‘The Running Man’ First Reactions Reveal if Edgar Wright’s Reboot Lives Up to the Schwarzenegger Legacy

Edgar Wright’s eagerly anticipated remake of the Stephen King hit, The Running Man, is so close to hitting theaters. As fans wait for the movie’s release on November 14, some lucky critics and viewers got to attend early screenings of the new movie. Following the screenings, the first reactions to Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, starring Glen Powell, have been released on social media. But is the movie worth the long wait? Is Glen Powell a worthy successor to Arnold Schwarzenegger? Or has The Running Man run out of steam before it even arrives in theaters? Let’s find out.

Without wasting any time, the first reactions to Edgar Wright’s The Running Man are… extremely positive! The full reviews are still under embargo until an undisclosed date. But the social media embargo has been lifted, and the first reactions to The Running Man have flooded the web. In fact, the film has received lofty praise from some very lofty people. Filmmaker Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers and Stephen King’s Desperation) began his post with “Talk about an upgrade,” continuing, “Edgar Wright absolutely kills Stephen King’s THE RUNNING MAN with his ferocious reboot!”

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse‘s Christopher Miller also heaped praise on the film. “Saw the great [Edgar Wright]’s film The Running Man last night, and it’s delightful,” continuing, “Lots of fun action and insanity. There is a moment when a can of Monster Energy enters frame that is timed so perfectly I laugh thinking about it now.” If that wasn’t praise enough, music video director Joseph Kahn gave the film even loftier praise, comparing it to one of the greatest action movies ever made, writing:

“Got to watch RUNNING MAN and this is [Edgar Wright’s] NORTH BY NORTHWEST. If you think you’ve seen what he can do with action with Baby Driver, you’ve got something special coming your way. He’s got all the toys and he is in full Hollywood Hitchcock mode. It’s a total blast.”

Can Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ Live Up to the Original?

Glen Powell as Ben Richards holding a baton in 2025’s The Running ManParamount Pictures

To cut to the chase: yes, it absolutely can. But not for the reason you might think. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man is a classic. There’s no doubt about it. The film has everything you could want from an Arnie flick, that being over-the-top action and corny one-liners. But, the original is more of an Arnold Schwarzenegger film, rather than a Stephen King adaptation.

However, judging from the first reactions, and the way Edgar Wright and Glen Powell have talked about the film in the build up to its release, the new The Running Man should be a more faithful version of the original Stephen King story. Obviously, we’ll have to see what the official reviews say and, more importantly, watch the film for ourselves to form our own opinions. But things are looking hopeful for Stephen King fans as we get nearer to The Running Man‘s theatrical release date of November 14. The official synopsis reads:

“In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television–a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite–and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.”