The Running Man (2025) Review — How Glenn Powell’s Remake Stacks Up Against the 1987 Arnold Classic

Last Updated on November 12, 2025 by Fadra Nally

The all-new, Glenn-Powell-charged The Running Man (2025) is headed to theaters, and if you spend more time on TikTok than TCM, you might not realize this is a remake. And even if you did see The Running Man (1987) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, you may struggle to recognize this new film as anything close to the same story.

So if you’re chasing nostalgia… you might not find it.
But if you’re a Stephen King purist, you might walk out pleasantly surprised.

Let’s get into it.

Quick Recap: The Running Man (1987)

I’ll admit it. I went into my rewatch of the 1987 original basically clueless. I remembered, of course, that it was a Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle filmed at the height of his popularity as an action star. And it shows. I sat down to watch it (available for rent on Prime Video) and had a few laughs – some intentional and some not.

The film is set in the very futuristic 2017 (that definitely gave me a laugh) where Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) is a member of the police in a totalitarian state. When given a direct order to murder a crowd of civilians, he refuses and is sent to a labor camp.

After a dramatic breakout, he’s captured again and offered a place where all buff prisoners apparently end up: a deadly game show.

Hosted by Richard Dawson (a perfect casting choice for the time), The Running Man throws Richards into a kill-or-be-killed TV arena where “Stalkers” like Subzero, Buzzsaw, Fireball, Dynamo, and Captain Freedom hunt him down. It’s a veritable who’s who of 80s pop culture icons with a script set up for Arnold’s classic one-liners including “I’ll be back,” “What a hot head,” and “Here is Subzero! Now, plain zero!”

It’s violent, it’s cheesy, and it’s compact. It comes in at 1 hour 41 minutes and by the end Ben Richards is redeemed AND gets the girl he held hostage. Oh, and he’s bringing down the totalitarian state as well. All in a day’s work.

The Running Man (2025) – A Fresh Take for a New Era

Let’s put Arnold and his cheesy 80s action movie aside for a minute and look at the 2025 version on its own merits, because it’s practically a different movie.

Glenn Powell plays Ben Richards, living in a bleak dystopia set in (you guessed it) 2025. He’s a hothead who’s been unfairly blacklisted from employment. With a stressed-out wife, a sick child, and no options left, he begrudgingly turns to The Network, a mega-corporation that runs society’s most popular (and most dangerous) game shows.

Ben auditions for low-stakes game shows to earn fast cash, but big shot producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) spots him as the perfect contestant for the high-risk, high-payout series: The Running Man.

Ben wants nothing to do with it… and yet somehow ends up exactly there with remarkably little protest. Once the show begins, he and a couple of side characters (Laughlin and Weiss, who barely matter to the plot) must survive 30 days while evading professional Hunters and, frankly, most of America. Anyone can turn him in for rewards, making the entire country part of the game board.

It’s a darker, more thoughtful cat-and-mouse story that builds a world the original movie never even attempted. At 2 hours 13 minutes, it has far more depth, even if some parts feel a little loose.

So… is it good?

Mostly.

Think Squid Game meets a MrBeast video, with a little heart and a lot of violence. Action fans (like my husband) will be satisfied. Story lovers (like me) may feel the character motivations don’t fully track. Audiences suddenly love Richards despite the show framing him as a villain, and the shift isn’t earned. In the original film he’s a victim of edited footage; here, he’s the victim of AI-generated deepfakes – a very 2025 twist, but still underexplored.

Casting Hits and Misses

This may be my biggest gripe.

• Glenn Powell feels miscast. He’s not a bad actor, and he’s certainly physical, but the movie can’t decide whether he’s an angry tough guy or a closet softie.
• Josh Brolin as Killian. Flawless. The man does not miss.
• Michael Cera steals every scene he’s in.
• Colman Domingo is just the right level of flamboyant.
• William H. Macy pops in for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo.

Overall, the pacing is good, the action delivers, and I was entertained the whole time, even when I didn’t fully buy the emotional beats.

The Running Man (2025) vs The Running Man (1987)

Let’s address the big question: How does the remake compare to the original?

Honestly, the 2025 film isn’t really a remake of the 1987 movie at all. It’s closer to a correction.

Because here’s the twist I uncovered after some digging: The Running Man novel (1982), written by Stephen King under the name Richard Bachman, looks NOTHING like the Arnold movie. I’m typically a book-before-the-movie type of girl but I haven’t had the pleasure of reading this book so I can’t personally compare.

Here’s the original book’s premise:

• It’s 2025.
• Reality TV has evolved into life-or-death entertainment.
• Ben Richards enters The Running Man to save his sick daughter.
• He must survive for 30 days while the entire country hunts him for money.

That’s the 2025 movie almost exactly.

Which means the 1987 version is the odd one out. A fun, campy, 80s action flick that barely resembles its source material.

If you’re looking for a head to head comparison:

• 1987: Muscles, catchphrases, over-the-top villains, and “get the girl.”
• 2025: A more complex (sometimes messy) story, heavier themes, deeper world-building, and a very King-style ending, meaning something BIG AND ABSURD happens that nearly derails it.

But here’s the thing: You’ll probably enjoy it anyway.

And yes, there are Easter eggs: Solid Gold-style dancers, a cheeky nod to Schwarzenegger, and a handful of visual winks that longtime fans will catch.

Final Thoughts: Should You See The Running Man (2025)?

If you want a carbon-copy remake of Arnold’s 80s cult classic, skip it. If you want something truer to Stephen King’s original story – with modern flair, better world-building, and a few strong performances, go get your tickets.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a compelling update that stands on its own and delivers solid entertainment.