Arnold Schwarzenegger Praises Remake of Cult Classic ’80s Action Flick: ‘Really Fantastic’
Most viewers will have to wait until the end of the day before they have a chance to see The Running Man in theaters.
But if early reviews are any indication, it seems that the extra few days before the film’s release will be more than worth the hassle of waiting.
Based on the dystopian sci-fi novel by Stephen King, The Running Man follows an ordinary blue-collar worker (Glen Powell) forced to take part in a televised competition wherein contestants are hunted down by professional mercenaries and assassins.
The second adaptation of King’s novel following 1987’s less-than-well received iteration of The Running Man, the upcoming movie has earning a glowing seal of approval from none other than the adaptation’s original star, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Sharing his own response to the film, the 78-year-old Schwarzenegger heaped praise on the film in a complimentary conversation with Powell and director Edgar Wright.
“The only movie that I always wanted to have redone of my movies was Running Man,” Schwarzenegger told the two (via Bloody Disgusting). “This one really upped it and did exactly that. Really fantastic. And the action was unbelievable and creative.”
Based on King’s 1982 novel of the same name, Schwarzenegger’s version of The Running Man received mostly mixed reviews at the time of its release in ’87.
Among the many criticisms the film had was the lack of faithfulness to King’s source material, with most viewers feeling it went out of its way to evoke the over-the-top action of a traditional Schwarzenegger-led blockbuster film.
As per early reviews, the new iteration of The Running Man has earned a generally warmer response from critics, with many calling it a more faithful recreation of King’s original stor.
The Running Man is scheduled to debut in theaters on November 14. In addition to Powell, the new film stars William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
