You probably remember the 1987 version of The Running Man. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a spandex suit, neon lights, and a guy named Sub-Zero sliding around on ice skates. It was peak 80s cheese. But honestly? Edgar Wright new movie is nothing like that. If you went into the theater last November expecting "I'll be back" one-liners, you were likely in for a massive shock.
Wright didn’t just remake a cult classic. He went back to the source—Stephen King’s 1982 novel written under the pen name Richard Bachman. And let me tell you, that book is bleak. Like, "no hope for humanity" levels of bleak. By choosing to adapt the book instead of the Schwarzenegger film, Wright basically traded the neon-lit wrestling ring for a gritty, sweat-stained journey through a broken America.
It’s actually wild how well this timing worked out. King’s book was set in the "future" of 2025. Here we are in early 2026, and looking back at the theatrical run, it feels like Wright was trying to warn us about something. Or maybe he just wanted to see Glen Powell run through the freezing streets of London and Glasgow while looking perpetually angry.
Forget the Spandex: What Edgar Wright New Movie Actually Is
The core of this movie is Ben Richards. In the 80s version, Richards was a framed cop who was already a tank. In the new one? Glen Powell plays him as a desperate, working-class father. He’s not a superhero. He’s a guy who can't afford medicine for his sick daughter because the economy has completely cratered.
Basically, the "game show" isn't a studio event. It’s a nationwide manhunt.
The Stakes Are Different
- The Duration: Richards has to survive 30 days. Not an hour in a cage. A full month in the wild.
- The Rules: He gets a 12-hour head start and some cash. He has to film himself twice a day to prove he’s alive.
- The Reward: A billion dollars. But nobody ever wins. Like, ever.
Josh Brolin plays Dan Killian, the producer, and he is chilling. He’s not a cartoon villain; he’s a corporate executive who views human lives as data points. Then you’ve got Colman Domingo as Bobby Thompson, the host. He brings this oily, theatrical charm that makes you want to wash your hands after watching him.
A Box Office Weirdness
So, here’s the thing. Edgar Wright new movie didn’t exactly set the world on fire at the box office. It made about $68 million worldwide on a $110 million budget. Some people are calling it a "bomb," but that feels kinda harsh. It opened against Now You See Me 3 and Predator: Badlands, which is a tough spot for a gritty, R-rated social satire.
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Honestly, it feels more like Children of Men—the kind of movie that people ignore in theaters but then obsessed over once it hits streaming. And it just hit Paramount+ on January 13, 2026. Predictably, it's already the number one movie on the platform. People are finally catching on to the "Eat the Rich" vibes that the marketing maybe didn't emphasize enough.
Why the Critics Were Split
The reviews were... interesting. A 63% on Rotten Tomatoes isn't a disaster, but for a director like Edgar Wright, who usually hits in the 90s, it raised some eyebrows.
Some critics felt it was too serious. They missed the "Wright-isms"—the fast cuts, the whip pans, and the needle drops that defined Baby Driver or Shaun of the Dead. This movie is colder. It’s more mechanical. Wright used Paul Machliss as his editor again, but they dialed back the flashiness to match the depressing world King created.
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There’s a sequence filmed at Wembley Stadium that is genuinely breathtaking, though. It’s a high-stakes chase that reminds you why Wright is a master of geography and movement. You always know where the characters are, even when the world around them is falling apart.
The Glen Powell Factor
Can we talk about Glen Powell for a second? The guy is everywhere. Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, Twisters... he’s the definition of a movie star. But in The Running Man, he turns off the charm. He’s covered in grime. He looks like he hasn't slept in three years. It’s a physical performance that proves he’s more than just a guy with a great smile.
What to Do Next
If you missed this in the theater, you genuinely need to see it now that it’s on Paramount+. It’s not a "fun" Friday night movie in the way Hot Fuzz is, but it’s a fascinating look at where we are as a society.
Here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the 1987 version first. Not because you need to know the plot (they are totally different), but to appreciate just how much Wright changed the tone.
- Read the Bachman book. It’s a short read. King wrote it in about 72 hours, and you can feel that frantic energy in the prose.
- Pay attention to the background. The "Free-Vee" ads and the way the public interacts with the "Running Man" app are scarily close to our current reality.
- Check out the physical media release. It’s coming this March. Wright is a nerd for special features, so the 4K Blu-ray will probably have some insane behind-the-scenes looks at those Glasgow and London stunts.
The era of the "original" Edgar Wright blockbuster might be shifting into something darker and more political. Whether you love it or hate it, Edgar Wright new movie is a bold swing that deserves a look.