Parijat Ghosh 
After being touted as a big re-imagining of the 1987 action flick, the 2025 version of The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, has opened to lukewarm reviews. According to aggregated scores, it’s hovering around a mid-60s on Rotten Tomatoes and about 59 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Reddit users on r/boxoffice echoed the sentiment: many expected more from Wright, citing inconsistent tone, thin characters, and a story that felt too familiar. So why the “meh” reaction? Let’s break it down.
The concept is solid — but also over-familiar
The idea is still inherently cool: a dystopian future where a desperate man becomes a contestant in a deadly televised game show, hunted by assassins and publicized for the masses. It’s based on the Stephen King novel and follows the 1987 movie.
But here’s the catch: this survival-game/reality-TV trope has been ground through before — from The Hunger Games to Squid Game and beyond. A Redditor put it simply:
“This is death by reality TV. Again.”
When your core hook starts to feel less world-changing and more “been there, done that” it’s tough to spark excitement.
Style and tone don’t quite hit Wright’s usual high mark
Edgar Wright is known for his vibrant visual flair and strong comedic voice (think Hot Fuzz or Baby Driver). But here, critics say his signature style gets somewhat muted. One review said:
“If you didn’t know Wright had directed it, you wouldn’t know he was behind the camera.”
Another described the film as “never disturbing in the way it surely wants to be”. So while there are flashes of fun — chase scenes, retro aesthetic, some punky touches — the emotional punch and distinct voice many expected aren’t fully there.
Concept fatigue + expectation overload = tougher ride
Because the survival game/TV show dystopia angle has been done so many times, the film struggles to feel fresh. One Reddit comment nailed it:
“We got a Different Man, Monkey Man, Hit Man… Are we getting Man-movie fatigue already?”
Plus: Wright’s name added big expectations. If the movie doesn’t feel like him, fans notice. Many wrote it felt like “a by-the-numbers dystopian sci-fi action movie”. So even if the film is fine on its own terms — which many reviews admit — it might feel less impressive compared to both expectations and previous versions.
Will audiences care? Might be an uphill climb
Even with a solid premise and brand names attached, middling reviews can dent box office momentum. As one commenter noted:
“If reviews were excellent, it would’ve mattered … but anything from 60-79% is functionally the same for a film like this.”
The film’s budget is reportedly around $110 million. With heavy production costs and a story that doesn’t feel totally essential or radical, the risk is real.
Conclusion: Is it worth your ticket?
Yes — if you’re up for a fun action ride with decent production value, some satirical teeth, and you don’t mind the clichés, you’ll likely enjoy parts of The Running Man.
No — if you were hoping for the return of Edgar Wright’s freshest self, a completely new take on the survival trope, or deeply original storytelling.
So, if you have any more questions regarding The Running Man, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
