The final trailer for Edgar Wright’s The Running Man has dropped, and it’s packed with fresh, pulse-pounding footage that promises a violent, stylish, and emotionally charged take on Stephen King’s dystopian classic.
Following its U.S. premiere last night, and with critics already chiming in after early screenings, the excitement for this film is building fast ahead of its theatrical release this Friday.
Like the early reactions from the U.K. premiere, most of the social media chatter has been positive. Many are praising Wright for staying true to King’s vision while injecting his own visual energy and satirical edge.
Some critics mentioned that the final act could’ve been tighter and that the movie “overstays its welcome” a bit, but overall, audiences seem impressed with what they’ve seen.
A big part of that praise is going straight to Glen Powell, who leads the film as Ben Richards. Viewers are calling this the role that firmly establishes Powell as a top-tier leading man. The chemistry between him and Josh Brolin, who plays the slick and manipulative producer Dan Killian, supposedly lights up the screen.
Set in a brutal near-future where The Running Man is the number-one show on television, the story follows Ben Richards, a desperate working-class man who agrees to join the lethal competition to save his sick daughter.
The film centers on contestants known as “Runners,” who must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Every move is broadcast to a bloodthirsty audience, and each day survived means a higher cash prize.
But Richards doesn’t just run, he fights back. His grit and defiance quickly turn him into a crowd favorite and an unexpected threat to the system itself. As the ratings soar, so does the danger, forcing him to outwit not only the Hunters but also an entire nation hooked on his destruction.
The film also features William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, and Jayme Lawson, with Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin rounding out an impressive cast.
With its slick visuals, biting social commentary, and plenty of bloody action, The Running Man looks like another wild ride from Edgar Wright.
The Running Man hits theaters this Friday, and judging by this final trailer, it’s going to be one hell of a show.
