'The Running Man' Moves to Streaming Following Weak Box Office Performance

The action-comedy "The Running Man," starring Glen Powell, is set to premiere on Paramount+ on Jan. 13 following a lackluster performance at the global box office.

Directed by Edgar Wright, the film is the second adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel. It follows the 1987 version which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The story features Powell as Ben Richards, a blacklisted worker in a dystopian future. To rescue his family from poverty, Richards competes in a deadly reality television show where he must survive for 30 days while being hunted. A successful run earns the contestant a $1 billion prize.

The film features a supporting cast that includes Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and Michael Cera.

Paramount released the movie in theaters on Nov. 14, where it earned just over $69 million worldwide. The production carried a $110 million budget and has received mixed reviews from critics.

LOS ANGELES — The commercial underperformance of "The Running Man" highlights the heightening financial risks facing high-budget, non-franchise titles in a shifting Hollywood landscape. Despite the pedigree of director Edgar Wright and the rising profile of lead Glen Powell, the film’s inability to capture a broad audience suggests that traditional star power and critical acclaim are no longer guaranteed hedges against box-office volatility.

Industry analysts point to the "legacy shadow" cast by the 1987 original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The cultural footprint of the first iteration appears to have created a high barrier to entry for a remake, with audiences questioning the necessity of a new interpretation of a cult classic. Furthermore, while Powell’s career trajectory is on the ascent, the film’s failure raises questions regarding his current "bankability"—specifically whether he can solo-carry a project with a $110 million production price tag.

Paramount’s decision to pivot the film to its streaming platform just two months after its theatrical debut reflects a broader industry shift in distribution strategy. Studios are increasingly leveraging their proprietary streaming services as a strategic safety net, utilizing shortened theatrical windows to salvage underperforming investments and recapture value via home viewership.

While "The Running Man" may find a second life through digital syndication and SVOD platforms, its theatrical struggle serves as a stark case study on the viability of mid-to-high-budget standalone projects. In an era dominated by established intellectual property, the film’s performance underscores a tightening market for any production that lacks the built-in momentum of a cinematic universe.

For Vietnamese Americans, particularly the generation that came of age in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version of The Running Man was a staple of the mom-and-pop video rental shops that once lined the strip malls of Little Saigon. While this new adaptation might stir up some nostalgia for those early years of the diaspora, it doesn’t carry any specific or direct cultural weight for the community today.