Despite early box office estimates indicating that The Running Man would get off to a fairly strong start when it raced into theaters on Friday, Edgar Wright's adaptation of Stephen King's dystopian novel has come in below expectations to take the No. 2 spot domestically.
The R-rated sci-fi action thriller took in $6.4 million across Friday and preview screenings, putting it on track to make between $17 million and $19 million over the weekend. Not the worst start in the world, by any means, but it is worth noting that the movie is believed to have a production budget of at least $110 million.
Initial reactions to the movie were highly positive (what else is new?), but full reviews were more mixed, and The Running Man is currently sitting at 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie's Critics Consensus reads: "Spiritedly sprinting through grim source material, Edgar Wright's The Running Man doesn't live up to the director's high bar for inventive action extravaganzas but maintains a slick stride."
Lionsgate's Now You See Me: Now You Don't came in at No. 1 with $8.4 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,403 locations, and looks set to conjure a three-day opening between of $21 million and $24 million. Predator: Badlands dropped to third place with $3.5 million on its second Friday, and should reach $66 million domestically this weekend.
Osgood Perkins' latest horror movie, Keeper, made just $1 million from 1,950 locations across Friday and previews, and looks set for fifth place behind Regretting You. Reviews have been mixed-negative, and the film has been hit with an abysmal “D+” CinemaScore grade.
Do you plan on seeing any of these movies on the big screen this weekend? As long as you're okay with spoilers, you can find out how The Running Man makes a huge change to King's book here.
"In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort.
But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall."