Is The Running Man (2025) the rare remake that’s actually better than the original?

I went into this one as a fan of the 1987 Schwarzenegger classic—campy, quotable, and unmistakably of its era. But this new adaptation takes a very different approach: darker, smarter, more faithful to Stephen King’s novel, and far more interested in making a point than cracking jokes.

In this spoiler-lite review, I break down why The Running Man (2025) is a far more serious, fully realized dystopian sci-fi film than its predecessor—one with top-notch production value, a strong central performance from Glen Powell, and themes that feel uncomfortably relevant in today’s media-obsessed world.

That said… this movie is not for everyone.

If you’re looking for pure escapist fun, over-the-top villains, and one-liners you can quote for decades, this might not be your jam. But if you want sci-fi that actually makes you think—and maybe squirm a little—this one deserves your attention.

In this episode, I cover:

• How the 2025 film differs from the 1987 original

• Why this version feels truer to Stephen King’s intent

• Glen Powell’s performance and rise as a leading man

• Who will love this movie, and who absolutely won’t

• Whether we should finally stop comparing everything to Arnie (sorry, Arnie)

Now it’s your turn:

👉 Which version of The Running Man do you prefer?

👉 Should remakes aim for fun… or faithfulness?

👉 Did the ending work for you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’ll be reading them.

If you enjoyed this review, please like the video, subscribe for more fantasy & sci-fi content, and consider supporting the channel on Patreon to help keep Fantasy for the Ages going strong: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

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0:00 - Opening

1:28 - Film Details

2:54 - Spoiler-Lite Summary

3:41 - Jim’s Take

5:23 - Six Reasons You May Enjoy This Movie

7:11 - Six Reasons You Might Not

8:46 - Final Thoughts

11:20 - Conclusion & Wrap-up

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