Stephen King fans are having a banner year, with numerous adaptations on the big and small screens. But for those who want to revisit one of his most prescient works, time is running out – literally. Netflix set to remove 1987 cult classic The running man on November 1, 2025, just days before director Edgar Wright’s highly anticipated remake hits theaters. The timing couldn’t be worse for fans wanting to compare the original with its modern reimagining or for newcomers wanting to experience the dystopian spectacle that first brought King’s vision to Hollywood.
Originally published in 1982 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The running man was ahead of its time, envisioning a world where reality TV would become a deadly obsession. The story follows Ben Richards, a desperate man who volunteers for a deadly game show in a totalitarian America, all in the hopes of winning money to save his family. The original novel, which King reportedly wrote in a single week, painted a dark and dystopian picture and was praised for its biting social commentary. But when Hollywood called on us in 1987, the tone changed.
The film adaptation, directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards, leaned heavily on action, muscle and high-octane spectacle. Released on November 13, 1987, the film saw Schwarzenegger’s Richards accused of a massacre, imprisoned, then forced to run for his life on national television. The show’s host, Damon Killian (memorably played by Richard Dawson), orchestrates the deadly hunt, ensuring that Richards’ path to freedom is anything but simple. According to the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis, “In 2019, America is a totalitarian state where the favorite television program is ‘The Running Man’ – a game show in which prisoners must run to freedom to avoid a brutal death.”
Despite Schwarzenegger’s influence at the box office, the film received a mixed reception, grossing just over $38 million against a budget of $27 million. Reviews were divided, with the film currently holding a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were evenly split, giving it an audience score of 61%. Yet over the decades, the film’s mix of lurid violence, dark humor, and dystopian themes has earned it a cult following. As ComicBook.com notes: “The Running Man was a minor success, and although not one of Stephen King’s best films, it has become a cult film.”
The timing of Netflix’s removal of the film is particularly frustrating for fans. With Edgar Wright’s new adaptation set for release on November 11, 2025, many were hoping to revisit the original before diving into the remake. The new film, led by Glen Powell as Ben Richards, promises a return to the novel’s darker roots. Powell’s Richards is a man who enters a deadly competition not only to survive, but also to buy medicine for his family – a nod to the desperate, ordinary protagonist of the original. The supporting cast is loaded with talent, including Josh Brolin as the manipulative competition producer, Colman Domingo as the game show host, and other notables like Lee Pace, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, Katy O’Brian, and Emilia Jones.
Wright, known for his groundbreaking hits like Shaun of the Dead And Warm Fuzzco-wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall. Early buzz suggests that the remake will move closer to King’s original vision, restoring the dystopian side and social criticism of the story. According to FilmWeb“2025 sees the release of a modern adaptation of King’s original novel. The Running Man is scheduled to hit theaters on November 14 from Paramount Pictures.” (The slight date difference between the sources – November 11 and November 14 – reflects staggered release strategies, but the point remains: the remake is imminent.)
For those who are having trouble finding the original before it disappears from Netflix, there are still options. ComicBook.com reports that The running man will remain available on Paramount+ and BBC America after November 1. However, AMC+ subscribers are also tuning in, as the film will leave that service the same day it leaves Netflix. For those who don’t have these subscriptions, the film can be rented on Apple TV, Plex, Fandango At Home and Amazon. So while losing Netflix is a blow, determined fans can still track down the film, if they act fast.
It’s not fair The running man fueling this year’s Stephen King renaissance. 2025 has already seen adaptations of The monkey, Chuck’s lifeAnd The long walk hits the screens, while a new television series based on The Institute found a home on MGM+. King himself published a new detective novel by Holly Gibney, Never flinchfurther cementing his status as the reigning king of horror and suspense. And there are more things to come: This: Welcome to Derry is set to premiere as a television series, expanding the universe of one of King’s most iconic stories.
However, the imminent departure of The running man of Netflix recalls the ephemeral nature of streaming rights. For many, the original film is a nostalgic touchstone – an artifact of 1980s action excess, yes, but also a wry commentary on the dangers of entertainment gone mad. The film’s vision of a society obsessed with televised violence seems eerily prescient in today’s media landscape, where reality TV and viral moments dominate the cultural conversation.
As the countdown to the film’s removal and premiere of the remake ticks away, fans have a choice: revisit the original while they still can, or wait to see how Wright and Powell reinterpret King’s dystopian nightmare for a new generation. Regardless, the enduring appeal of The running man– in both its forms – is a testament to the power of King’s storytelling and the ever-relevant questions his work raises about society, media, and the lengths people will go to survive.
For those who want to compare, contrast, or simply enjoy a slice of cult cinema history, the window is quickly closing. Catch Schwarzenegger’s run while you can, before the next chapter in King’s ever-expanding legacy hits theaters and the chase begins again.
