While the original Schwarzenegger Running Man was wild, the remake is uncomfortably plausible
Forget the nostalgia—the 2025 remake of The Running Man outclasses the 1987 original with a richer story, stronger characters and a world that actually feels real.
To see why the contrast is so sharp, it helps to remember how most people think of the original Running Man: they picture Arnold Schwarzenegger firing off one-liners in spandex while villains shout in the background. Yes, both deliver adrenaline-fuelled spectacle. But what struck me is how differently each version interprets Stephen King’s 1982 novel, and how the remake makes for great entertainment and packs a far richer emotional punch.
The original 1987 film, directed by Paul Michael Glaser of Starsky & Hutch fame, introduces Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger), a wrongfully accused cop framed for a massacre he tried to stop. After a dramatic prison break, Richards lands on the radar of Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), the producer and host of The Running Man, a live TV bloodsport where convicts are hunted and killed. And in classic sci-fi fashion, the movie is set in the “distant” future of … 2017.
Stephen King’s 1982 novel actually takes place in 2025. Coincidence? Written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the book trades King’s typical supernatural horror (The Shining, Christine) for dystopian grit. The 2025 remake, directed by Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim), aligns more closely with the book.
The film also includes a small homage to Schwarzenegger’s original, a detail fans will enjoy spotting for themselves.
In today’s version of The Running Man, Ben Richards is played by Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You), a working-class man blacklisted for defending co-workers. With his daughter critically ill, he secretly joins the deadly game, a decision that raises the emotional stakes.
One of the smartest updates is splitting the original Damon Killian role in two: Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), a heartless executive producer and the real power behind the scenes, and Bobby Thompson (Colman Domingo), a charismatic on-air host selling the carnage with a smile.
Both films take place in future dystopian America, but the worlds feel very different. In 1987, the setting is a flashy, exaggerated police state, a society addicted to televised violence. In 2025, the world is grounded and plausibly dystopian, shaped by poverty, surveillance, failing health care and media exploitation.
The remake’s world feels closer to King’s novel and today’s realities. Powell delivers a grounded, humane and strong, yet not invincible, Richards. Brolin’s icy C-suite executive contrasts perfectly with Domingo’s magnetic host. Wright’s direction, with sharp pacing, smart visual storytelling and light but effective emotional beats, makes the remake thrilling, entertaining and human.
The film builds tension brilliantly, and the ending delivers plenty of action, but it did not conclude where I expected. Rather than a final showdown or twist, the story wraps up decisively, letting the stakes, emotion and chaos land in a way that leaves a strong impression. It is a conclusion that feels satisfying in its own way, even if it subverts expectations for a traditional climactic finale.
While different film experiences, the core message streams across both films. It is when society hits rock bottom that broken systems profit most from the people who can least afford it. The film is a chilling idea that transcends explosions and TV theatrics, and the 2025 version delivers it with resonance in the form of a reality, but deadly and potentially disturbing, TV game show.
Running Man is in theatres now.
Greg Gazin, also known as Gadget Guy or Gadget Greg, is a Troy Media columnist with deep expertise in technology. He’s also a respected speaker on communication, leadership, and tech-related topics. Beyond writing, Gazin is a versatile professional who works as a facilitator, blogger, podcaster, and author. His broad range of skills and insights has made him a prominent and influential voice in the tech community.
Rating: ★★★★ out of 5
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