Don’t miss cult action film based on a Stephen King novel of the same name starring one of the genres legends

It’s undoubtedly no coincidence that a reboot of an Arnold Schwarzenegger science fiction thriller is being released this year.

The Running Man is based on a Stephen King novel of the same name and was set in the year 2025. Glen Powell stars as the lead in the remake, following in the perhaps not quite as nimble footsteps of sci-fi heavyweight Arnie, who starred in the 1987 original.

Ahead of the new release, which has received mixed reviews from critics, film fans can watch the first outing tonight (Thursday). Hailed as “wildly entertaining” and “amazing”, it’s full of classic one-liners. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the eighties version of The Running Man is set slightly earlier in the future in a dystopian America between 2017 and 2019. It features a hit television show where criminals must escape by outrunning professional killers.

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The world has endured an economic collapse, and in the US, the government maintains control through propaganda. Arnie plays Captain Ben Richards, who has been framed for the massacre of rioters by his fellow colleagues, who actually committed the murders.

He is forced into the game zone in an abandoned part of LA where he must outrun the ferocious stalkers who are trying to kill him. With footage being falsely edited, he and Amber Mendez, played by María Conchita Alonso, try to expose the government’s lies.

The revived version is directed by Edgar Wright and features Glen Powell in Arnie’s role. He rose to fame for his part as a pilot in the action movie Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise. Ironically, he has been dubbed the next Cruise by some critics who have reviewed the new Running Man. However, others have claimed that he has been miscast in the lead role of the film, which has been awarded ratings ranging from one star to five.

Fans of the original movie loved it for its retro feel. “Wildly entertaining and full of 80s cheese,” raved one on Rotten Tomatoes. “The Running Man sees Arnold Schwarzenegger at peak action hero status, one-liners and everything. I also loved Richard Dawson as the sadistic game show host antagonist.”

A second also lapped up the comedy, writing: “This is a great movie about the dangers of what could happen if a totalitarian regime took over the country and allowed a violent and deadly game to control its population. There are some great one-liners by Arnold, and there is enough action in the mix for a very entertaining movie.”

Another couldn’t recommend it enough: “This movie was amazing! It created a beautiful dystopian atmosphere, highlighting the cost and importance of defying tyranny. The concept of the movie is both captivating and terrifying, and it is so much fun to watch from start to finish. I definitely recommend it for action fans!” they posted.

While another film buff watched it ahead of the reboot: “I finally caught The Running Man after years of meaning to watch it… partly because the Glen Powell remake drops next week and I’ve got tickets. This is pure ’80s Arnold at his most entertainingly excessive, and I loved it more than expected. Fair warning: you need to embrace the era. The synth-heavy score, neon colour palette, and big hair aren’t bugs – they’re features.”

The Running Man airs at 10.55pm on Film 4 tonight, Thursday, November 13.