Stephen King Compares The Running Man to Die Hard After Early Screening

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The movie is now heading to cinemas, and Stephen King, the famous author who wrote the original 1982 book it’s based on, is thrilled with it.

Stephen King shared his thoughts on the new movie in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “fantastic” and comparing it to the classic action film *Die Hard*. He described it as “a bipartisan thrill ride,” which is a significant compliment given how highly regarded *Die Hard* is – it’s still considered one of the best action movies ever made, with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Edgar Wright directs this new take on Richard Bachman’s (Stephen King’s) 1982 novel, updating the story for today’s audiences. It centers on Ben Richards, a father driven to enter a dangerous game show in hopes of getting money to help his ailing daughter. The premise is brutal: endure 30 days of being hunted by trained killers, and win a billion dollars.

Ben rapidly wins over the audience, surprising everyone – including the show’s tough producer, Dan Killian. However, as the competition becomes increasingly risky and draws huge viewership, Richards starts to question not just his opponents, but the entire setup designed to benefit from his hardship.

Glen Powell and Josh Brolin lead the cast of *The Running Man*, joined by William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, and Colman Domingo. While previous adaptations strayed from the original story, this new version seeks to recapture the book’s original, politically charged themes.

The goal is to make the adaptation more aligned with Stephen King’s original vision – a suspenseful story about desperation, dishonesty, and the media’s intense focus, rather than just a visually impressive display. As King described, he particularly enjoyed the character of Ben Richards being largely on his own, creating a high-stakes and dangerous game of hide-and-seek.

Die Hard for a New Generation

The film feels similar to a gritty, high-stakes road movie. The main character, Ben, is constantly on the move, encountering new people and challenges as he attempts to survive for a month in the wilderness, explained Wright. He chose actor Powell for the lead role because he wanted someone relatively new to this type of project.

Wright explained it’s reminiscent of Bruce Willis’ early roles, like in *Moonlighting*, before he became known for *Die Hard* – a similarity that actually builds tension. The connection to *Die Hard* isn’t just about the action, though. Like Bruce Willis’ character John McClane, the main character Ben is a regular person who overcomes huge challenges with determination. Both stories play on the idea of one person standing up against evil.

The Running Man opens in theaters on Nov. 14.

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2025-10-14 16:06