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On X, many who have seen The Running Man have shared their takes, praising not just Wright’s stellar work behind the camera, but also star Glen Powell’s affecting performance that grounds the film. User @filmsbyJuan went so far as to say The Running Man is “a real step up from any other King adaptation this year,” which is an impressive endorsement considering how great 2025 has been for King adaptations. Check out more reactions in the space below:
The Running Man Could Be The Year’s Best Stephen King Adaptation
As some of the reactions allude to, this was already a strong year for Stephen King adaptations. Between films like The Monkey, The Life of Chuck, and The Long Walk, plus TV series IT: Welcome to Derry, King fans have had a lot to enjoy in 2025. But it seems like the best was saved for last. While we still have to wait for full, written reviews, The Running Man is earning raves so far, with many feeling it’s an adaptation tailor-made for the big screen. Based on the comments, it appears to be the next step in Wright’s evolution as a filmmaker, with the director delivering several exciting set pieces. It’s also great to hear Powell is a standout as protagonist Ben Richards; his performance will make it easy for audiences to become invested in the story.
It isn’t a shock that Wright helmed what could arguably be the year’s greatest King adaptation. He’s been honing his craft for over two decades, injecting his projects with a distinct sense of style and energy. Dating back to his work on the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, he’s always had a keen eye for action. Baby Driver seemed to be the apotheosis of that, but Wright might have leveled up even further on The Running Man. The movie’s trailers have teased at some stand out set pieces, and it’ll be great to see them play out on the big screen.
