---
title: "Runner"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/runner"
fi1m_id: "runner"
imdb_id: "tt31349844"
tmdb_id: 1377237
wikidata_id: "Q133809675"
fi1m_score: 56
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 10
published: "2026-09-14"
updated: "2026-09-30T06:01:39.674204+00:00"
region: "VN"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Runner (2026)

Directed by Scott Waugh · 1h 37m · Action, Comedy, Thriller

## Identity

Runner

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/runner
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** runner
- **IMDb ID:** tt31349844
- **TMDB ID:** 1377237
- **Wikidata ID:** Q133809675
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31349844/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1377237, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133809675

**Fi1m score: 56** · Critics 56 from 10 reviews

*In a sentence:* Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson bicker while the car stunts do most of the work

> Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson are good company, and the car stunts deliver. But Scott Waugh’s uneven action comedy struggles to make its jokes, violence and sentiment belong in the same film.

## Synopsis

A delivery becomes a race against time, with a life at stake and no room for delay. Alan Ritchson plays Hank Malone and Owen Wilson plays Ben in this action-comedy thriller, directed by Scott Waugh from a screenplay by Tommy White and Miles Hubley. Rodrigo Santoro appears as Damian Zaldivar, while Leila George and Scarlett Crabtree play Kate and Ellie Baker. The cast also includes Kate Box as Dr Ainsley, Peta Sergeant as Nurse Julie and Adriana Barraza as Donna. Getting the delivery through is the task; tomorrow is too late.

## Review

*Runner* has enough good car stunts and companionable bickering to make its failings a nuisance, but not enough to earn a recommendation. Scott Waugh is attempting a brisk action comedy with a delivery deadline, two leads who can spar and a life at stake. At 97 minutes, that sounds like a manageable evening’s work. The trouble is how often the film stops being enjoyable while trying to become more exciting, funnier or more affecting.

Alan Ritchson gives Hank Malone a presence the writing has not quite earned, and Owen Wilson makes a useful partner as Ben. Their exchanges are the most dependable source of humour, even when the material is doing little beyond setting up another disagreement. We can enjoy their company for a scene without learning much about either man. Writers Tommy White and Miles Hubley seem content to let the casting handle that, which works until the action pauses and the characters have to sustain our interest.

We enjoyed the car stunts, which supply the clean excitement the rest of the film keeps interrupting. Lorenzo Senatore’s cinematography shares the credit for these passages, where moving vehicles give the action a force that the fights struggle to match. Ritchson can hold our attention, but physical presence alone does not make every confrontation exciting. Waugh is at his most convincing when he lets the stunts do the work, without asking a joke or an appeal for sympathy to accompany them.

Matt Villa’s editing is less successful at keeping the whole film moving than the individual action passages suggest it ought to be. The middle stretch lingers over people the screenplay has not made interesting enough, and momentum dwindles between the confrontations. The bickering cannot fill every gap. A chase film needs us wondering what might happen next, and too often we are merely waiting for somebody to get on with it.

The violence causes a separate problem for Waugh, because its severity makes the comic interruptions feel careless. We are asked to laugh before the ugliness has had time to settle, then to accept sentiment from characters who have mostly been useful for action and jokes. Charlie Nguyen Kim supplies the music and Enzo Iacono the production design, but neither contribution can solve that problem in the script. The film has not given its people enough substance to make the changes of mood convincing.

Action comedies do not need elaborate biographies, and asking this one for solemn realism would miss the point. They do need the humour to keep us interested in the people being hurt, rather than make their pain seem disposable. Ritchson and Wilson occasionally manage that through sheer rapport, which is why the film remains watchable despite its stumbles. If car stunts are the main attraction, there is something here for a forgiving evening; anyone coming for a fully functioning double act should choose elsewhere.

*Fi1m score 56, published 14 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean mildly positive but split almost evenly across the scale, and the praise clusters in one place: Alan Ritchson. Most critics find him the reason to stay, and several note his chemistry with Owen Wilson, though HeyUGuys thinks Wilson is underused. The action earns credit too, particularly the car stunts and a few forcefully staged set pieces, and more than one reviewer enjoys the human-organ MacGuffin and the pace.

The reservations gather around the script and the tone. Thin plotting, underdeveloped characters and an ending Radio Times calls a cheat come up repeatedly, and several critics find the gore sits awkwardly beside the comedy and the reaches for sentiment. The spread is wide: The Wrap credits director Scott Waugh with balancing all three, while RogerEbert.com finds the film abrasive, illogical and no fun at all. The Telegraph goes further on pacing, with a middle act that dawdles and a hospital climax that exhausts.

## Straight answers

**Is Runner worth watching?**

*Runner* is worth watching only if car stunts are the main attraction, and we scored it 56. Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson are good company, and the chases supply clean excitement, but Scott Waugh's film keeps interrupting itself with jokes and sentiment it has not earned. Anyone wanting a fully working double act should look elsewhere.

**How long is Runner, and what is it rated?**

*Runner* runs 1h 37m. It is an action and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Runner in Vietnam?**

*Runner* is not on any streaming or rental service in Vietnam at the moment. It is available in 1 other country; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Runner, and is it suitable for children?**

*Runner* carries a UK 15 certificate, and its violence is severe enough that the comic interruptions feel careless, so it is not suitable for children. The fights and confrontations are frequent, and the film asks us to laugh before the ugliness has settled. Older teenagers used to action films should manage; the squeamish may not.

**How does Runner compare to Midnight Run?**

*Runner* is the weaker film, and [*Midnight Run*](https://film.one/film/midnight-run) is the one to choose if you can only watch one. Both pair two bickering men on a pursuit, but Martin Brest lets his pair's quarrelling develop into affection, while Scott Waugh's leads spar without our learning much about either. *Runner* has the better car stunts; *Midnight Run* has the better company.

**What should I watch after Runner?**

After *Runner*, try [*Midnight Run*](https://film.one/film/midnight-run) (1988, Fi1m 88): A bickering pair whose growing affection gives the pursuit a proper purpose. Then [*The Wages of Fear*](https://film.one/film/the-wages-of-fear) (1953, Fi1m 90): For a delivery thriller that makes every mile feel physically dangerous; and [*A Hard Day*](https://film.one/film/a-hard-day) (2014, Fi1m 79): A Korean thriller with black humour and steadily worsening practical problems.

### Reviews we read (10)

- **Variety**, Todd Gilchrist (71/100, inferred): The critic finds the action thriller passable and entertaining thanks to its efficient runtime and the chemistry between leads Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson, but notes it feels like middle-tier fare hampered by thin plotting and some cheap production values. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/runner-review-alan-ritchson-owen-wilson-1236855275/)
- **Empire**, Helen O’Hara (70/100, inferred): O’Hara finds the film enjoyable, serviceable action entertainment that succeeds through pace and effectively delivered mayhem. She singles out its inspired human-organ MacGuffin and the crunchy kills, while noting its familiar character dynamic. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/runner/)
- **The Guardian**, Adrian Horton (68/100, inferred): The critic finds the film silly but entertaining, with its action-camp sensibility winning over its attempts at emotional sincerity. They praise the inventive, forcefully staged stunts and action sequences. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/08/runner-review-alan-ritchson-owen-wilson)
- **The AV Club**, Simon Abrams (C): The critic views it as a mostly forgettable action programmer buoyed by Ritchson’s star presence and a few thrilling car stunts, but hampered by unremarkable fight scenes, underdeveloped characters, and a script that fails to make the leads compelling when not in action. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/runner-review)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (55/100, inferred): The critic finds it a propulsive and relentless buddy thriller with impressive action sequences and strong chemistry between Ritchson and Wilson, but notes that the ultra-violent mayhem clashes with comic touches and leaves a bad aftertaste, with some unearned emotional elements. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/runner-review-alan-ritchson-owen-wilson-1236680903/)
- **Radio Times**, Matt Glasby (2/5): The critic finds the high-concept thriller entertaining enough in stretches but undermined by a script that breaks its own rules and an ending that feels like a cheat. Background details capturing London's kinetic energy are singled out as the strongest element. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/gal-gadot-the-runner-review/)
- **The Telegraph**, Tim Robey (2/5): The critic finds the odd blend of goofiness, gore and sentiment makes for a peculiar action comedy with jarring tone and poor pacing that struggles to maintain momentum. The script's best line and the stars' bickering are noted, but the middle act dawdles and the hospital climax is exhausting. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/09/10/runner-two-star-review/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (20/100, inferred): The critic calls the film abrasive and illogical, faulting its convoluted plot, shallow execution, and failure to generate tension or fun despite constant movement. The frenetic visual style and lack of emotional grounding are highlighted as major flaws. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-runner-gal-gadot-prime-video-movie-review-2026)
- **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a lively, entertaining action-comedy that succeeds where a similar recent release fails. Scott Waugh is singled out for expertly balancing comedy, character work, and high-quality action sequences. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/runner-review-alan-ritchson-owen-wilson/)
- **HeyUGuys** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film silly and predictable but ultimately entertaining. Alan Ritchson’s charismatic performance is singled out as the quality that carries it, while Owen Wilson is underused. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/runner-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Scott Waugh
- **Director:** Scott Waugh
- **Writer:** Tommy White, Miles Hubley
- **Cinematography:** Lorenzo Senatore
- **Editor:** Matt Villa
- **Music:** Charlie Nguyen Kim
- **Production design:** Enzo Iacono
- **Producer:** Todd Garner, Alan Ritchson, Mark Fasano
- **Cast:** Alan Ritchson as Hank Malone; Owen Wilson as Ben; Rodrigo Santoro as Damian Zaldivar; Leila George as Kate Baker; Kate Box as Dr. Ainsley; Adriana Barraza as Donna; Peta Sergeant as Nurse Julie; Scarlett Crabtree as Ellie Baker
- **Runtime:** 1h 37m
- **First release (the US):** 7 September 2026
- **Genres:** Action, Comedy, Thriller
- **Box office:** $6 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8JUmBgHejI

## Where to watch in Vietnam

Not streaming, renting or buying in Vietnam at the last check.

Also available in: US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Midnight Run* (1988), Fi1m 88: A bickering pair whose growing affection gives the pursuit a proper purpose. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *The Wages of Fear* (1953), Fi1m 90: For a delivery thriller that makes every mile feel physically dangerous. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-wages-of-fear.md)
- *The Transporter* (2002): A delivery job, clear action and a lead who needs little dialogue.
- *A Hard Day* (2014), Fi1m 79: A Korean thriller with black humour and steadily worsening practical problems. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-hard-day.md)
- *The Nice Guys* (2016): Two mismatched men, better jokes and enough character to sustain the chaos.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/runner