Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgram vs. the World, Baby Driver) directs and co-writes this dystopian sci-fi thriller based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel The Running Man (published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman), about a televised gameshow in which contestants are allowed to go anywhere as they’re pursued by “hunters” hired to kill them. If anyone survives a full 30 days, they’re awarded $1 billion. (133 min.)
The Running Man
What’s it rated? R
What’s it worth, Anna? Matinee
What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee
Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria,
Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande
Glen: Stephen King is the king of effed-up scenarios. Think The Long Walk that came out in September, in which 50 boys must walk continuously until all but one is dead. In this story—first brought to the big screen by Paul Michael Glaser in 1987 directing Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role as runner Ben Richards—we have Glen Powell as Ben, a desperate father with a sick child and no other options. He’s convinced to join the contest by TV producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) of “The Network,” a corporation and part of the de facto government of America that runs the country like a police state. Dan tells Ben he truly believes he can win … even though no contestant ever has. This is a TV show, so ratings are king, and deepfakes can turn any moment into fiction. The only thing Dan has going for him is his friend, Molie (William H. Macy), who sets him up with IDs and disguises; underground anarchist Bradley Throckmorton (Daniel Ezra), who shows him the game is rigged and how to beat it; and Elton Perrakis (Michael Cera), another activist who helps Ben in—wait for it, Stephen King fans—Derry, Maine. It’s a funny, action-packed romp of a popcorn movie.
Anna: King famously sells movie rights to his works for a mere dollar, which has led to some great and some terrible films. This story certainly follows a trend of King’s: a dire futureland in which desperation abounds, and human grit is put to the test. The lead hunter is a masked man named McCone (Lee Pace), and he has a swarm of hunters, an army of citizens, and all the technology in the world to help hunt down the three contestants. Richards’ fellow players are wild child Laughlin (Katy O’Brien) and goofball Jansky (Martin Herlihy), and you just know those two aren’t going to go the distance. Opening the movie is a scene where Richards is pleading for his job back after being blacklisted for going to his union for workers’ rights violations, and we know his driving reason for the competition is his family—so fierceness, loyalty, and seething anger are our main guy’s characteristics. Powell does it with a smoldering toughness, but I have a feeling I would have had a bit more fun reading this on the page than I did seeing it on the screen. King’s characters can be hard to translate.
Glen: I think Powell did OK, but you’re right. He seems out of his depth. Eighties-era Schwarzenegger had more swagger. But Wright and his co-writer Michael Bacall have a lot of fun with King’s story. Cera’s character is a hoot. Elton lives with his mother, Victoria (Sandra Dickinson), and he harbors a big grudge against the government. He’s got some surprises in store for the goons who’ll come calling. Colman Domingo is terrific as sleezy gameshow host Bobby “Bobby T” Thompson. There’s also a Kardashian element with Debi Mazar as reality TV star Amoré Americano. Fun flick.
Anna: Elton was my favorite bit in this movie. Sadly, we only got 15 minutes with him, but Cera managed to pack a punch. If you’re looking for an excuse to get to the theater, see this one as a matinee, otherwise you’ll be fine waiting until it’s on streaming.
New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Nov 20 – Nov 27, 2025.