I watched The Running Man (2025) the weekend. It’s fun, action-packed, and suspenseful, and it looks incredible! It’s one of my favorite movies of the year.
This post has SPOILERS, so I’ll go ahead and say what this post is about so you can skip the rest if you haven’t seen the movie. Thinking about what you would’ve done differently in a movie can help you get better as a writer, and it could give you ideas for your scripts/your future scripts.
Here’s some things I would’ve changed about The Running Man (2025):
MOVIE SPOILERS BELOW!
#1. Villains
I haven’t seen the original Running Man in a long time, but I remember the villains were unique. There’s only one unique villain hunting the protagonist, Ben Richards, in The Running Man (2025) named Captain Holloway. Captain Holloway has a pack of Hunters with him. I would’ve made each Hunter in the 2025 movie unique, and I would've had them working alone, not in a pack (sometimes).
#2. 30 Days
Ben has to stay alive for 30 days to win the money in the 2025 film. It worked sometimes (like Ben recording videos of himself every day, which leads to other things in the movie), but it also makes the movie feel slow sometimes. I would’ve changed the 30 days to maybe 5 days or 10 days.
#3. Be The New Head Hunter
The main antagonist (the network's head producer named Dan Killian) offers Ben the chance to become the new head Hunter, Ben fights and kills the Hunters on a jet because he thinks they killed his family, and Dan has the jet shot down. Other things happen too. That works for the movie, but I think it would’ve been more fun and more impactful if Ben had to do an extreme mad dash to a finish line to win. I would’ve made the mad dash full of obstacles, henchpeople, fights, action, and more. And Ben's family would've been at the finish line, waiting for him.
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Hey Maurice, not bad of a movie
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Hey, Billy Kwack. I really like it! Have you seen the 1987 movie?
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One of my all time favs as a kid. I grew up in the 80's. Excited to check it out but for me when a classic is remade, especially one I watched over and over, well the bar is high.
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It was one of my all time favs as a kid too, David Linski. There's things I like more about the original and things I like more about the 2025 movie. Both of them are worth watching and studying. Let me know what you think of the 2025 movie.
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I didn't read your post once I got to the spoiler alert, so I shall watch the movie tonight while I'm jotting down notes for my new screenplay. And, yes, I loved the original, so I am looking forward to see what they did with it. I'll read your entire post after I've watched the movie.
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Great, Vikki Harris. Let me know what you think of the movie. And if you pick up any writing tips, reminders, etc. from the movie, feel free to share them. Congrats on starting a new screenplay!
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Hi Maurice, I love the original one, I might see it this week
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Maurice, you should check out the book to see if you like that ending (it’s different). The film takes elements from the book’s ending and shakes them up. Not sure if I like the new ending, but it’s clear why they had to change it.
I was excited for the film because it was meant to be a more faithful adaptation of the book (which I love), not a remake of the previous movie. Ultimately, it had some fun aspects, but I found its style a little jarring, like it was written with on-the-nose 1990s action movie sensibilities.
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I haven't seen this one, I loved the Schwarzenegger original. It was prophetic in many ways. And seeing a 1980s take on a highly computerized society is hilarious.
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Cool, Billy Kwack. I plan on rewatching the original soon. I want more fun, action-packed movies like The Running Man films, especially the 2025 one.
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I found the style of the 2025 movie a little jarring too, Mike Boas. It's a movie about the future, but it feels like a 90s movie that's kinda set in present day. It's a little strange. I'll check out the book. Thanks.
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I loved the Schwarzenegger original too, Michael Dzurak. If I'm remembering right, the original has Horror elements.
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Maurice Vaughan, I don't remember horror from the original, it's a dystopian sci-fi. Kinda like Rollerball meets The Most Dangerous Game or at least that's how I'd pitch it.
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Hey Maurice, yes, this year will be good, lots of new movies
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I'm excited about a lot of movies coming out this year, Billy Kwack! What's a movie you're excited about?
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Hey Maurice, a lot, masters of the universe, spiderman 4, supergirl and avengers doomsday
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I'm excited about those movies, Billy Kwack, especially Avengers: Doomsday! I also watched Roofman the weekend. Did you see it?
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Hey Maurice, yes the true story, it was okay
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I loved this film Maurice Vaughan but the Ending...
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My favorite things about Roofman are the concept and Channing Tatum's acting, Billy Kwack. I got a TV series idea while watching the first scene of the movie.
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How would you have ended the movie, Mark Films?
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I would have taken my time with the story and let it play out naturally, because it really felt rushed and for me it hurt the film with its super fast ending. Just my take. Cheers Maurice Vaughan
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What's something that worked in the movie, Mark Films?
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I loved the first half of the film Maurice Vaughan
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Agree with your comments Maurice.
I did too, Mark Films. I love how they set up things in the movie.
Hi, David Taylor. What's something you like about the movie?
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Hey Maurice, Channings cool, I like him as Gambit
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I do too, Billy Kwack. Hope he gets a Gambit movie!
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Hey Maurice, I seen a pretty good movie on Tubi, the children of time square, do you you know this one?
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Hey, Billy Kwack. I don't think I've heard of that movie. I have Tubi. I'll check it out. Thanks.
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Hey Maurice, cool, it came out 1986