The latest Stephen King movie adaptation, The Running Man, is in position to outperform the lifetime global box office earnings of The Shining after its recent theatrical release. While this new installment struggled to take the top spot in its opening weekend, its continued box office presence is setting the stage for a significant milestone among King-inspired films.
Box Office Performance of ‘The Running Man’
Starring Glen Powell, The Running Man entered the domestic charts last weekend with high expectations, but settled for second place behind the debut of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. Despite extensive marketing and Powell’s current popularity, the film’s performance fell slightly short of predictions. In the following week, The Running Man remains behind Now You See Me 3 and Wicked: For Good, which had a massive $70 million opening day.
Still, the outlook for The Running Man remains positive when compared to previous Stephen King movie adaptations. The film appears ready to surpass the $38 million total earned by the 1987 version starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, based on King’s 1982 novel written under the name Richard Bachman. Additionally, it is expected to pass the $46 million global haul of Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining. While The Shining’s box office numbers are not adjusted for inflation, the achievement marks an important step for King properties at the cinema, even as more people saw The Shining on its release than have viewed the new Running Man to date.
Critical Response and Competition in Theaters
Directed by Edgar Wright with a reported production budget of $110 million, The Running Man faces strong rivalry from the popular holdover, Predator: Badlands. The film received a moderate reception, earning a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating mixed opinions among critics. This is in contrast to The Long Walk, another King adaptation released this year, which continues to outpace The Running Man at the box office. Moviegoers can see The Running Man in theaters, while fans of King’s work can also look forward to a special IMAX re-release of The Shining next month.
Key Cast Members and Characters
The Running Man features Glen Powell in the role of Ben Richards. Josh Brolin appears as Dan Killian, expanding the film’s appeal with established talent. Arnold Schwarzenegger previously brought Ben Richards to life in the 1987 version, reflecting how different actors interpret King’s well-known characters across various adaptations.
Implications for Stephen King Movie Adaptations
As The Running Man aims to surpass the box office records of The Shining and the original film, its performance reaffirms the enduring popularity of Stephen King’s stories on screen. With ongoing interest in both new films and theatrical re-releases like The Shining, King remains a significant influence in the world of cinema adaptations, and future projects may benefit from this continued attention and box office activity.
