Glen Powell as Ben Richards looks back in The Running Man© Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
By
Ross Tanenbaum
Published 3 minutes ago
Ross is a writer for screenrant. He always stays up to date on the latest movies, whether it's blockbusters or independent dramas. When not watching movies, he can be found at the beach or traveling to amusement parks to ride the best rollercoasters. He is a fan of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, John Wick, Game of Thrones, and anything Disney.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
The Running Man and The Long Walk are two Stephen King adaptations with drastically different tones but surprisingly similar themes. Both are set in dystopian futures, where the gap between wealth and poverty has risen to unsustainable levels. For many, the only way to earn their wealth is to compete in violent games.
Both films have similar ideas, but are executed differently. Running Man is primarily an adrenaline-fueled action movie, while Long Walk is an intriguing character drama. However, critics made their voices clear about which film they prefer. The Long Walk earned an 88% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, while The Running Man currently holds a 66%.
A 66% isn't a terrible score, but it is surprisingly low for an Edgar Wright-directed film. It isn't faring much better at the box office, grossing only $17 million domestically and $28 million worldwide. The Long Walk wasn't a box office juggernaut either, but it fared better with critics as it balanced its social commentary and tone better.
The Running Man Failed To Deliver On Its Bleak, Dystopian Themes
Ben Richards (Glen Powell) in disguise, with a poster of his face behind him in The Running Man (2025)Image via Paramount Pictures
While The Running Man has the tone of a fast-paced action film, the overall message is grim and ominous. Set in the future, the United States is now run by a tyrannical media network that features several shows where people can earn money by subjecting themselves to violent and humiliating games.
The Network is only concerned with ratings, and couldn't care less about the well-being of its contestants. Meanwhile, most people live in poverty, struggling to find consistent work that will help them pay for services, like healthcare. In the film, Glen Powell's character, Ben Richards, joins the Running Man to pay for his daughter's medical expenses.
During the game, citizens can be rewarded by reporting the whereabouts of the show's contestants. It's a world fueled by desperation, where people are distracted by reality shows and turn on each other if money is on the line. Unfortunately, the film's tone and changes to the ending take away from the film's disturbing warnings for the future.
The film features a good amount of comedy, which is often a mixed bag. Sometimes it effectively adds to the absurdity of the situation, like Michael Cera's scene, while other times it detracts from the story. For example, one of the contestants giving themselves away at a convenience store is a bit too ridiculous for this scenario.
The Running Man's ending also fails to deliver the impact of the book. In King's novel, Richards flies the plane into the Network building after finding out his family was killed. He kills himself and Dan Killian, the producer of the show. It's a depressing conclusion, but one that signals hope for the future of this society.
In the film, Richards survives through a convoluted escape that is hastily explained, and finds his family, whose death was faked by the Network. He leads a revolt against the Network and crashes the next season of The Running Man, shooting Dan before the film cuts to credits. The story jumps through many hoops to avoid the book's bleak ending.
While Running Man runs away from its harsher moments, The Long Walk never wavers from its disturbing tone. Young adults are executed throughout the film in gruesome, visceral scenes that heighten the stakes of the game itself. Hank's death is particularly troubling, as the film focuses on his heartbreaking screams.
However, the darker tone and engaging character arcs mesh well. They elevate one another, as the harsh moments are made more impactful by the audience's investment in each character. The Running Man struggled to be an action movie and an effective piece of social commentary, while The Long Walk was more confident in its identity.
The Long Walk Picked The Right Director
Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson as Ray Garraty and Pete McVries in The Long Walk
Edgar Wright is one of Hollywood's best directors. He's a master at delivering cinematic experiences that are engaging and unique. He's shown versatility with horror comedies like Shaun of the Dead and quirky comic book adaptations like Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Films like Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver demonstrate his knack for creating imaginative action sequences.
All of his films have received critical praise, but he's not known for his social commentary. When Wright's is in his bag during The Running Man's action scenes, it's highly entertaining. However, when the film tries to express its philosophy, it lacks a bit of subtlety.
The scene where Ben hijacks Amelia's car is the best example of this. As the two yell their perspectives back at each other, it's too on the nose and not delivered naturally. The film stops to explain the message, even though the audience figured it out already based on the Network's heinous actions and Ben's desperation.
The Long Walk's message is also obvious, but Francis Lawrence knows how to portray it without overwhelming the audience. Lawrence has directed four movies in The Hunger Games franchise, including The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. He's returning to the series next year as the director for Sunrise on the Reaping.
Given his filmography, Lawrence is quite familiar with telling stories about a dystopian future where young adults compete in a deadly game to earn their fortune. He was a perfect choice for The Long Walk, giving the film the depth and unflinching imagery it required. The Running Man isn't a bad movie, but it needed to figure out its identity.
8.5/10
7/10
The Running Man
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Science Fiction Thriller Action Release Date November 14, 2025 Director Edgar Wright Writers Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall, Stephen King Producers George Linder, Nira Park, Simon KinbergCast
See All-
Glen Powell
Ben Richards
-
Josh Brolin
Dan Killian
Expand
Collapse
28
9.1/10
7/10
The Long Walk
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed R Horror Science Fiction Release Date September 12, 2025 Runtime 108 Minutes Director Francis Lawrence Writers JT Mollner, Stephen King Producers Roy Lee, Steven Schneider
7 Images
The cast of The Long Walk
The cast of The Long Walk
David Jonsson as Peter McVries in The Long Walk
Mark Hamill as The Major in The Long Walk
An army vehicle driving in front of a group of boys in The Long Walk
Mark Hamill giving orders to young boys in The Long Walk
David Jonsson and others walking in The Long Walk Close
Cast
See All-
Cooper Hoffman
Raymond Garraty / #47
-
David Jonsson
Peter McVries / #23
Expand
Collapse
-
Movies
-
The Running Man
-
The Long Walk
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
22 hours ago
Cutting Through Rocks Review: A Trailblazing Woman's Struggle for Gendered Equality in this Small Iranian Village
1 day ago
Apple TV's New Sci-Fi Show Breaks Severance Season 2's Record With The Best Viewership Launch
1 day ago
25 Best Christmas Songs Of The Last 25 Years
1 day ago
8 Best TV Shows Starring The Cast Of Gilmore Girls
More from our brands
37 Shows on Netflix That Couples Can Binge-Watch Together
The Best Movies in Theaters Right Now
25 Best R-Rated TV Shows of All Time, Ranked
The 55 Best Movies of All Time, Ranked
What's actually real in the ending of The Long Walk?
How Edgar Wright updated a 43-year-old Stephen King thriller for our dystopian reality
Stephen King's Best Movie Is Going the Extra Mile for Oscar Glory
Trending Now
Marvel Just Introduced Its Most Disturbing Superpower in 60 Years
Iron Man's New Era Officially Begins with an Awesome Redesign
Diggle's Green Lantern Twist Being Abandoned By Arrowverse Came With A Secret Upside, Reveals Star
