The Running Man: A Race Toward Freedom
by Mars Dalys
After Shaun of the Dead (2004), Scott Pilgrim (2010) and Baby Driver (2017), Director Edgar Wright came back this year with his latest action-packed film: The Running Man.
In this dystopia, the United States fell under the yoke of an authoritarian government. Ravaged by poverty and disparities, the poorest part of the population is forced to take part in reality TV shows in hopes of winning money. Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is no exception and he finds himself embarking on the most dangerous one there is, Running Man, to try to take care of his beloved wife Sheila (Jayme Lawson) and their sick daughter, Cathy (Alyssa and Sienna Benn). But when Ben survives longer than expected, his situation spirals out of control, both for him and Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), the game’s creator. Can Ben play a bigger role here, and maybe even overthrow the system, before he gets killed?
In its premise, The Running Man doesn’t serve us something especially innovative. The plot of a corrupted power source capitalizing on its poorest population by making them play a rigged game with both money and death at stake has been seen before, both in films, like The Long Walk (2025) or The Hunger Games (2012), and in TV shows like Squid Games (2021--2025) or Alice in Borderland (2020–2025). But Edgar Wright adds his own stamp to the dystopia genre, with his kinetic style and sense of action.
The Running Man is not the director’s most impactful work in terms of creative transitions and editing, but we can definitely find the humour and fast-paced action that made him famous. Glen Powell plays his role well by switching between sharp sarcasm and burning anger, shapeshifting alternately into a businessman and a homeless person to fool his hunters. He is surrounded by a charismatic cast, with names that are sure to ring a bell: Emilia Jones, Lee Pace, and Jayme Lawson.
The film’s social commentary is only as deep as the words the characters use. Most of the points are spelled out and shouted instead of subtly suggested, making the film a bit superficial rather than thought-provoking. Yet, we are so caught up in the action that it can be excused. Sometimes, we want to watch a film not to puzzle over but to be entertained. That’s exactly what The Running Man proposes, a good action movie with enough heart to be interesting.
Among the points the film makes, I enjoyed the stance against generative artificial intelligence, and the recognition that it can cause a lot of harm if placed in the wrong hands. In a climate where information control is a crucial issue, it was refreshing to see a Hollywood production be forward in the denunciation of its misuse.
The ending was a bit underwhelming, as the whole film was trying to build an anti-government revolt coming from the oppressed population, and all we get is a 10-minute easy conclusion. To be finicky, we could also highlight the irony of a big Hollywood production being exactly what it is trying to criticize, but I’d rather encourage the audacity of trying something opinionated. All in all, The Running Man is a popcorn film, with just enough political engagement and action to be accessible to every audience, so grab a bucket and buckle up!