Plot: What’s it about?
Ah, I miss the 80’s. A time when we could say anything we wanted without having to broadcast an apology written by our publicist after someone/group was offended. Those days are long gone. But the Reagan years did give rise to Arnold Schwarzenegger who made a mark with the Conan films as well as James Cameron’s The Terminator. From there, well, the rest was history. The original 1987 version of The Running Man was based on Stephen King’s novel (he was writing as Richard Bachman) and was yet another vehicle for Ah-nuld. This came at a time between the two Terminator films, but was also nicely nestled between films like Predator and Twins. As we know, it was a good decade for the guy. Flash forward a few decades and, yep, we’ve got a remake. The world has changed a lot and the book/film eerily predicted the rise of reality TV. What was once science-fiction is now not too far removed from what we’re seeing on screen. Assuming you’ve seen the original (and if you haven’t, you should) you know the plot. Runners ready?
Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is down on his luck. He’s broke and can’t afford the medicine his sick daughter needs. Ben, against he wishes of his wife Sheila (Jayne Lawson), auditions for a The Running Man – a TV network’s exploitative reality show. The network executive, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) works with the show’s flamboyant host, Bobby T. (Colman Domingo) to provide real-time entertainment. The premise is that if Ben can survive in the wild for 30 days, he’ll win 1 billion dollars. That’s billion 0 wit a “b.” The general public can either lend him a hand or rat him out and if they choose the latter, they profit. Ben’s companions don’t fare so well and we find that the film sets this up for a big, long chase. That’s also part of the film’s allure. Ben dodges cars, bullets and fistfights only to eventually hook up with Amelia (Emilia Jones), which kind of kills the buzz. But don’t let that deter you – it’s pretty clear we know what’ll happen.
Two of Stephen King/Richard Bachman’s books became feature films in 2025, this and The Long Walk. Oddly, both are eerily relevant today as the rise of reality TV and the low hanging fruit of the almighty dollar can make people do some pretty odd things. One thing I liked about this version is that it’s not a direct copy of the 1987 film, it’s a lot more faithful to the book. I’m sure both films have their fans. And we’re missing out on some of the one-liners that Schwarzenegger delivered with such relative ease, but that’s OK. Edgar Wright has shown that he can make an engaging action film and Glen Powell plays his role looking genuinely pissed off. I liked that. This film won’t change your life and I’m not usually a fan of remakes, but I can’t do anything about them. I had fun with this. So will you.
Video: How’s it look?
Most any film that takes place in the “near future” seems to have the same look applied and, looking at films from the 80’s and 90’s they were pretty spot on. Suffice it to say that the 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image is chock full of detail, blinking lights, deep color and contrast to make your head spin (or explode as one scene shows). No matter, the picture quality is never compromised. We get a very corporate vibe to the first act, but the actual “show” itself is littered with bright, bold lights that’ll brighten any room. Colors are bold, detail is tack sharp and it left nothing to the imagination.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Glass shatters. Things blow up. Guns are fired. Tires squeal. You get the idea. The Dolby Atmos mix found on the 4K disc is enough to give your (or any) home theater a workout. There’s a game show vibe which puts you right in the middle of the audience, vocals are rich and pure (both Powell and Brolin lower their octave a notch or two) and surrounds supply a dizzying-like feel. This is anything and everything you could ask for on a 4K disc format and second only to seeing it in a theater. Quite simply – it rocks.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – Writer/Director Edgar Wright, Actor Glen Powell, And Writer Michael Bacall
- The Hunt Begins – Jump into the chase with Glen Powell, Edgar Wright, and the team as they rebuild Stephen King’s classic into a big, bold, break-the-system thrill ride for today.
- The Hunters And The Hunted – Meet the cast and the unforgettable characters that power this anything-goes game show of survival, strategy, and spectacle.
- Welcome To The Running Man – Designing The World: A look at how the team crafted the movie’s retro-futuristic style—from gritty street corners to the over-the-top Free-Vee studio set pieces.
- Surviving The Game: Shooting The Running Man – Step onto the set for a closer look at the stunts, fights, and shoot days that kept the energy high and the cast moving.
- The Running Man Commercials – In-world commercials for the show you definitely shouldn’t audition for—but can’t stop watching.
- The Running Man Show – Dive deeper into the show with its hardest hits, signature opening titles, and the official rules every contestant has to face.
- The Runners – Self Tapes – Raw, unfiltered self-tape submissions from the show’s desperate, overconfident, and occasionally unlucky contestants.
- Speed The Wheel – A satirical in-world game show where running for your life is just another studio challenge.
- The Americanos – Meet America’s richest, boldest, most chaotic family in their hit reality series—glossy, ruthless, and always watching.
- The Apostle – Clips from the in-world series that expands the TV universe of The Running Man.
- Stunts Compilation – A full-throttle look at the hits, falls, wire work, wipeouts, and perfectly timed chaos that fuel the film’s biggest moments.
- Hair, MakeUp And Costume Test – Watch the cast get locked into their final looks before stepping into the arena.
- Deleted And Extended Scenes – Additional moments cut from the final film.
- Trailers & Digital Spots – A curated lineup of the campaign’s boldest cuts and hardest-hitting promos.
The Bottom Line
“Are you not entertained?”
Seriously? Aren’t you? That’s the point of this (and, well) every movie. While certainly not a replacement for the 1987 original, I enjoyed watching this one. I didn’t expect to like it, but with Edgar Wright’s direction and the theme – I felt the 133 minutes fly by. Paramount’s disc sports reference-quality audio and video with an ample array of supplements to boot.
