The Running Man movie that’s coming to theaters next week could not be more different than The Running Man movie you grew up with. That movie, released in 1987 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, followed a man named Ben Richards competing in a deadly reality show called The Running Man, run by an evil corporation. The new movie, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, does that too. Both movies are also based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Stephen King, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. But that’s basically where the similarities end.

Below, we’re going to run down the seven biggest, non-spoiler differences between the films and then decide which interpretation is more appealing. Then, check back next week for a full review of the new film and an interview with director Edgar Wright.

The Arena

In the 1987 film, The Running Man show takes place in a 400-block underground arena that allows for the TV production to cover it from all angles. In the 2025 film, Ben can go anywhere in the world. We understand that the smaller arena made for a smaller, less expensive movie. But expansion, which is more faithful to the book, makes for much more exciting set pieces because there is such variation.

Advantage: Powell 2025

Dynamo in the original Running Man. – Tri Star

The Villains

Once the game begins, both films show Ben being hunted by a group of popular killers, called Stalkers in the 1987 film and Hunters in 2025. However, while the 1987 film made the characters into larger-than-life personalities that were basically wrestlers (Fireball, Dynamo, etc.), the 2025 film portrays them as more of a tight-knit military team where most of them are anonymous, save for the leader, McCone. Those guys are cool, but no one is cooler than a man in a light suit singing opera.

Advantage: Schwarzenegger 1987

The Backstory

The most significant change between the films is why Ben plays Running Man in the first place. In 1987, he was framed for genocide because he refused to kill innocent people. He then plays the game because he’s captured and tries to help his friends. In 2025, Ben volunteers to play the game because he’s trying to help his family and needs the work. The new movie does touch upon some of that corporate evil, but family is simply a more emotionally powerful explanation.

Advantage: Powell 2025

Powell and Josh Brolin as Killian in The Running Man. – Paramount

The Love Interest

An offshoot of the difference in backstories is that both Bens have different love interests. In the 2025 film, Ben is in love with his wife, played by Jayme Lawson, as well as their child. In the 1987 movie, Ben has no attachments. He’s kind of forced into an awkward alliance with a random woman played by María Conchita Alonso. They eventually end up together, but it’s an afterthought. Having that human connection gives 2025 Ben a clear advantage.

Advantage: Powell 2025

The Prize

Ben, in the 2025 movie, volunteers for The Running Man because there are massive cash prizes available, upwards of $1 billion. He needs that money to help his family. In the 1987 movie, only criminals play the game, so their prizes are all oddly legally based and very quickly glossed over. Cold, hard cash is clearly a more relatable motivation to put your life on the line than the promise of a better lawyer.

Advantage: Powell 2025

Glen Powell incognitio in The Running Man. – Paramount

The Length

Marketing for the new Running Man makes it clear that, in the film, Ben Richards has to survive 30 days out in the world. The original movie only requires the characters to stay alive for three hours. That time difference changes motivations and plot devices throughout, but we like that things were so much shorter in the original. Made more sense for TV.

Advantage: Schwarzenegger 1987

The World

Because the new movie has Ben Richards out in the world, anyone, anywhere can become involved in The Running Man. That’s fun. The first movie takes place only in this isolated arena, so for the most part, the main people who have an impact on the game itself are members of the studio audience. That movie does show a lot of people in the outside world, but they’re all passive participants.

Advantage: Powell 2025

The games begin. – Tri Star

And also…

Of course, there are other differences too. Schwarzenegger’s film, for example, has two former governors in it: himself and Jesse Ventura. The new one has zero governors. In the original film, the host of The Running Man, played by Richard Dawson, is also the head of the evil corporation behind it. These are separate characters (Coleman Domingo and Josh Brolin, respectively) in the new film. Contestants in the first film are friends, but they’re strangers in the new one. The list goes on and on.

And, once you see the movie, there are plenty more, but we don’t want to spoil anything.

But certainly, from this list, it’s clear that Wright’s version is wildly different from the first one—and that means, if you’re a fan, it’s very worth checking out. It opens in theaters on November 14. We’ll have more soon.

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