Stephen King fans are having a banner year, with a slew of adaptations hitting both big and small screens. But for those looking to revisit one of his most prescient works, time is running out—literally. Netflix is set to remove the 1987 cult classic The Running Man on November 1, 2025, just days before director Edgar Wright’s highly anticipated remake lands in theaters. The timing couldn’t be worse for fans eager 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 television becomes a deadly obsession. The story follows Ben Richards, a desperate man who volunteers for a lethal televised game show in a totalitarian America, all in the hope of winning money to save his family. The original novel, which King reportedly wrote in a single week, painted a bleak, dystopian picture and was lauded for its biting social commentary. But when Hollywood came calling in 1987, the tone shifted.
The film adaptation, directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards, leaned heavily into action, muscle, and high-octane spectacle. Released on November 13, 1987, the movie saw Schwarzenegger’s Richards framed for a massacre, imprisoned, and 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 straightforward. According to the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis, "In the year 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 box-office clout, the movie received a lukewarm reception, grossing just over $38 million against a $27 million budget. Critics were divided, with the film currently holding a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were equally split, giving it a 61% audience score. Yet over the decades, the film’s blend of gaudy violence, dark humor, and dystopian themes has earned it a cult following. As ComicBook.com notes, "The Running Man was a small success, and while not one of Stephen King’s best movies, it has become a cult favorite."
The timing of Netflix’s removal of the film is particularly frustrating for fans. With Edgar Wright’s new adaptation set for a November 11, 2025 release, 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 entering the deadly competition not just for survival but to afford medicine for his family—a nod to the original’s desperate, everyman protagonist. The supporting cast is stacked with talent, including Josh Brolin as the contest’s manipulative 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 genre-bending hits like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall. Early buzz suggests that the remake will hew closer to King’s original vision, restoring the story’s dystopian edge and social critique. According to MovieWeb, "2025 sees the release of a modern adaptation of King's original novel. The Running Man is set to be released in theaters on November 14 by Paramount Pictures." (The slight date discrepancy between sources—November 11 and November 14—reflects staggered release strategies, but the point stands: the remake is imminent.)
For those scrambling to find the original before it vanishes 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 on the clock, as the film will exit that service the same day it leaves Netflix. For those without these subscriptions, the movie can be rented on Apple TV, Plex, Fandango At Home, and Amazon. So, while Netflix’s loss is a blow, determined fans can still track down the film—if they act fast.
It’s not just The Running Man feeding the Stephen King renaissance this year. 2025 has already seen adaptations of The Monkey, The Life of Chuck, and The Long Walk hit screens, while a new TV series based on The Institute found a home on MGM+. King himself released a new Holly Gibney mystery novel, Never Flinch, further cementing his status as the reigning king of horror and suspense. And there’s more to come: It: Welcome to Derry is set to premiere as a TV series, expanding the universe of one of King’s most iconic stories.
Still, the impending departure of The Running Man from Netflix is a reminder of the fleeting 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 run amok. The movie’s vision of a society obsessed with televised violence feels eerily prescient in today’s media landscape, where reality TV and viral moments dominate the cultural conversation.
As the countdown to both the film’s removal and the remake’s premiere ticks away, fans are left with 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. Either way, the enduring allure of The Running Man—in both its forms—speaks 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 closing fast. Catch Schwarzenegger’s run while you can—before the next chapter in King’s ever-expanding legacy hits theaters and the chase begins anew.
