opened in U.S. theaters on Nov. 14, led by Glen Powell with Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo among the ensemble.
  • Critics say Wright restores key elements from the 1982 novel, distinguishing the film from the 1987 version while still dropping homages such as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s face on future currency.
  • Wright altered the novel’s original conclusion in a director-driven choice that King has praised, maintaining secrecy around specific story details.
  • Early reviews commend finely executed chase sequences and performances, with frequent notes about uneven pacing, tonal balance, and the handling of its media critique.
  • The film debuts exclusively in cinemas in its initial window, with a later streaming release expected on Paramount+.