--- title: "The Running Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-running-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-running-man" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 16 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." --- # The Running Man (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 16 reviews: 6 positive, 5 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews are split almost evenly, and the spread is wide. Most critics agree on two things: Edgar Wright’s chase sequences move, and Glen Powell carries them with more grit than charm. Praise clusters there, and on the decision to follow Stephen King’s novel more closely than the 1987 film, which several reviewers find restores the story’s political edge. The reservations are just as consistent. A large number of critics say the satire on reality television is blunter than it wants to be, and the ending, whether called fudged, convoluted or confusing, is the most common complaint of all. The dissents run in both directions. The Telegraph and IndieWire find a furious, exhilarating thriller; The Times and The Independent find a dull, witless one, with The Independent arguing Powell is miscast. Between those poles sit the three-star notices, which is where the consensus settles: likeable, kinetic, and not as disturbing as it means to be. ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. An exhilarating, kinetic adaptation that positions Glen Powell as a potential successor to Tom Cruise in a stylish, go-for-broke action film with strong showmanship. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2025/11/11/glenn-powell-the-running-man-review/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B+. 11 November 2025. Wright modernizes the prescient King story into a furious action thriller about totalitarian America, with Powell channeling class-war anger in a rare Hollywood film that aims to leave audiences fired up. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-running-man-movie-review-edgar-wright-glen-powell-1235159799/) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. The review calls it Edgar Wright's biggest and boldest film yet, a scathing satire with expansive world-building and retro-futurist style that delivers fizzy blockbuster fun. It praises Powell's grouchy, punchy lead performance while noting it is less funny than the director's earlier work. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-running-man/) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2025. A brashly entertaining, rousing blast of propulsive popcorn entertainment in the vein of Paul Verhoeven, though not especially sharp in its insights or tidy in its plotting. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/edgar-wrights-the-running-man-is-propulsive-popcorn-entertainment) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B-. 11 November 2025. The adaptation stays closer to the book than the 1987 version but feels caught between action thrills and commentary, with mordant humor in the first hour giving way to a less clever and overstretched finish. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-running-man-review) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2025. Wright’s propulsive and generally fun movie rips into reality TV but misses the mark by not focusing on the internet as the true villain, resulting in a toothless social commentary and a messy ending. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-running-man-review-the-internet-should-be-the-villain.html) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Rating 3/5. 11 November 2025. Edgar Wright produces plenty of nerve-jangling kinetic set-pieces and Glen Powell proves a charismatic hero in this big-budget Stephen King adaptation. The episodic plot with its variety of disguises occasionally leads to lulls in pace and tension. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-running-man-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 3/5. 11 November 2025. The film is likable and fun with full-tilt chase sequences, a punk aesthetic and sugar-rush soundtrack, but never actually disturbing as intended and the ending is fudged and anticlimactic. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/11/the-running-man-review-glen-powell-edgar-wright-stephen-king-future-shock-sci-fi-satire) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. Edgar Wright’s updated take on Stephen King’s novel features propulsive set pieces and a starry turn from Glen Powell but skews closer to the original while eschewing real social commentary in favour of bombastic action. It runs out of steam before making any lasting impact. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-running-man-review-edgar-wrights-bombastic-stephen-king-adaptation-doesnt-go-the-distance/5210845.article) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 4/2/2. 11 November 2025. Edgar Wright’s slick adaptation of the dystopian Stephen King novel fails to tackle key issues of our age or bring anything new to the death sports arena. It is weighed down by too many bad or boring decisions and plays too much by the book. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-running-man) ## Time Out Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 November 2025. Edgar Wright delivers a glowering, passable sci-fi action flick that lacks his usual tightly calibrated pop-art house style and plays against the strengths of lead Glen Powell. It features rote set pieces and feels like it could have been made by any number of less gifted filmmakers. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-running-man-review-2025) ## Total Film — Molly Edwards Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. The critic deems it a disappointing Stephen King adaptation that wastes its potential despite some fun action sequences and Glen Powell's star power. The film is muddled, poorly paced, with thinly drawn characters and an inconsistent world. [Read the review](https://gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/the-running-man-review-some-fun-action-and-glen-powells-star-power-arent-enough-to-energize-this-disappointing-stephen-king-adaptation) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. The critic finds the film a near-total failure that strips away the source material's prescient bite, resulting in something bland and miscast. Glen Powell's lead performance feels particularly ill-suited to the role. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/the-running-man-review-glen-powell-b2862079.html) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. A phenomenally dull, po-faced and witless blockbuster that is simultaneously cloth-eared and a mindless studio product with nothing to say. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-running-man-review-a-film-about-inequality-from-clueless-millionaires-xnkzdc8j8) ## Financial Times Rating ★★★☆☆. 13 November 2025. Delivers bracingly manic energy, ebullient enthusiasm for satire and high-speed peril, but comes undone in a confusing coda. [Read the review](https://ft.com/content/ff0a56b8-1e66-4402-a5b7-7901cd729299) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 13 November 2025. The critic finds Wright's faithful adaptation of the book too tame and lacking rage, gore or fun, making it a smudged reflection of current realities rather than a sharp funhouse mirror. Powell fronts the action but the film limps into theaters despite timely relevance. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-11-13/running-man-review-2025-edgar-wright-glen-powell-josh-brolin-colman-domingo-emilia-jones) ## Sight and Sound 14 November 2025. Edgar Wright’s faithful adaptation delivers skilful action sequences, winking gags and topical social commentary on inequality and media manipulation, powered by Glen Powell’s star wattage. It stumbles in a convoluted final act due to fidelity to the novel’s difficult ending. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/running-man-crowd-pleasing-thrill-ride-powered-star-wattage-glen-powell) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 11 November 2025. The film has plenty of action but feels hollow overall, with Wright delivering a journeyman effort lacking his usual momentum and precision while Glen Powell struggles to fully embody a compelling lead. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-running-man-glen-powell-edgar-wright-stephen-king-1236423446/) ## The New York Times 13 November 2025. The critic finds an insistent bouncy quality in this dystopian thriller about a deadly reality TV game show in a fascist near-future America. Wright sticks closer to King's novel, restoring the protagonist's family and emphasizing the premise's satirical edge. [Read the review](https://nytimes.com/2025/11/13/movies/the-running-man-review-glen-powell-edgar-wright.html) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman 11 November 2025. The review calls it better than the 1987 Schwarzenegger version but notes King's tale has little future shock left today; Wright overelaborates the concept into something showy yet restrained compared to his prior work. Powell brings a mix of viciousness and sweetness to the lead role amid crisp staging and mayhem. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-running-man-review-glenn-powell-edgar-wright-1236574249/) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 8/10. 11 November 2025. The critic finds it a capable and entertaining remake that is more faithful to the source novel than the 1987 version while delivering Wright's signature action set pieces. They single out the topical political commentary on reality television and the strong lead performance by Glen Powell for praise, while noting the crowded cast and tidy ending as drawbacks. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-running-man-review-glen-powell-edgar-wright/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2025. The review finds the film largely entertaining with a strong performance from Powell but criticizes its third act for running out of steam and its ironic messaging about opposing media conglomerates while being released by one. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-running-man-review-edgar-wright-glen-powell/) ## Deadline — Damon Wise 11 November 2025. The critic praises Wright's muscular reboot of the 1980s sci-fi hit for staying closer to Stephen King's original story and showcasing Powell's strengths as a vulnerable everyman, though notes some issues with the ending and AI themes. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/11/the-running-man-review-edgar-wright-glen-powell-stephen-king-1236613260/) ## Den of Geek Rating 4 out of 5. 11 November 2025. The critic sees Wright's update as an urgent, distinctive take on the material suited to the post-truth era, blending action spectacle with King's cynicism despite some unevenness. They highlight the film's clever play with realities and images, along with Powell's natural charm. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-running-man-review-edgar-wright-reinvents-stephen-king/) ## NME — James Mottram Rating 3. 11 November 2025. The critic calls it a vibrant, faithful adaptation and slick dystopian thriller with strong world-building, kinetic action and good turns from Powell, Domingo and Cera, but notes the story turns repetitive in the second half. They praise the satirical portrait of corporate America and revolutionary spirit. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-running-man-review-edgar-wright-glen-powell-3907191) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-running-man.md