The Running Man 2025 Review: A Bland, Joyless Remake You Can Skip

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Let’s be honest, The Running Man isn’t a good movie. The acting is weak, the conversations sound awkward, and the pacing is incredibly slow – it just feels too long. It doesn’t hold a candle to the original Arnold Schwarzenegger film, and it’s perfectly fine to skip this one.

A Flat, Modernized Rehash

The storyline quickly feels tired and predictable. It’s a typical Hollywood effort to appeal to current audiences, with a heavy-handed message: big businesses and America itself are the villains, and corporations are to blame for everyone’s financial struggles. The script presents a very black-and-white view, ignoring the existence of a middle class and portraying society as simply divided between wealthy executives and everyone else.

The bad guys feel like clichés. The new Hunters just aren’t as memorable or exciting as the original, larger-than-life characters, who were reminiscent of professional wrestling personalities. Even talented actors like Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo can’t match the impact of Richard Dawson’s legendary performance.

Weak Characters and Worse Dialogue

The Running Man 2025 simply isn’t fun. And the misfires pile up:

Instead of physically attacking someone, the character threatens violence with over-the-top language. This dialogue feels unrealistic, like it wasn’t written by someone familiar with actual fights. Later, when the character almost gets choked himself, the scene unintentionally comes across as funny.

Powell repeatedly asks the villains if they’ll keep him from his family, specifically his wife and daughter. However, this plea is made several times and never has any emotional impact.

The character Amelia is introduced late in the story but doesn’t contribute much, and unfortunately, the ending is particularly disappointing.

Add in what feels like DEI-driven funding decisions, and the film hits a brick wall.

The Verdict

The 2025 remake of The Running Man doesn’t succeed in any major area, including action, atmosphere, acting, writing, or overall enjoyment. It lacks the energy, realism, and charm of the original film, and its focus on delivering a message overwhelms the story itself.

You’ll get more enjoyment by rewatching the Schwarzenegger classic.

4/10

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2025-11-15 05:31