Glen Powell's Running Man is Uncomfortably Relevant episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 12 MIN

Glen Powell's Running Man is Uncomfortably Relevant

from Fantasy for the Ages · host Jim Scriven

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#TheRunningMan #TheRunningMan2025 #SciFiMovies #StephenKing #MovieReview #DystopianSciFi #FantasyForTheAges #GlenPowell #FilmReview #SciFiFilmWays to connect with us:Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.socialFollow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected] Email us: [email protected] Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheagesJim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n 0:00 - Opening1:28 - Film Details2:54 - Spoiler-Lite Summary3:41 - Jim’s Take5:23 - Six Reasons You May Enjoy This Movie7:11 - Six Reasons You Might Not8:46 - Final Thoughts11:20 - Conclusion & Wrap-up————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

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#TheRunningMan #TheRunningMan2025 #SciFiMovies #StephenKing #MovieReview #DystopianSciFi #FantasyForTheAges #GlenPowell #FilmReview #SciFiFilmWays to connect with us:Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.socialFollow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected] Email us: [email protected] Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheagesJim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n 0:00 - Opening1:28 - Film Details2:54 - Spoiler-Lite Summary3:41 - Jim’s Take5:23 - Six Reasons You May Enjoy This Movie7:11 - Six Reasons You Might Not8:46 - Final Thoughts11:20 - Conclusion & Wrap-up————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

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Glen Powell's Running Man is Uncomfortably Relevant

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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...

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