Dystopian Colosseum
November 15th, 2025 | 
Author: The Running Man
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Glen Powell, Lee Pace, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, Jayme Lawson, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones
Running time: 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Film Rating: 7 out of 10
Baby Driver director Edgar Wright tackles with freneticism a remake of the 1987 action film The Running Man which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso and Yaphet Kotto.
This time Top Gun Maverick and Twisters star Glen Powell takes the lead role as a poor man Ben Richards with anger issues that has to enter a reality TV show about how to survive without getting murdered in a Dystopian America set in a hyper contemporary future which strangely reflects the 2020’s.
The production design by Marcus Rowland is amazing in The Running Man as the story, with a screenplay by Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall based on the novel by horror writer Steven King, tracks the bizarre adventure of Richards as he enters The Running Man reality TV show in a vibrant and often violent game of hide and seek. As Richards travels from Co-op city to New York then Boston and onto Maine, he meets an assortment of fascinating characters. The most notable is forger Molie played by Oscar nominee William H. Macy (Sideways) and Elton Perrakis as the conspiracy theory weird dude who lives in a rambling house in Maine with his mother, brilliantly played by Michael Cera (Juno, Barbie).
The reality TV show is a dystopian colosseum as hordes of viewers eagerly watch the hunt of Ben Richards with bloodlust as the host of the show Bobby T whips up the crowd in a frenzy. Bobby T is flamboyantly played by Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin, Sing Sing) as he answers to the shady corporate TV network producer Dan Killian played by Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (Milk).
The Running Man is absolutely crazy and frenetic. Unfortunately Edgar Wright over directs this dystopian thriller but what saves this film is the charisma of Glen Powell whose good looks and gusto will make the film audience want Ben Richards to stay alive and save his wife and child and beat the show at its own murderous game all skilfully orchestrated by TV ratings and audience participation.
Some superb scenes in the film include a fight scene between Ben Richards and ruthless hunter Evan McCone played by Lee Pace (Captain Marvel) on a jetliner while a horrified captive Amelia Williams played by rising British star Emilia Jones looks on.
The Running Man is The Hunger Games on steroids, a fantastically crazy action film which is loud, brash and over directed by Edgar Wright who often gets the pacing of the film wrong. It is thoroughly entertaining especially watching the hunk Glen Powell outwit the crazy hunters and take revenge on the evil TV producer Killian.
Despite bad editing and a lack of pacing, The Running Man gets a film rating of 7 out of 10 and is an entertaining action film with outlandish characters and a leading man in which everyone will be cheering for as he goes up against an oppressive social system in which the rich willingly crush the poor purely for entertainment value.
The Running Man is certainly dystopian but very familiar in the current media climate. Recommended viewing for those that love high adrenalin action films set in a bizarre futuristic world.
Posted in Edgar Wright | 
Tags: Colman Domingo, Emilia Jones, Glen Powell, Jayme Lawson, Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Sean Hayes, William H. Macy
- President Trump Downplays Jeffrey Epstein Email Scandal on ‘SNL,’ Offers to Sell Copies of Infamous ‘Blowing Bubba’ MessageJeffrey Epstein’s just-released emails were the topic of conversation on the cold open of the Nov. 15 episode of SNL. The sketch began with Ashley Padilla’s portrayal of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt taking questions from the press, and, of course, most of the journalists were asking about the 23,000 emails that were released […]William Earl
- Glen Powell Brings His UPS Driver to Crash ‘SNL’ Monologue: ‘He Thought It Was a Scam, But He Still Came’Glen Powell had a special guest in the audience when he hosted “Saturday Night Live.” During his opening monologue, “The Running Man” star revealed that he was originally supposed to host “SNL” four years for the ago tied to the original premiere date of “Top Gun: Maverick.” He and his family were celebrating when he […]Joseph Otterson
- ‘A Very Jonas Christmas Movie’ Review: A Trifle of a Holiday Musical, and a Bit Cringe, Which All Adds Up to a Guilty PleasureThe movie casts the Jonas Brothers as genially stylized versions of themselves, and it sticks them in the middle of a "Can we make it home for Christmas?" plot that’s like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" made on a streaming budget.Owen Gleiberman
- Dan McGrath, Emmy-Winning Writer for ‘The Simpsons,’ Dies at 61Dan McGrath, an Emmy-winning writer for “The Simpsons” who wrote the classic Season 8 episode “Homer’s Phobia,” died on Nov. 14. He was 61. His sister, Gail McGrath Garabadian, confirmed his death in a Facebook post early Saturday morning. “We lost my incredible brother Danny yesterday,” she wrote. “He was a special man, one of […]Jack Dunn
- ‘The Long Walk’ Submits Entire Ensemble in Supporting Acting Categories for Oscars and Other Awards (EXCLUSIVE)Lionsgate is going with a smart awards strategy in hopes of becoming a dark horse Oscar contender. Francis Lawrence’s “The Long Walk” will campaign its entire principal cast of boys — including Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson — in the supporting acting categories across all major awards bodies, Variety has learned exclusively. The Lionsgate dystopian […]Clayton Davis
- The Real Story Behind Teresa Giudice & Joe Gorga's Reconciliation November 15, 2025Teresa Guidice is all about family—including her brother Joe Gorga. After the Real Housewives of New Jersey star reconciled with her sibling and her sister-in-law Melissa Gorga following their...
- Will Jan Ravnik Return to Dancing With the Stars? He Says... November 15, 2025Jan Ravnik’s future in the ballroom is still up in the air. After joining Dancing With the Stars for its ongoing 34th season, the pro dancer admitted he isn’t sure whether he’ll return to the ABC...
- Mercedes Javid Reveals Where She & Tommy Feight Stand Amid Divorce November 15, 2025Mercedes "MJ" Javid's breakup from Tommy Feight is anything but bitter. Nearly a month after the Shahs of Sunset alum filed to divorce her husband of seven years, she revealed where she stands...
- Grey's Anatomy Star James Pickens Jr. Shares Prostate Cancer Diagnosis November 15, 2025James Pickens Jr. is getting candid about his health. The Grey’s Anatomy actor shared that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year after a biopsy revealed a tumor on his...
- Camille Grammer Epically Thanks Ex Kelsey Grammer For "Frasier Money" November 15, 2025Camille Grammer came out of her ex-husband's shadow with a pretty good deal. After all, eight years after the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum was awarded half of Kelsey Grammer's retirement...
- Read MoreDifferent providers offer different cell phones, so take a look at the options from each provider to choose the right one for you. You may also want to look into any promotions that the providers have to offer, such as free cell phones in exchange for signing a contract. Tags: 2gmhass90