The Running Man Can Deliver The Kind Of Movie Audiences Are Hungry For & Become A Huge Hit

November is poised to be a busy month for movies. Predator: Badlands will kick things off on November 7, and subsequent weeks will see the releases of тιтles like Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, Wicked: For Good, and Zootopia 2. It’s a franchise-heavy month, and one that’s so crowded, it might prove difficult for some тιтles to find an audience.

And yet, coming out of this year’s New York Comic Con — four days straight of all the genre storytelling a nerd like me could wish for — I firmly believe Edgar Wright’s The Running Man has the power to be the month’s biggest success story. Based on the Stephen King novel (written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman) of the same name, it has a killer premise and an excellent cast.

The upcoming movie follows a normal everyman (Glen Powell) living in a dystopian world who signs up for a reality show to win money for his family. The catch? The show involves him being hunted by every person in the country. If he survives for a month, he wins. Based on the past few days, it really looks like The Running Man has what it takes to go the distance.

The Running Man’s NYCC Panel Brought Plenty Of Excitement

Primarily, Wright emphasized how his version of The Running Man will be more faithful to King’s novel than the original 1987 film was. Though the 2025 iteration will feature some nods to its predecessor — particularly through a small Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo on the in-universe $100 bill — it is taking more inspiration from King’s work.

Following the panel, King shared his reaction to the movie online, calling it “fantastic,” “DIE HARD for our time,” and a “bipartisan thrill ride.” Considering how his endorsement is often valuable for films and shows, this is a great vote of confidence.

The Running Man has the potential to deliver something we haven’t seen on the big screen in a while: An action-packed, star-driven movie with humor and an accessible story. Most of the big blockbusters with four-quadrant appeal that have been released in recent months come from established franchises, like Tron: Ares, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Jurᴀssic World Rebirth.

Though franchises can build up a reliable audience, they also run the risk of turning off viewers who haven’t caught up with previous installments. In the case of The Running Man, yes, it’s based on a book — and therefore isn’t quite original — but anyone can go see it without fear of being left behind by the world-building.

The NYCC panel showcased multiple clips from the movie, and they all boasted thrilling action, effortless humor, and compelling storytelling. It seems to have all the makings of a crowd-pleasing hit, and one that can stand out in a month filled with more straightforward franchise entries. We also got to see the newest trailer, which is online now for everyone to check out.

Now, there’s every chance The Running Man ultimately disappoints, since a successful NYCC panel doesn’t always translate to a winning movie — I had a good time watching exclusive clips from Argylle years ago too. Still, if Wright’s movie can live up to the reputation it has created, it could be just what moviegoers are looking for.