Stephen King Hails Wright's Running Man as Modern Die Hard
The horror master compared Edgar Wright's action remake to the Bruce Willis classic, praising Glen Powell's everyman appeal despite the film's box office struggles.
When Stephen King draws parallels between a modern action flick and the legendary Die Hard, people take notice. The master of horror recently gave his stamp of approval to Edgar Wright's remake of The Running Man, declaring it the spiritual successor to Bruce Willis's iconic 1988 thriller.
Hollywood has a habit of lazily comparing every action movie to Die Hard, but King's endorsement carries more weight than most. After all, he's praising an adaptation of his own original story. When Wright took over directing duties for the remake, the author couldn't help but sing its praises.
King's Enthusiastic Endorsement
Speaking to the BFI, King highlighted what made the new version special. "It's got just a twinkle in it," he explained, drawing specific attention to Glen Powell's portrayal of protagonist Ben Richards. The author emphasized how Powell brings that essential everyman quality that made Bruce Willis's John McClane so compelling.
"He's an immensely likable character, and he has that in common with McClane in Die Hard. So, I mean, it's important to have a likeable main character, and he really is, and he feels fleshed out. It's good," King noted.
Where the Comparison Falls Short
Despite King's enthusiasm, the Die Hard comparison doesn't quite hold up under scrutiny. The fundamental structures of these films couldn't be more different. McClane's adventure unfolds over a single evening during an office Christmas party, confined to one building. Richards, meanwhile, embarks on a cross-country survival marathon spanning 30 days.
This difference in scope and setting makes the comparison feel somewhat forced, even coming from the original story's creator. The confined, pressure-cooker atmosphere that made Die Hard so effective simply isn't present in The Running Man's sprawling narrative.
Commercial Reality Check
Wright's latest big-budget venture hasn't lived up to commercial expectations, despite Powell's rising star power in Hollywood. The film represents exactly the kind of gamble studios are increasingly wary of: an R-rated blockbuster with a production budget exceeding $100 million.
Even with Powell riding high as one of the industry's most sought-after leading men, The Running Man failed to connect with audiences. It bombed at the box office and quickly faded from public conversation, unable to recoup its substantial investment through ticket sales.
While Die Hard launched a franchise that spawned four sequels (of admittedly declining quality), The Running Man's future looks uncertain. Based on its current trajectory, the film may struggle to find even a second life on streaming platforms or home video.