The Running Man

The Running Man

Year: 2025

Runtime: 2 h 13 m

Language: english

Director: Edgar Wright

Echo Score: 64

Budget: $110M

ActionAdventureSci-FiThriller

In a near‑future society, The Running Man dominates TV as a game where “Runners” must survive 30 days while being hunted by assassins, each move streamed to an audience with cash prizes. Desperate to cure his ailing daughter, the protagonist volunteers, confronting staged violence, manipulation and the brutal host while fighting for his life.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Running Man yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Running Man (2025)

Trace every key event in The Running Man (2025) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Ben's life in Co-Op City and decision to join The Running Man

Ben Richards, a blue-collar worker, lives in the Co-Op City slums with his family. With his infant daughter Cathy sick and healthcare scarce, he is blacklisted for union activism but tries out for the Network anyway. He agrees to participate after being promised a cash advance, a safe house for Cathy, and a chance to expose the Network’s regime.

Opening scene Co-Op City
2

Selection and offer accepted

Ben is selected for The Running Man along with Tim Jansky and Jenni Laughlin. Executive producer Dan Killian offers him the advance and security for his family, persuading him to join despite the peril. He accepts, hoping the prize will save Cathy.

Start Network facility
3

The Run begins; NYC chase

With a 12-hour head start, Ben travels to New York City in disguise to begin his run. The Network cameras track his every move as hunters close in on him. Early in the chase, Tim Jansky is killed by the hunters.

Day 1 New York City
4

Boston pursuit and explosion

In Boston, the hunting party corners Ben at a hostel and a firefight erupts. The fighting ends with an explosion that kills eight Network soldiers and disrupts the pursuit. Ben escapes and hides, continuing to stay alive on live television.

Day 1-2 Boston
5

Bradley Throckmorton shelters Ben

Ben is sheltered by anti-Network activist Bradley Throckmorton and his family. He records a message to expose the Network’s propaganda, but the message is mutated into a foul-mouthed deepfake. Bradley’s mother throws Ben out after seeing the falsified broadcast.

Day 2 Bradley Throckmorton’s home, Boston area
6

Jenni Laughlin’s death; Ben becomes sole runner

Runner Jenni Laughlin is killed, leaving Ben as the sole contestant. His survival earns the sympathy and support of the poor and working classes who root for him against the Network. The momentum builds around his resistance.

Day 2-3 Boston
7

Bradley sends Ben to Derry, Maine

Bradley dispatches Ben to Derry, Maine to meet activist Elton Parrakis, who plans to lead Ben to a bunker for the remainder of his run. The goal is to keep Ben out of the Network’s reach while he continues the fight. The two set off toward the shelter.

Day 3 Derry, Maine
8

Elton’s booby-traps and confrontation

In Derry, Elton pushes a plan that relies on booby traps to ambush pursuers. Ben tries to stop Elton’s mother from alerting authorities, but Elton proceeds and the traps engage, creating a deadly obstacle course. They flee together in a buggy filled with explosives.

Day 3-4 Derry, Maine
9

Elton is killed; buggy crash

McCone kills Elton during the escape, and Ben crashes the buggy into another Hunter on a bridge, plunging into the river to escape. He survives and continues his northward trek, more determined than ever. The chase shifts toward the northern frontiers.

Day 4 Bridge, Maine
10

Discovery of paved bunker and Amelia hostage

Ben discovers that land development has paved over the bunker, forcing him to improvise. After escaping surveillance drones, he hijacks a passing car and takes Amelia Williams hostage. Amelia, initially a bystander, realizes the Network’s deceit and agrees to help him.

Day 4-5 Rural route toward Canada
11

Airfield escape toward Canada

Ben and Amelia reach an airfield and take off in a jet toward Canada, guarded by McCone. They hope to outrun the Network and reveal the truth on a larger stage. The pursuit remains intense as they speed away from the United States.

Day 5 Airfield
12

Killian’s offer and deepfake pressure

Killian calls to offer Ben his own show on the Network if he eliminates McCone and the remaining hunters. He threatens to broadcast footage of Sheila and Cathy’s murders to coerce compliance. The manipulation hardens Ben’s resolve to fight back.

Day 5-6 Jet in flight
13

Hunters killed; McCone revealed; rescue

Ben kills the hunters posing as the flight crew, while McCone is revealed as a former runner who accepted Killian’s deal. Ben defeats McCone and sends Amelia to safety with a parachute and Elton’s revolutionary pamphlets. The victory marks a turning point in the rebellion.

Day 6 Airborne
14

Jet redirected to HQ; crash

Killian demands a new live-show and orders the jet toward Network headquarters. A deepfake of Ben threatens to crash into the building, prompting the plane to be shot down. The Network’s attempt to crush the rebellion backfires spectacularly.

Day 6-7 From sky to Network HQ
15

Revolution fuels the fall of the Network

Amelia recovers the plane’s black box and leaks uncensored recordings, turning public opinion against the Network. Ben, surviving the crash thanks to the auto-eject system, becomes the face of the revolution and reunites with his family, who were supposedly dead. The next season begins with riots as Ben shoots Killian in a climactic confrontation.

Sometime later Various; after crash

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:32

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Dystopian survival game movies like The Running Man

Stories where characters are forced into a lethal contest for a corrupt audience.If you enjoyed the deadly game show premise of The Running Man, this section features similar movies where characters fight for their lives in orchestrated contests. Explore other high-stakes action thrillers and sci-fi stories set in dystopian futures with themes of media corruption, survival, and defiance.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow an ordinary person thrust into an extraordinary and violent situation, forced to use their wits and physical resilience to survive a series of staged challenges. The plot often involves uncovering the true nature of the game's masters and culminates in a direct confrontation with the system, offering a cathartic, hard-won victory.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared core premise of a lethal game, the oppressive atmosphere of a dystopian setting, and a fast, action-driven pace. They resonate with a similar feeling of desperate struggle against a manipulative power structure.

Action movies about parental sacrifice like The Running Man

High-stakes journeys driven by a parent's unconditional love against impossible odds.Fans of The Running Man's emotional drive will find more movies here centered on a parent risking everything for their child. Discover similar high-intensity action thrillers and sci-fi adventures where a desperate parental rescue mission fuels the entire plot against a dark and oppressive backdrop.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, typically an everyman, whose child is in peril—either through illness, captivity, or a systemic threat. This personal crisis forces them into a world of danger they would otherwise avoid. Their journey is as much an internal test of resolve as an external fight, culminating in a victory defined by saving their family, often at great personal cost.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the powerful 'parental sacrifice' motif, which creates a heavy emotional weight and justifies the high-intensity action. The shared vibe is a mix of desperate anxiety and triumphant hope, all anchored by a deeply personal, relatable goal.

Unlock the Full Story of The Running Man

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The Running Man Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Running Man, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Running Man Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Running Man

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Running Man. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Running Man

The Running Man Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Running Man Spoiler-Free Summary

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