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.
Actor Mithun Chakraborty has seemingly let a major secret slip about Jailer 2, confirming that…
The death of Peng Peiyun, a former senior official who once headed China’s Family Planning…
A fun family reel featuring Rupali Ganguly’s mother, Rajani Ganguly, has taken social media by…
Thailand has issued an official clarification following international criticism over the demolition of a Lord…
The release of Sarvam Maya has sparked lively discussions on social media, with many viewers…
The much-anticipated romantic drama Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri finally released in…
