Critics’ reviews

Runner (2026)

10 reviews from 10 publications. Critics’ score 56: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative.

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56
Positive
4
Mixed
3
Negative
3

The reviews lean mildly positive but split almost evenly across the scale, and the praise clusters in one place: Alan Ritchson. Most critics find him the reason to stay, and several note his chemistry with Owen Wilson, though HeyUGuys thinks Wilson is underused. The action earns credit too, particularly the car stunts and a few forcefully staged set pieces, and more than one reviewer enjoys the human-organ MacGuffin and the pace.

The reservations gather around the script and the tone. Thin plotting, underdeveloped characters and an ending Radio Times calls a cheat come up repeatedly, and several critics find the gore sits awkwardly beside the comedy and the reaches for sentiment. The spread is wide: The Wrap credits director Scott Waugh with balancing all three, while RogerEbert.com finds the film abrasive, illogical and no fun at all. The Telegraph goes further on pacing, with a middle act that dawdles and a hospital climax that exhausts.

Variety
8 September 2026 · Todd Gilchrist
71*

The critic finds the action thriller passable and entertaining thanks to its efficient runtime and the chemistry between leads Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson, but notes it feels like middle-tier fare hampered by thin plotting and some cheap production values.

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Empire
11 September 2026 · Helen O’Hara
70*

O’Hara finds the film enjoyable, serviceable action entertainment that succeeds through pace and effectively delivered mayhem. She singles out its inspired human-organ MacGuffin and the crunchy kills, while noting its familiar character dynamic.

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The Guardian
8 September 2026 · Adrian Horton
68*

The critic finds the film silly but entertaining, with its action-camp sensibility winning over its attempts at emotional sincerity. They praise the inventive, forcefully staged stunts and action sequences.

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The AV Club
3 September 2026 · C · Simon Abrams
57

The critic views it as a mostly forgettable action programmer buoyed by Ritchson’s star presence and a few thrilling car stunts, but hampered by unremarkable fight scenes, underdeveloped characters, and a script that fails to make the leads compelling when not in action.

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The Hollywood Reporter
2 September 2026 · Frank Scheck
55*

The critic finds it a propulsive and relentless buddy thriller with impressive action sequences and strong chemistry between Ritchson and Wilson, but notes that the ultra-violent mayhem clashes with comic touches and leaves a bad aftertaste, with some unearned emotional elements.

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Radio Times
2 September 2026 · ★★ · Matt Glasby
40

The critic finds the high-concept thriller entertaining enough in stretches but undermined by a script that breaks its own rules and an ending that feels like a cheat. Background details capturing London's kinetic energy are singled out as the strongest element.

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The Telegraph
10 September 2026 · ★★ · Tim Robey
40

The critic finds the odd blend of goofiness, gore and sentiment makes for a peculiar action comedy with jarring tone and poor pacing that struggles to maintain momentum. The script's best line and the stars' bickering are noted, but the middle act dawdles and the hospital climax is exhausting.

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RogerEbert.com
2 September 2026 · Brian Tallerico
20*

The critic calls the film abrasive and illogical, faulting its convoluted plot, shallow execution, and failure to generate tension or fun despite constant movement. The frenetic visual style and lack of emotional grounding are highlighted as major flaws.

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The Wrap
2 September 2026
80*

The critic praises the film as a lively, entertaining action-comedy that succeeds where a similar recent release fails. Scott Waugh is singled out for expertly balancing comedy, character work, and high-quality action sequences.

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HeyUGuys
70*

The critic finds the film silly and predictable but ultimately entertaining. Alan Ritchson’s charismatic performance is singled out as the quality that carries it, while Owen Wilson is underused.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate