Summary

  • Good Stephen King remakes are rare; recent adaptations like "It" show potential for success.
  • Powell's star power counts, but a faithful adaptation of "The Running Man" will be key to its improvement.
  • Director Edgar Wright's dedication to King's original work may set the remake apart from its 1987 predecessor.

remakes of Stephen King's work, in particular, have a poor track record for quality. With audiences tiring of an endless cycle of remakes and reboots coming out of major studios, the movie will be desperate to avoid becoming another mediocre Stephen King remake. Fortunately, it has one crucial advantage over other adaptations

While banking on the star power of someone like Powell is a solid gamble, it's not the most significant factor behind The Running Man's potential release success. Powell has proven to be a huge draw for audiences, with strong acting chops and plenty of charisma, but it's not uncommon for an amazing actor to be wasted when the writing and directing aren't up to the same quality. Instead, The Running Man will look to rely on other factors to break the curse that hangs over King's remakes.

Stephen King Remakes Are Usually Worse Than The Original

And It's Not Even Close

There have been some fantastic remakes of King's work over the years. The more recent films remaking It, for example, have proven that the curse that hangs over King's remakes isn't inevitable. While the It movies aren't without their faults, with the brutal attack that opens It: Chapter 2 a prime example, they still rank as an improvement over the Tim Curry miniseries that first brought the story to life.

Both Carrie and Children of the Corn have made multiple attempts to revisit the first movie adaptation, but each has ultimately fallen far short of success.

The problem remains that good Stephen King remakes are few and far between. 2020's remake of The Stand failed to wow audiences, while Stephen King's Shining movie was a critical failure compared to Kubrick's version. Both Carrie and Children of the Corn have made multiple attempts to revisit the first movie adaptation, but each has ultimately fallen far short of success. When taking this track record into , things don't look particularly good for The Running Man,

Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man with Gary King looking scared in The World's End
Related
10 Ways Edgar Wright's The Running Man Remake Will Be Different From Schwarzenegger's Version

Edgar Wright is directing an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which will be completely unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 version.

7

Why The Running Man Will Likely Be Better Than The Original Movie

The Original May Be A Classic, But It's Still Flawed

the movie poster for Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Running Man

1987's adaptation of The Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a product of its time. The film banked on Schwarzenegger's star power and ultimately became overshadowed by the actor's presence. With an action star as the lead, it relied on quippy one-liners and campy violence, rather than remaining faithful to the story it was adapting. While it's got its own cult following as a part of Schwarzenegger's body of work, it loses sight of its purpose and what made the original story compelling.

The adaptation from director Edgar Wright, while still banking on the box office draw of Powell, promises to be more faithful to King's original work. This pledge is the single biggest reason the movie is likely to improve on its predecessor. More than that, films have come a long way from the schlocky action films of the 80s. Wright has already spoken about his dedication to actually adapting the original novel (via the Happy Sad Confused podcast), and it's that kind of care and attention to detail that makes for a memorable adaptation. Only time will tell, but for now, things are looking good.

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The Running Man
R
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Action
8/10
7.0/10
Release Date
November 13, 1987
Runtime
101 minutes
Director
Paul Michael Glaser

Cast

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  • Headshot of Maria Conchita Alonso
    Maria Conchita Alonso
    Ben Richards
  • Headshot of Yaphet Kotto
    Yaphet Kotto
    Uncredited

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Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, The Running Man is a sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Ben Richards, a former cop who's forced to compete in a deadly game show where criminals fight for their lives. The 1987 movie is based on a Stephen King novel under his pen name Richard Bachman.

Writers
Steven E. de Souza
Budget
$27 million