The Running Man Remake: A Box Office Flop Finding Streaming Success

by

As a huge movie fan, I was really excited for Glen Powell’s take on The Running Man when it came out in 2025. It had everything going for it! Powell was becoming a big name, and Edgar Wright, the guy who did Baby Driver, was directing – he always makes even familiar stories feel fresh and cool. Plus, Stephen King, the author of the original story, actually gave it his blessing! Honestly, looking at all the pieces, The Running Man seemed like a guaranteed hit for Paramount in theaters.

Although critics generally liked The Running Man and fans of the genre enjoyed it, the movie didn’t perform well in theaters, earning only $68 million with a production cost of $110 million. Fortunately, it’s now found a large audience through streaming. Since its arrival on Paramount+ on January 13th, the remake has quickly become the platform’s most popular title, and deservedly so.

Why The Running Man Remake Flopped At The Box Office

The 2025 film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man seemed destined for success. With Edgar Wright directing and Glen Powell starring, it had all the right ingredients. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well, and its failure was due to a combination of unfortunate circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

Marketing was a major factor in the disappointing box office performance of the film. Paramount had trouble deciding how to present The Running Man remake – was it a gritty, violent action movie, a thought-provoking dystopian thriller, or a fast-paced, genre-bending film like those made by Edgar Wright? This confusion made it hard to attract viewers who weren’t already fans of the original Richard Bachman novel by Stephen King.

A challenge for the remake was establishing what it was. Unlike established franchises with sequels or shared universes, The Running Man remake struggled to balance the memory of the popular 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film with staying true to Stephen King’s original story. Younger viewers weren’t familiar with either version, and older viewers weren’t sure what to expect from this new take.

Because Paramount made The Running Man, a lot of viewers decided to wait and watch it on Paramount+ instead of going to the theater. At the same time, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t became the most popular new release. This habit of ‘wait and see’ is becoming a problem for movies with moderate budgets that are shown in cinemas.

The Running Man Remake Is Worth Watching

Paramount Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Beyond how well it does at the box office, the new version of The Running Man stands out as a surprisingly intelligent action film. Edgar Wright’s take is much more faithful to Stephen King’s original novel, leaning into the story’s dark humor and commentary on the media, rather than simply becoming a typical 80s action movie focused on strength and spectacle.

Stephen King approved the changes made to the ending of The Running Man. He realized the original conclusion might feel insensitive after the events of 9/11, but he told director Wright, “I think you did a great job.” This was a significant compliment, considering King rarely approves of adaptations of his work.

Glen Powell gave one of his most realistic performances yet, portraying Ben Richards as an ordinary guy struggling with desperation, not as a boastful hero. He makes the audience genuinely care about Richards, going beyond simple witty lines and capturing the feeling of the original book instead of the over-the-top style of the 1987 movie.

The remake of The Running Man has a unique look thanks to its dynamic visual style, which combines a retro-future feel with the stark imagery of modern media. Because it was released on streaming, without the pressure of box office numbers, these creative choices were allowed to fully develop and stand out.

What Is Glen Powell Doing Next?

After appearing in the recent remake of The Running Man, Glen Powell is taking on more challenging science fiction roles. He’ll star with Jenna Ortega in The Great Beyond, a sci-fi mystery directed by J.J. Abrams, scheduled to come out in November 2026. Powell is also the lead in Tesseract, a new sci-fi film from Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, for Amazon MGM Studios, solidifying his place as a prominent actor in high-quality science fiction.

I’m hearing that Josh Powell has a couple of exciting projects on the horizon. He’s signed on for a new comedy from Judd Apatow, though details are still under wraps. But the big news for fans of his hilarious web series is that he’s bringing back Chad Powers for a second season! While we don’t have a firm release date yet, the current estimate points to late 2026 or early 2027 – and trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.

Read More

2026-01-21 19:39