Book Review and Movie Comparisons of The Running Man
The Running Man
Author: Stephen King as Richard Bachman
Narrator: Kevin Kenerly
First Published: May 4, 1982
Audiobook: 7 hours 42 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: July 13-17, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
In the year 2025, the best men don’t run for president, they run for their lives…
Ben Richards is out of work and out of luck. His eighteen-month-old daughter is sick, and neither Ben nor his wife can afford to take her to a doctor. For a man from the poor side of town with no cash and no hope, there’s only one thing to do: become a contestant on one of the Network’s Games, shows where you can win more money than you’ve ever dreamed of—or die trying. Now Ben’s going prime-time on the Network’s highest-rated viewer participation show. And he’s about to become a prey for the masses…
Jessica’s Review:
Stephen King was ahead of his time! He first wrote The Running Man over the course of just a week in 1972 or 1973. It was first published in 1982 under his Richard Bachman pseudonym and takes place in a dystopian America in 2025, which is now our past. The Running Man shows how difficult of a world 2025 is. But to lighten the people’s spirits, we have one of the highest rated television shows: The Running Man and everyone in the USA can participate!
Ben Richards is just 28-years-old and is married with an 18-month-old daughter who is sick. Everything is extremely hard to come by and you need ‘new money’ to get anything. With seemingly no other option, he ends up on the show The Running Man. He is given a twelve-hour head start and has 30 days to survive and the longer he lasts the more money he earns. But things are not as they seem. As we all know, ‘reality television’ isn’t actually real. We see the constant manipulation of the media on everyday people who are extremely poor. But Ben fights to survive and help save his daughter. His wife and daughter are his sole reason for doing this.
The reader goes on the journey with Ben. In some parts of the novel, you can see how it has aged, at times not well. Part of this is with Ben’s personality. Richards is not likeable, but I was rooting for him to make it to the end to help his family. The entire novel is dark, but has an even darker ending. At first I was giving the novel 3.5 stars, but as I got to thinking more about it I decided on four stars. Not enjoying an ending is not a reason to give a lower star rating when in fact the author did accomplish what he intended. For that reason I gave The Running Man the rating I did. This novel won’t be for everyone, but it was in fact a good dark read about a ugly Dystopian America. Again, it was written in the 1970s but still accomplishes what it was meant to even today!
The narrator Kevin Kenerly did a good job with his narration. I never lost interest in the story.
Movie Comparisons:
My Thoughts on the 1987 Film:
I had never seen the 1987 version and at first, I was going to skip it when I read the description and saw it is nowhere near to the book. It is about convicted criminals fighting to get a second chance. But then I saw some reviews where people were talking about how much they enjoyed it. I decided to watch it fully knowing it won’t be like the book.
And this version is NOT like the book at all. The film takes place in 2019 and in 2017 the global economy collapsed. It has Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards who ends up competing in the Running Man. He was a police detective who the audience is led to believe did something that he did not do. Richards and two others are put into the ‘game’ and are ‘runners; while they are hunted down by ’stalkers’.
Unlike in the book, we get to see parts of the television show and also ‘behind the scenes’. It is more of a game show than reality tv, with the audience wanting the runners to be killed and adoring the ‘stalkers’.
This version of The Running Man is a quintessential 1980s film! So you better know what you are in for: It is campy, corny and has lots of cheesy one liners. We also get Arnold saying his most famous quote: “I’ll be Back”. Taking into consideration that this film is extremely not similar to the book, I really enjoyed watching this version. Would I watch it again, no. It’s a one time viewing for this reviewer. I know some people grew up watching this film and loving it. But not me. The overall rating I would give the 1987 version would be a strong 3 stars.
My Thoughts on the 2025 Film:
This is a film that is overall faithful to the book. It does have its differences, including a major change to the ending, but this is a good film! Taking place in present day, we do have some homages to the book and 1987 film: Arnold is on the ‘new money’ and at one point in the film you see a store called “Bachman’s’. I loved seeing those easter eggs!
Ben Richards is a little older than the Richards of the book. ‘Film Richards’ is 35 years old and is very much likable unlike ‘Book Richards’. He is also entertaining and seems like a realistic ‘every man’ who has no other choice but to try and get on a game show and seemingly finds himself on The Running Man. This Richards is made more heroic and spares some of those hunting him down. I was rooting for him and hoping the film would have a different ending, which it does. The book’s ending is very dark and I can’t see that ending being made. If you want to know that ending, then read the book!
We get more of the actual television show and ‘behind the scenes’ in this film.
Casting wise we have Glen Powell as Ben Richards, and wow, he did a fabulous job. We also have William H. Macy as Molie and he was enjoyable! I adored Molie for the short time he was in the film. The scene stealer was none other than Colman Domingo! He was perfection as Bobby T, host of The Running Man. Charismatic yet also full of himself, Domingo knows how to portray these types of characters. I have been a fan of his since he was on Fear the Walking Dead and even had a chance to meet him 10 years ago. And he is quite the entertaining man! It’s a story to share for sure.
The 2025 film version of The Running Man I give 4 stars to, and I would watch it again!
Me with Colman Domingo in 2016 at Walker Stalker!
Purchase Links:
Book:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
1987 Film:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
2025 Film:
Amazon US It is currently available for free if you have Prime!
Amazon UK