The Running Man Review: Glen Powell Shines in Edgar Wright’s Electrifying Dystopian Thriller

Rating: ★★★★

Director: Edgar Wright

Cast: Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin

Edgar Wright returns to high-voltage spectacle with The Running Man, a slick and wildly entertaining remake of the Stephen King (Richard Bachman) classic — previously adapted into the cult 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film. With Glen Powell leading the charge, Wright’s version delivers a sharper, more biting reflection of a future that feels uncomfortably close to reality.

A Familiar Premise, Recharged for 2025

At the heart of the story is Ben Richards (Glen Powell), an ordinary man crushed by a corporate-controlled America. After speaking out about unsafe working conditions, he finds himself blacklisted and unable to support his ailing daughter. With no options left, he volunteers for the country’s biggest — and deadliest — TV show: a live-streamed survival game where contestants must evade government-sanctioned assassins for 30 days. Win, and he earns a billion dollars. Lose, and he becomes another casualty of the nation’s most-watched bloodsport.

Wright preserves the core structure: the corrupt system, the propaganda machine, the ruthless game-runners, and the theatrics of the studio audience. Colman Domingo steals scenes as the smarmy host, while Josh Brolin brings cold precision to the mastermind pulling the strings behind the spectacle. What unfolds is a sprawling chase across a futuristic arena stitched together by rebels, neon grit, and punk-inspired resistance tech.

The Good: Style, Speed, and Satire

The film pulses with Edgar Wright’s unmistakable rhythm — rapid cuts, energetic needle drops, and relentless pace. The retrofuturistic design, packed with VHS glitches and grainy analog textures, injects both nostalgia and sharp commentary about media manipulation. Glen Powell is magnetic, throwing himself into the role with a Tom Cruise-style intensity that keeps the action grounded even when the spectacle soars.

Whenever Wright leans into satire — from the manic studio crowd to the absurd contestant backstories to the underground Resistance hijacking broadcasts — The Running Man crackles with dark humour and world-building flair.