When most people think of The Running Man, they picture Arnold Schwarzenegger firing off one-liners in spandex while villains shout over neon smoke machines. Revisiting both the original 1987 film and the 2025 remake, I expected a retro-futuristic action ride. And yes — both deliver adrenaline-fueled spectacle. But what struck me is how differently each version interprets Stephen King’s 1982 novel, and how the remake makes for great entertainment and packs a far richer emotional punch.
The original 1987 film, directed by Paul Michael Glaser of Starsky & Hutch fame, introduces Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger), a wrongfully accused cop framed for a massacre he tried to stop. After a dramatic prison break, Richards lands on the radar of Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), the producer and host of The Running Man, a live TV bloodsport where convicts are hunted and killed. And in classic sci-fi fashion, the movie is set in the “distant” future of… 2017.
Stephen King’s 1982 novel actually takes place in 2025. Coincidence? Written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the book trades King’s typical supernatural horror (The Shining, Christine) for dystopian grit. The 2025 remake, directed by Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim), aligns more closely with the book.
The film also includes a small homage to Schwarzenegger’s original; a detail fans will enjoy spotting for themselves.
Here, Ben Richards play by Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You) is a working-class man blacklisted for defending co-workers. With his daughter critically ill, he secretly joins the deadly game — a decision raising the emotional stakes.
One of the smartest updates is splitting the original Damon Killian role in two: Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) – heartless executive producer, real power behind the scenes and Bobby Thompson (Colman Domingo) – charismatic on-air host selling the carnage with a smile.
Both films take place in future dystopian America, but the worlds feel very different. 1987: flashy, exaggerated police state — society addicted to televised violence. 2025: grounded, plausibly dystopian — poverty, surveillance, failing healthcare, media exploitation.
The remake’s world feels closer to King’s novel and today’s realities. Powell delivers a grounded, humane, a strong, yet not invincible, Richards. Brolin’s icy C-suite executive contrasts perfectly with Domingo’s magnetic host. Wright’s direction — sharp pacing, smart visual storytelling, and light but effective emotional beats — makes the remake thrilling, entertaining, and human.
The film builds tension brilliantly, and the ending delivers plenty of action, but it didn’t quite conclude where I expected. Rather than a final showdown or twist, the story wraps up decisively, letting the stakes, emotion, and chaos land in a way that leaves a strong impression. It’s a conclusion that feels satisfying in its own way, even if it subverts expectations for a traditional climactic finale.
While different film experiences, the core message streams across both films. It’s when society hits rock bottom, broken systems profit most from the people who can least afford it. The film is a chilling idea that transcends explosions and TV theatrics — and the 2025 version delivers it with resonance in the form of a reality, but deadly and potentially disturbing TV game show.
Running Man run time is 133 minutes and is in theatres now.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)
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Greg Gazin, also known as the Gadget Guy and Gadget Greg, is a syndicated veteran tech columnist, communication, leadership and technology speaker, facilitator, blogger, podcaster and author. Reach him @gadgetgreg or at GadgetGuy.ca.
