Key Takeaways
- Film Performance: Edgar Wright’s The Running Man has grossed only $28 million globally, ranking second behind Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.
- Critical Response: Both adaptations of the story have faced similar critiques regarding their endings.
- Ending Comparison: Steven E. de Souza notes that both versions modify the book’s ending, albeit with different production constraints.
- Viewer Impact: De Souza hopes the new version will encourage audiences to revisit the original film.
Despite some decent early buzz, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man doesn’t appear to be destined for blockbuster status. The adaptation of Stephen King’s novel has grossed just $28 million worldwide, finding itself in second place behind Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. The writer of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Running Man, Steven E. de Souza, recently spoke with THR about how both films have received a similar critical response to the ending.
“I read it and [felt that] on paper, they got the ending working,” de Souza said. “Even the reviews that love it say it stumbles at the end. It seems to me that this time around, something went wrong between the page and the stage again.“
He continued, “The book’s ending is a downer, so you need a new ending. I would say that both the ’87 version and this version tweak the ending in pretty much the same way, except that in our version, we had less money, so it’s a little simpler. Maybe the third version in 2045 will stick the landing.“
De Souza added that he was “totally rooting” for the new version to succeed, “because I figured the more people see this movie, [then they] will want to go out and rent the old one, just for comparison’s sakes. So, win-win.“
The official synopsis for The Running Man: “In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters but a nation addicted to watching him fall.“
Our own Chris Bumbray had mixed feelings about the film. Although he was impressed by the sheer craft and spectacle on display, the film ultimately fell short in many ways, including the ending. “Where many may find The Running Man comes up short is in the final act, which feels truncated as it rushes toward the ending,” he wrote. “The finale itself feels anticlimactic—sped through as if added in post-production.” You can read the rest of his review right here and be sure to let us know what you thought of the film as well.
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