The Runner

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1:48

The Runner

PG-13

2026

1h 24m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In the pulse-pounding psychological thriller The Runner, Maia Marten (Gal Gadot) has built her life on being one step ahead -- a sharp, resourceful, high-powered lawyer at the top of London's legal world. During her routine morning run, a single phone call shatters her world: her son has been taken. The instructions to get him back are simple and merciless -- keep moving, follow every command, and tell no one. Stop, and he dies. Forced to sprint through the city and obey a series of sinister commands, Maia must confront an impossible question: how far will she go to bring her son home? Set against the backdrop of London's hyper-connected streets, The Runner is a visceral, high-stakes race where every second counts, every choice carries a price, and a mother's unstoppable love becomes the most dangerous weapon of all.

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Critics Consensus

An empty, relentlessly frantic thriller, The Runner's real time gimmick and flat-footed plotting generate more headaches than suspense.

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Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

Sep 9, 2026

2/5

Despite its blackmail plot unfolding (loosely) in real-time, this forgettable 84-minute thriller is devoid of any rising tension.

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Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Sep 4, 2026

1/4

In this dumb-as-dirt kidnap drama, Gal Gadot huffs and puffs, trying to outrun an idiot plot that goes nowhere in 84 minutes.

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Robert Daniels

New York Times

Sep 3, 2026

Gal Gadot takes a mighty stumble in the unimaginative thriller “The Runner.”

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Puja Talwar

The Federal

2 days ago

It's a slight film built on a familiar chassis, but Macdonald's control of pace and Gadot's committed physicality keep it from ever feeling like a retread.

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Matt Pais

MattPais.com

5 days ago

D-

Perhaps we need more movies about skipping.

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Rachel Ho

Exclaim!

Sep 19, 2026

An elongated Saturday Night Live sketch with no punchline.

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Velociraptor R

@RT83561229 2 days ago

Intense film that pushes the right buttons. Do yourself a favor & go see it.

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Andrew J

@jynx2706 3 days ago

Phone booth 2. The ending gave it the extra half star.

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Sally L

@moviesandmayhem 3 days ago

its just.... so bad....

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elli J

@ElleJ 4 days ago

Reviews are so bad they made me want to dip in. It really wasn't that bad..honestly! The London street scenes & high pace meant it all skipped by quickly. Enjoyed all of that tho, as I'm always on the same streets cycling. The bit part actors weren't particularly believable but Gal Godot was great, with her stamina a feat to behold. The storyline was ok & did actually exist, and you can't go wrong with a bit of Damien Lewis as the bad guy. Really enjoyed all the music particularly the dance music and the old classics. Watched all the way to the end which is unusual with all the dross out there nowadays, & it didn't feel like wasted time. Wondering if there are some ulterior motives in the critics reviews here....?

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Joshua B

@RT63665679 4 days ago

It was hard to watch. Very repetitive.

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Rachel H

@RHalligan 5 days ago

Amazing movie. Nail biting and great acting!!

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Kevin Macdonald

Director

Gal Gadot

Maia

Damian Lewis

The Caller

Rory Wilmot

Noah

Alfred Enoch

Ted

Phoenix Di Sebastiani

Tafa

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Synopsis

In the pulse-pounding psychological thriller The Runner, Maia Marten (Gal Gadot) has built her life on being one step ahead -- a sharp, resourceful, high-powered lawyer at the top of London's legal world. During her routine morning run, a single phone call shatters her world: her son has been taken. The instructions to get him back are simple and merciless -- keep moving, follow every command, and tell no one. Stop, and he dies. Forced to sprint through the city and obey a series of sinister commands, Maia must confront an impossible question: how far will she go to bring her son home? Set against the backdrop of London's hyper-connected streets, The Runner is a visceral, high-stakes race where every second counts, every choice carries a price, and a mother's unstoppable love becomes the most dangerous weapon of all.

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Producer: David Kosse
Screenwriter: Mark Gibson
Distributor: Prime Video
Production Co: Rockwood Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2026
Runtime: 1h 24m

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