Glen Powell’s ‘The Running Man’ Stumbles at Box Office With $28M Global Opening

Glen Powell’s new film, “The Running Man,” opened to a disappointing box office performance. The action thriller earned just $16.5 million domestically over its debut weekend. Its global total stands at a mere $28 million, placing it second in North American charts.

This sluggish start is a setback for Paramount Pictures and director Edgar Wright. The film is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 dystopian novel. It follows a 1987 movie version that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Screenwriter Points to Familiar Struggles With Film’s Ending

Steven E. de Souza, writer of the 1987 film, commented on the new version’s reception. He noted that critics who praised the movie still faulted its ending. This reminded him of last-minute studio changes to his own film’s finale decades ago.

De Souza has a literary material credit on the new film and read its script. He told The Hollywood Reporter the ending worked well on paper. He suggests something went wrong between the script and the final production this time.

Both adaptations faced the same core challenge. King’s original novel has a very dark conclusion. Each movie version had to invent a more uplifting ending for audiences.

Marketing and Genre Conventions May Have Limited Appeal

Industry analysis points to several factors for the soft opening. The marketing campaign reportedly skewed heavily male, limiting its reach. Science-fiction action films traditionally attract a male-dominated audience, which may have hurt its potential.

According to de Souza, this narrow focus likely impacted ticket sales. He found it positive, however, that the new film sparked renewed interest in the 1987 classic. He believes comparisons between the two can benefit both.

Critical reception has been mixed. The film holds a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews praised its action but often found the story ultimately hollow.

The underwhelming debut of “The Running Man” reboot highlights the challenges of modernizing classic sci-fi properties. Its performance will be closely watched in the coming weeks to see if it can find stronger footing.

A quick knowledge drop for you

How much did the new ‘The Running Man’ movie make on opening weekend?

The film earned $16.5 million in its domestic opening. Its worldwide opening weekend total reached $28 million.

How does this compare to the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger version?

The 1987 film grossed $38 million in its total theatrical run. Adjusted for inflation, that equals roughly $109 million today.

What are critics saying about Glen Powell’s performance?

Reviews highlight Powell’s committed action role. However, many critics feel the film’s script and ending let the overall production down.

Why might the film have underperformed?

Analysts cite marketing that failed to appeal beyond a core male audience. The crowded release schedule and mixed reviews also contributed to the soft opening.

Who wrote the original 1987 ‘The Running Man’ movie?

Screenwriter Steven E. de Souza wrote the 1987 adaptation. He also has a credit on the new film for providing literary material.