Edgar Wright’s new film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man has received a Rotten Tomatoes score, and it could help King achieve a perfect record with his book-to-movie adaptations. The film is based on the 1982 novel originally published under King’s pen name, Richard Bachman. Although many of King’s books have been turned into movies, The Running Man had only been adapted once before, in the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Early reviews are in for Edgar Wright’s new film, The Running Man, which will be released on November 14th. Currently, the film has a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 64 reviews, earning it a “Fresh” designation. This is a small step up from the 1987 version starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which received a 59% score. However, it’s the lowest rating yet for director Edgar Wright, known for critically acclaimed films like Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver, and Hot Fuzz.
Despite a somewhat lukewarm reception from critics (with a Rotten Tomatoes score just over 60%), 2024 was a huge year for Stephen King adaptations. Four of his stories were turned into movies, and two became TV series. The year’s movie lineup was full of King’s work, beginning with The Monkey and concluding with The Running Man.
| Stephen King Adaptations Released In 2025 | Rotten Tomatoes’ Critical Score | Rotten Tomatoes’ Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| The Monkey | 77% | 55% |
| The Life Of Chuck | 80% | 88% |
| The Long Walk | 88% | 85% |
| The Institute | 64% | 71% |
| IT: Welcome To Derry | 78% | 80% |
| The Running Man | 64% | N/A |
If the current score for The Running Man stays the same, all of Stephen King’s movie adaptations released in 2025 will have been critically well-received—a rare perfect streak for a single year. The best-reviewed film of the year was Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk, earning a strong 88% score from critics.
Despite the hype, The Running Man is the lowest-rated Stephen King adaptation of 2025, and reviews are quite divided. Most critics agree that Glen Powell, who plays the main character Ben Richards, is a highlight – he’s being praised for his charisma and is proving himself as a strong action lead.
The story’s main issues appear to be how it was told, not the message itself. Some reviewers felt the important themes got overshadowed, particularly when trying to connect the story to current events. Others found the story moved too slowly, and the combination of violent scenes and narrative felt clumsy.
In a review of The Running Man, Alex Harrison from ScreenRant expressed a similar opinion. While praising the performance of Stephen Powell, he also pointed out that the film’s depiction of a dystopian future felt somewhat underdeveloped. He further commented on the events leading up to the climax, noting that…
In the final act, Wright’s attempt to recapture the serious tone of King feels unnatural and strained.
Despite some reservations, Harrison gave the film a solid 7 out of 10 stars. Both King and Schwarzenegger were very impressed with the 2025 remake. King called it “fantastic” and compared it to “DIE HARD for our time.” Schwarzenegger, who always wanted a remake of Running Man, praised Wright’s vision as “unbelievable and creative.”
This action-packed thriller centers on a man played by Powell who enters a dangerous game show called The Running Man. The prize? A billion dollars – if he can avoid being hunted for 30 days. The film also stars Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Lee Pace, and William H. Macy. The story was co-written by Wright and Michael Bacall.
The Running Man will be released in theaters on November 14, 2025.
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2025-11-12 02:13