The Running Man is an new film based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel, written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The film will be released to the public on November 14th; however, critics have reacted with mixed responses, and the film lacks coherent, universal praise. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds a score of 66%, based solely on early critic reviews.

Directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell as Ben Richards, the story follows Richards as he enters a competition desperate to win prize money to save his sick daughter. The competition is a deadly televised game show in which contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. While King originally wrote the novel with a dystopian setting, Wright re-imagines the narrative as a story set in a future America. The adaptation is described as more faithful to the source material than the previous 1987 film version.

Many of the positive reviews highlighted the film’s strengths. Critics enjoyed the films lively pace added with Powell energetic presence kept the action engaging. Wright’s cinematic style which often includes sudden cuts and rhythmic action sequences adds to the overall entertainment value. Reviewers generally agree that these elements make the film fun to watch, especially for viewers looking for a big, action-driven spectacle. On the other hand, some reviewers feel the film lacks the emotional and thematic depth of the novel. The pacing is uneven; moreover, with a runtime of more than two hours, the climax fails to leave a lasting impact. Others mention that while the story includes commentary on media culture and corporate spectacle, those ideas don’t fully land and feel lighter than expected.

Overall, The Running Man (2025) is officially rated “fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes. Early reactions suggest that the film delivers on action and entertainment, even if it doesn’t fully capture the sharper satire or emotional pull of King’s novel. The film’s thriller elements deliver solid entertainment value, but viewers seeking sharper satire or a deeper emotional core may find it lacking.