The Running Man (2025 film)

In the near future, the United States is ruled by the Network, an authoritarian media network. Most viewers live in poverty with little access to healthcare, and the Network placates the masses with trashy, violent game shows and reality television. The most popular program is The Running Man, hosted by Bobby Thompson, in which three "runners" can win $1 billion by surviving 30 days while being hunted down by the Network's five hunters, led by the mysterious Evan McCone, as well as ordinary citizens. Given $1,000 and a 12-hour head start, runners are required to film themselves every day, or else forfeit their earnings but still be hunted.

Ben Richards, a blue-collar worker in the slums of Co-Op City, is unable to afford flu medicine for his two-year-old daughter, Cathy, after being blacklisted for union activism. Ben tries out for the Network, intending to join a less dangerous show, but is unexpectedly chosen for The Running Man along with Tim Jansky and Jenni Laughlin. Executive producer Dan Killian convinces Ben to join by offering him a safe house for his family and an advance for Cathy's medication. As the hunt begins, Ben acquires disguises and travels to New York City. Checking into a hotel in disguise, Ben watches the live feed of hunters killing Tim. As he flees to Boston, Ben begins to experience paranoia that gradually gets worse as the hunt continues.

In Boston, the hunters and soldiers track Ben to a hotel and shoot at him, leading to an explosion that kills eight soldiers. Anti-Network activist Bradley Throckmorton shelters Ben at his home, attempting to expose the Network's propaganda and deceit. Ben sends a video denouncing their action, but the broadcast content is replaced with a foul-mouthed deepfake of Ben, angering the public, including Bradley's mother, who kicks him out of the house.

Bradley sends Ben to Derry, Maine to meet Elton Parrakis, a fellow activist who prepares to lead Ben to a bunker for the remainder of his run. Ben stops Elton's mother from alerting the authorities, but Elton does so anyway, dispatching them with booby traps to avenge his father. Ben and Elton flee in a buggy, but McCone kills Elton. Ben crashes the buggy into another Hunter on a bridge and escapes into the river below. Jenni is killed, leaving Ben as the sole remaining contestant, while his survival has earned the support of the poor and working class.

Traveling north, Ben discovers that a land development has paved over the bunker. Escaping surveillance drones, he commandeers a passing car and takes the wealthy driver, Amelia Williams, hostage. Amelia realizes the truth about the Network's propaganda after seeing televised deepfakes of herself and agrees to help Ben. Reaching an airfield, they take off in a jet to Canada, guarded by McCone. Killian calls to offer Ben his own show as the Network's newest hunter if he kills McCone and the remaining hunters, broadcasting footage of them murdering Ben's wife and child to drum up support for Ben.

Enraged, Ben kills the hunters posing as the flight crew, and McCone reveals himself as a former runner who took Killian's deal after nearly winning the first season. After killing McCone, Ben sends Amelia to safety with a parachute and Elton's revolutionary pamphlets. Killian gives Ben the chance to accept his new show on live TV, but Ben instead pleads for viewers to hunt down Killian and his fellow executives. The Network redirects the jet to their headquarters, airing a deepfake of Ben threatening to crash into the building, and the plane is shot down.

Sometime later, Bradley posts a video disputing the network's story, revealing that the plane's black box was recovered with an unaltered recording of Ben's conversations with Killian, inciting a rebellion against the network. Ben, who survived due to the plane's auto-eject function, has become the face of the revolution and reunites with his family, whose deaths were faked by Killian. As the next season of The Running Man begins, Bobby senses the audience's hostility and quits, leaving Killian to host. As a riot breaks out, Ben emerges from the crowd and shoots Killian.

Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and Lee Pace star as Ben Richards, Dan Killian, Bobby T, and Evan McCone respectively

Other actors in the film include Debi Mazar (Amoré), Cat Cohen (Ariané), Emma Sidi (Adriané), and Noah Ritter (Antoné) as the Americanos; Simon Haines as Registration Technico,^[19] Bill O'Neill as Stanton "Hopeless Dude", Chi Lewis-Parry as Stone "Negative Dude", Charley Palmer Rothwell as Holbrook "Final Dude", Alex Neustaedter as Greg, James Frecheville as Donahue, Sophie Simnett as a ticketing agent, Corey Johnson as a motel proprietor, Danny McCarthy as the YVA manager, and Bebe Cave as a Shake Shack cashier.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Ben Richards in the 1987 film, makes a cameo appearance as the face of the $100 bill.^[20]

In September 2025, Steven Price was revealed to have composed the score, having previously worked with Wright on The World's End (2013), Baby Driver (2017) and Last Night in Soho (2021).^[36]

The first footage was screened during Paramount's CinemaCon presentation on April 3, 2025. It was introduced by Domingo who was on stage with Wright, Powell, and Brolin.^[37] The first trailer was released on July 1, 2025, featuring a remix of "Underdog" by Sly and the Family Stone. Powell collaborated with the social media influencer Ashton Hall, by appearing in one of his "morning routine" videos, with the video ending with Hall watching the trailer in a private theatre.^[38]

On October 10, 2025, a panel was held at New York Comic Con, which was attended by Wright, Powell, and Lee Pace. 12 minutes of footage was shown to attendees, alongside a new trailer, which was released online three days later, featuring a remix of "Don't Bring Me Down" by Electric Light Orchestra. On October 28, 2025, an advance screening was held at the Paramount lot, which was attended by filmmakers like Joe Dante, Walter Hill, Rian Johnson, Gareth Edwards, Joseph Kosinski, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, The Daniels and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller.^[39][40] Powell appeared via video message on the twelfth episode of The Challenge: Vets & New Threats to introduce the daily challenge inspired by the film.^[41]

The Running Man premiered at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on November 5, 2025. It made its American premiere at AMC Lincoln Square on November 9.^[42] It was theatrically released in the United States on November 14.^[43] It was previously scheduled to be released on November 21, before being moved up to November 7, and then pushed back to its current date to avoid competition with Predator: Badlands.^[44][45] The Running Man began streaming on Paramount+ from January 13, 2026.^[46] It was released on DVD and Ultra HD Blu-ray on March 3.