{"id":280767,"date":"2025-11-13T01:48:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T01:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/280767\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T01:48:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T01:48:11","slug":"the-running-man-2025-review-why-glen-powells-remake-is-the-ultimate-redemption-blockbuster-the-hollywood-star-needed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/280767\/","title":{"rendered":"The Running Man 2025 Review: Why Glen Powell&#8217;s remake is the ultimate redemption blockbuster the Hollywood star needed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>OPINION: Some critics might disagree, but <a href=\"https:\/\/celebrity.nine.com.au\/glen-powell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Glen Powell&#039;s\">Glen Powell&#8217;s<\/a> latest film, The Running Man remake, is the exact role the <a href=\"https:\/\/celebrity.nine.com.au\/latest\/glen-powell-actor-recounts-awkward-encounter-with-cancelled-alister\/2366fd38-0c37-462b-9ba8-cfc42793d823\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Hollywood star needed at this stage of his career. \">Hollywood star needed at this stage of his career.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To be clear, I thought Powell put on a standout performance in 2022&#8217;s Top Gun: Maverick, also starring his friend and mentor <a href=\"https:\/\/celebrity.nine.com.au\/tom-cruise\/11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Tom Cruise\">Tom Cruise<\/a> and the late Val Kilmer. \ufeffHe also proved himself an action man in last year&#8217;s Twisters.<\/p>\n<p>However, I wasn&#8217;t the biggest fan of his work in the rom-com Anyone But You, co-starring Sydney Sweeney. \ufeff<\/p>\n<p>W\ufeffatch the videos above.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/235d2e7c-8eee-4899-af37-0b9a241be845.jpeg\"  alt=\"This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Glen Powell in a scene from The Running Man. \"\/>&#8220;The Running Man is the exact movie Glen Powell needed at this stage in his career.&#8221; (AP)<\/p>\n<p>Much as I like the lead actors, I found it a little cheesy at times and it didn&#8217;t fully show off Powell&#8217;s acting prowess. \ufeff<\/p>\n<p>But with Twisters and The Running Man \u2013 out in Australian cinemas today \u2013 the American actor, 37, has well and truly cemented himself as Hollywood&#8217;s next big action star. And that&#8217;s no mean feat.<\/p>\n<p>Powell puts on a thrilling and intense performance, portraying Ben Richards: a dad competing in a wild TV show in which he&#8217;s chased by assassins to win money for his struggling family and sick daughter in a dystopian world.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/celebrity.nine.com.au\/latest\/sally-kirkland-stage-and-screen-star-who-earned-an-oscar-nomination-in-anna-dies-at-age-84\/7868a905-d8cd-49f8-8554-695a5600df0e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Veteran actress dies at age 84<\/a><\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/celebrity.nine.com.au\/latest\/allison-mack-nxivm-sex-cult-actress-breaks-silence-after-jail-release\/8c172708-25cc-4ba5-900d-95dc65e2e599\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"\">Smallville star breaks silence on role in &#8216;sex cult&#8217; after release from jail<\/a><\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/celebrity.nine.com.au\/latest\/oasis-reunion-tour-liam-gallagher-says-band-saved-his-life-opens-up-about-quitting-alcohol-drugs\/d392aa09-f8f1-46d2-983d-224aa517ac5a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"\">Liam Gallagher&#8217;s candid admission about Oasis reunion tour<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/48ca1d25-b16e-4260-a5f5-d2efc6fa4ea4.jpeg\"  alt=\"Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in ANYONE BUT YOU\"\/>The actor previously starred in rom-com Anyone But You. (Brook Rushton)<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/4127978f-8c92-4140-952e-6e36b1052953.jpeg\"  alt=\"Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney\"\/>&#8220;As much as I like the lead actors, I just found it a little cheesy at times.&#8221;  \ufeff (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>For a daily dose of 9honey, <a href=\"https:\/\/login.nine.com.au\/edm?client_id=honey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">subscribe to our newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At times, when there&#8217;s a small break from the action-packed scenes, Powell gives an emotional performance as his character goes through the ups and downs and motions of the life-threatening show, and it was a side I loved to see from the actor. \ufeff<\/p>\n<p>The Running Man is based on Stephen King&#8217;s novel of the same name, and the original 1987 film starred action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger. \ufeff<\/p>\n<p>2025&#8217;s iteration, directed by Edgar Wright, has so far scored 61 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 per cent of Google users &#8220;liked the film&#8221; according to the site.<\/p>\n<p>Powell&#8217;s performance was aided by the strong performances of co-stars including Josh Brolin, Lee Pace and Colman Domingo.<\/p>\n<p>The actor told <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/glen-powell-arnold-schwarzenegger-full-blessing-for-running-man-remake-11708738\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"People\">People<\/a> The Terminator star Schwarzenegger gave the project &#8220;his blessing&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Arnold gave us his full blessing and we get to give Arnold a very specific fun gift from the movie in a couple of weeks here. So I&#8217;m very excited to see him,&#8221; he told the outlet.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/72686d19-f774-4999-88bf-88447fc13441.jpeg\"  alt=\"This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Glen Powell in a scene from The Running Man. \"\/>&#8220;Powell gives an emotional performance in addition to the action-packed stunt work.&#8221; (AP)<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/73d5b257-ca11-4827-a5b9-0aebdb51dc8d.jpeg\"  alt=\"The Running Man movie poster (TriStar)\"\/>The original Running Man film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and he gave the 2025 remake &#8220;his blessing&#8221;. (TriStar)<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s another powerful man in Powell&#8217;s corner, too: Tom Cruise.<\/p>\n<p>Cruise, 63, \ufeffhas publicly supported the actor during his promotional trail for this film, along with his previous projects, after they shared the screen in Top Gun: Maverick.<\/p>\n<p>Powell shared pictures of the pair together at a screening just days ago.<\/p>\n<p>Powell previously revealed the megastar, known for films including the Top Gun and Mission Impossible film series, has been a mentor to him.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/movies\/glen-powell-on-how-tom-cruise-convinced-him-to-take-role-in-top-gun-maverick-exclusive\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"People\">People<\/a> about Cruise&#8217;s help and his role in the Top Gun sequel, a role he initally turned down, Powell said: &#8220;We sat down for a couple hours and talked about his life and his career and how he chooses movies, and how he develops roles and those sort of things.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And it was really a series of those conversations that convinced me that this could be a role that could actually be exciting, that I could have a little bit of creative license.\ufeff&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/6dcf1a31-2330-4402-a65a-7716a49c0369.jpeg\"  alt=\"Glen Powell plays &quot;Hangman&quot; in Top Gun: Maverick.\"\/>I thought Powell put on a standout performance in 2022&#8217;s Top Gun: Maverick (pictured). (Paramount Pictures)<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/69631ebf-7390-4e40-b41a-8cbd2e4f65e1.jpeg\"  alt=\"Glen Powell and Tom Cruise \"\/>Cruise has been like a mentor to him in some way over the years. (Getty Images for CinemaCon)<\/p>\n<p>He added the actor truly pulled through for him.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And I have to give Tom credit, a lot of times people just try to get you on the hook to get you in a movie and none of the promises are fulfilled. But he fulfilled every single one of those promises.\ufeff&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>When Powell was offered the role in The Running Man, his first call was to Cruise \ufefffor some guidance on leading an action-packed blockbuster.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/d6427fa1-4f95-4283-8326-0036303997e3.jpeg\"  alt=\"Glen Powell attends The Running Man UK Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on November 5, 2025 in London, England.\"\/>Has Cruise paved the way to Powell to become his &#8216;action man&#8217; successor? (Gareth Cattermole\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s likely too early to say, but if his latest role is anything to go by, Powell could very well follow in his mentor&#8217;s footsteps and seize Hollywood&#8217;s &#8216;ultimate action man&#8217; crown.<\/p>\n<p>If you ask me, it&#8217;s probably wise for him to steer clear of the rom-coms.\ufeff<\/p>\n<p>The Running Man is out in Australian cinemas now, from November 13. \ufeff<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nine.com.au\/entertainment\/latest\/ninecomau-whats-app-signup\/421c4156-5b58-42a0-9c4e-e65401b4e271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE<\/a>: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"OPINION: Some critics might disagree, but Glen Powell&#8217;s latest film, The Running Man remake, is the exact role&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":280768,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[64,63,134,344],"class_list":{"0":"post-280767","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-movies","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-movies"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280767"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280767\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}