Edgar Wright's action thriller The Running Man, based on Stephen King's novel and starring Glen Powell, is now streaming on Paramount Plus, earning praise from fans who call it a 'masterpiece' and compare it to franchises like Fast and Furious and Mission: Impossible.
Plot and Cast
The film's IMDb synopsis reads: 'A man joins a game show in which contestants, allowed to flee anywhere in the world, are pursued by hunters hired to kill them.' Glen Powell plays Ben Richards, a role originally portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film. The supporting cast includes Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, and Martin Herlihy.
Critical Reception
The movie holds a 61% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.4 rating on IMDb. Despite mixed critical reviews, audiences have been enthusiastic. One viewer on IMDb gave it a perfect 10/10, stating: 'I saw it at a matinee this afternoon and now I'm going back with my husband... this one stands on its own as the best action movie of the year... and maybe the decade...so far.'
Fan Reactions
Another fan hailed it as a 'masterpiece of literary adaptation,' saying: 'Hands down the best adaptation of King's work. You can literally watch the movie and turn pages.' A third viewer commented: 'This film feels like a big mix of Fast and Furious and Mission: Impossible. I love the chase scenes.' However, not all feedback was positive; one critic wrote: 'A real disappointment, falling flat both as social commentary and as an action movie.'
Streaming Details
The Running Man is available to stream on Paramount Plus. The platform describes it as 'a fun, unhinged deadly game show where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins.'
