The 7 Biggest Differences Between the 'Running Man' Movies

The upcoming 2025 adaptation of The Running Man starring Glen Powell differs drastically from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version, despite sharing the same basic premise. Both films are based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, yet they take very different creative paths.

From Underground Arenas to Global Scale

In the 1987 film, the deadly game show unfolds within a massive, 400-block underground arena designed for television control and spectacle. This confined setting kept production costs manageable but limited the story’s spatial scope.

The 2025 version, directed by Edgar Wright, expands the concept dramatically. Here, Ben Richards isn’t trapped in a single arena—he can be pursued anywhere in the world, a change that aligns more closely with King’s original novel and provides greater visual and narrative freedom.

Different Names, Same Deadly Purpose

While both films feature teams of killers hunting the protagonist, their names differ. The 1987 versions were known as “Stalkers,” a term emphasizing the show’s predatory spectacle. In Wright’s modern retelling, they’re renamed “Hunters,” suggesting a broader, more global pursuit.

Shared Roots, Diverging Worlds

Despite their shared origin, the films highlight contrasting cultural and cinematic values. The original focused on dystopian television and media control, while the new version aims to explore freedom and surveillance on a worldwide scale.

“Both movies are also based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Stephen King, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.”

Conclusion

Although both tell the story of a man forced to fight for survival on a violent broadcast, the 2025 remake’s expanded scope and updated themes may offer a more thrilling and faithful vision of King’s dystopia.

Author’s Summary: Wright’s 2025 Running Man expands King’s world beyond the arena, turning a confined TV spectacle into a global, fast-paced hunt with modernized social commentary.

Gizmodo — 2025-11-06