The Stephen King Running Man adaptation, directed by Edgar Wright, opened in theaters to an impressive $6 million opening day, signaling a major hit as it entered a competitive box office weekend. This marks a significant achievement for the film’s cast and creators, debuting across North America just as anticipation for King adaptations remains high.
Following its Thursday previews, The Running Man accumulated $6 million on Friday, a number that includes $2 million from early screenings. The film is based on King’s 1982 novel, written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, and represents the novel’s second adaptation for the big screen. The story unfolds in a dystopian setting where participants face lethal challenges in a reality-show format reminiscent of the recent popularity of “Squid Game.” Projections for the movie’s first three days place its total around $20 million, putting it in a tight race for the top spot against Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. This projected outcome places it among the strongest opening weekends for any Stephen King movie adaptation, following the footsteps of It and It: Chapter Two.
This weekend’s numbers compare favorably to previous adaptations. The Green Mile, headlined by Tom Hanks, earned $18 million during its initial weekend in December 1999, enjoying the advantage of a holiday launch before ultimately reaching $135 million. More recently, 1408 matched the $20 million figure in 2007. Comparable films, such as the newly released The Long Walk, made nearly $12 million in their debut, underlining the current appetite for King’s stories on the big screen.
Critical Response Offers Mixed Views
Reactions to The Running Man have been divided among critics, as the film holds a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus notes,
“Spiritedly sprinting through grim source material, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man doesn’t live up to the director’s high bar for inventive action extravaganzas but maintains a slick stride.”
— Rotten Tomatoes Critics. Collider reviewer Aidan Kelley highlighted its daring approach, describing it as Wright’s most
“politically charged and challenging movie yet,”
and praised the timing, stating,
“The timing of The Running Man really is impeccable.”
— Aidan Kelley, Collider.
Audience Enthusiasm Boosts Performance
Despite divided opinions from critics, audiences are responding with enthusiasm to The Running Man, which currently holds an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ grade on CinemaScore. This B+ rating echoes the reception of action films like Jason Statham’s The Beekeeper and Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, both well-received by moviegoers. Audience momentum appears to be fueling the film’s continued box office run, distinguishing it from the 1987 adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which underperformed with less than $40 million in lifetime receipts.
The 2024 adaptation was produced with a budget reportedly around $110 million, bringing together an ensemble cast including Glen Powell in the lead role as Ben Richards and Josh Brolin as Dan Killian. Other major contributors featured in the film are William H. Macy, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Jayme Lawson, and Katy O’Brian, rounding out a cast designed to elevate the intense, politically charged narrative envisioned by director Edgar Wright.
Story and Characters Drive High Stakes
The plot centers on a man forced to compete on a deadly televised game show, pursued by killers as contestants navigate real-world locations in search of survival and freedom. The film’s dystopian themes and action-driven storyline offer a modern take on Stephen King’s original premise, brought to the screen with fresh energy by Edgar Wright’s direction and the performances of its diverse cast.
Audiences can experience The Running Man in theaters nationwide, with further box office results expected to clarify its standing in the coming week. As critical and audience responses continue to develop, this Stephen King Running Man adaptation is poised to make its mark as one of the most ambitious and commercially successful King adaptations in recent years.
