Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mom races to save her son in tense thriller; peril, blood.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Runner (2026)
What's the Story?
High-powered lawyer Maia (Gal Gadot) is out for her usual morning run after dropping son Noah (Rory Wilmot) at school when she receives a threatening phone call in THE RUNNER. The caller (Damian Lewis) has kidnapped Noah and put him in an insulin coma. He tells Maia she needs to run on foot to a location across town and commit a violent act at his discretion. She can tell no one. The caller has hacked into all of her communications and photos, and he knows enough about her life to use it against her in this race against time.
Is It Any Good?
Not since Run Lola Run has a star been asked to sprint for most of a feature film, but while this one may lack the originality of Tom Tykwer's 1998 drama, the action, setting, and emotion do pay off. The crowded and chaotic London streets make for a great backdrop for The Runner, a setting that could've been even more thoroughly exploited. The music, which at moments also feels reminiscent of Lola, could likewise have more memorably contributed to the mood.
Instead, the film relies almost entirely on Gadot to drive the tension and excitement. She carries it off, even if some of her dialogues with the caller and a late-film explanation of events feel overly contrived. Lewis is given little to work with, and the camera tries to create mystique by only showing pieces of him and his lair. We could draw a parallel that a fractional view is all he has on his victim as well, even though he's hacked her entire online world. The moral here seems to be to share less and get off our phones more. It's a message we can all get behind, especially after watching what Gadot is put through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether The Runner makes you reevaluate your online presence and smartphone use. Explain.
How does Maia compare to other women in action films or thrillers? Does she into any stereotypes? Is she portrayed as smart and strong, as a victim, or both?
What pieces of information are we given about the Caller? What conclusions did you draw?
What aspects of the film's cinematography captured your attention? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 2, 2026
- Cast : Gal Gadot , Damian Lewis , Rory Wilmot
- Director : Kevin Macdonald
- Studio : Amazon Prime
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Moms , Single Parents ) , STEM
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, bloody images and some language
- Last updated : September 1, 2026
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