'The Running Man': Finale, Explained & Will There Be a Sequel?

In his new adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Running Man, Edgar Wright offers viewers a gripping glimpse into a dystopian future where one person's fate can alter the course of history.

Join us as we delve into the pivotal moments of the finale, the future of the media giant, and the prospects for a sequel.

What Happened to Ben on the Plane?

The Running Man culminates in a tense battle aboard the plane. After revealing that Ben didn't have the bomb, Dan Killian, the head of The Network, offered him a deal: kill the hunters on board and become the star of the violent show.

To pressure him, Killian showed Ben a fake video of his wife and daughter being murdered. However, Ben refuses the deal and engages in battle, defeating the mercenaries. Amelia escapes by parachute while Ben is trapped because his parachute is damaged.

Seeking to capitalize on the situation, Killian broadcasts an edited recording of Ben threatening to fly the plane into The Network headquarters. The corporation then remotely flies the plane into the building and shoots it down with a missile. Ben is officially declared dead.

Later, revolutionaries find a black box containing Ben's actual speech, in which he calls for a revolt. Conspiracy theorists also notice an object in the recording that resembles an escape pod.

This theory is confirmed in the finale when Ben appears alive on the show's set and kills Killian, proving that he used the pod to escape.

What Will Happen to The Network Following the Viewers' Revolt?

The revealing materials, including authentic airplane footage, sparked the revolution. After learning the truth about The Network's manipulations, viewers began canceling FreeVee en masse. This directly impacted the corporation's finances because it relied on ad revenue.

Anarchists took action, disrupting the filming of the new season of The Running Man. The main character's murder of Dan Killian marked the beginning of the end for the corporation.

However, dismantling such a powerful structure, built over decades, is unlikely to happen quickly. The Network still has significant financial resources for powerful counter-propaganda, as well as for searching for new leaders who could attempt to suppress the uprising and restart the project.

Will There Be a Sequel to 'The Running Man'?

A sequel to The Running Man is unlikely and director Edgar Wright has not announced plans for a second installment.

The main reason is the movie's modest box office performance – with a budget of $110 million, The Running Man's opening gross of $17 million fell short of the projected $20 million.

It will be extremely difficult for the studio to recoup such a significant investment, which makes the financial risks of producing a sequel too high.

Therefore, although the narrative leaves room for development concerning the fate of The Network, the rise of the revolution, or the lives of Ben's surviving family, viewers will likely have to settle for a single story.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Running Man'?

• The Running Man has 66% from critics and 79% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.7/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Running Man scored 3.2/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Running Man'?

The Running Man is currently playing in theaters.