The Honeycut: Between Entertainment and Death is ‘The Running Man’

A Brave New World

When I first saw the original “Running Man” from the 1980s with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it was so disturbing to me. It was unlike any futuristic sci-fi movie I’d ever seen. Turns out, it was my introduction to a dystopian society. Little did I know that 30-some years later I’d be living in one. On the plus side, it makes for the perfect time to release a new adaptation of “The Running Man.” 

The Story

The film follows Ben Richards. He is a blacklisted factory worker in the near future in need of money. You see, Ben’s daughter is sick, and Ben’s wife’s job isn’t bringing in enough money for medicine. Given the dire situation, Ben decides to go with the last resort and go on the deadly game show, “The Running Man.” In it, he is pursued across the city and the nation by a team of hunters. However, he makes good money for every day he survives. 

Is this version of “The Running Man” better than Arnold’s? Or is it dead before it even reaches the starting line?

Honey’s Cut

The dystopian setting of “The Running Man” has always fascinated me. It’s set far enough in the future to feel foreign. Yet, it’s also set close enough to our time to feel familiar. In its world, we see rampant commercialism, a major divide in the wealth gap, mass surveillance, and you can’t tell what’s real and what is fabrication. Sound familiar?

The latest iteration of this story was made after the reality TV boom of the 00s, and it shows compared to its earlier counterpart. This “Running Man” combines aspects of reality TV with game shows. For example, each contestant has to record a video of themselves each day during the hunt and send it into the network. It’s very much like the video journals people shoot on “The Real World.” 

A major part of the story in this version, as well as the 80s one, is the manipulation of video footage. In the original, the TV station alters footage to show Arnold unleashing a helicopter attack on civilians. In the new adaptation, we see the network presumably using AI to twist the words of the contestants’ videos. There is also doctored footage of major events, such as killings. But the question always lingers if these things actually happened. It’s hard to know who or what to trust, or if you can truly trust anyone or anything.  

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this version of “The Running Man.” While it is very different from the first movie, all its differences make it a strong film. Overall, I really liked this one, especially because of how timely it feels. 

Honey’s Final Thought 

2025’s “Running Man” holds a black mirror up to our modern society. Who’d have guessed a story written by Stephen King in 1982 would be so relevant today? I call it the “Twilight Zone” effect, where with each passing year, it seems like that show is even more relatable. 

While it is fascinating to explore the similarities between our world and that of “The Running Man,” I think there is something even deeper and more important about this one. Behind all the gunfights, explosions, and media manipulation, it’s the story of a man striving to do better for his wife and daughter. Even if it kills him. The network can alter the video of his words and actions, but they can’t take away his reason for doing all of this: the love for his family. And maybe that’s just a timeless story.