The Runner (2026)
One hour. One chance to save her son.
Maia Marten, a brilliant London lawyer, has her life shattered by a single call on her morning run: her son has been taken. To get him back, she must keep running, obey every ruthless command, and trust no one-each second a test of how far a mother will go to save her child.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 3 September 2026 |
| Genre | Thriller, Action |
| Director | Kevin Macdonald |
| Starring | Gal Gadot, Damian Lewis and Rory Wilmot |
| Runtime | 86 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | TMDB users 6.8/10 |
Where to watch The Runner
The Runner is streaming on Prime Video ($8.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Prime Video is $8.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 September 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
What kind of watch this is
The Runner is a 2026 thriller and action film that treats a mother’s love as a physical endurance test. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, it runs 86 minutes, a tight window for a story that refuses to let you rest. Gal Gadot plays a lawyer who must obey every command to save her son, trusting no one along the way. It is for viewers who want high-stakes tension without a long lead-up. The clock is the true antagonist here, and it does not negotiate.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 9% positive, a number that makes the 3.6 average look like a rounding error. Metacritic scores it 28, a weighted average that lands firmly in the "generally unfavorable" zone. The consensus calls it empty and frantic, a description that suggests the editing bay was working overtime. Peter Travers, a former Rolling Stone critic, advised a "hard pass" if a friend invited you to watch it. Robert Daniels of The New York Times called it unimaginative, noting the lead limps through a thin premise.
How it did with audiences
The Runner debuted at No. 2 on the worldwide Prime Video movie chart. It then climbed to No. 1 in the United Kingdom and the United States, leapfrogging Project Hail Mary and Icefall. By September 4, FlixPatrol reported it ranked first in 38 countries. Nielsen data showed it was the fourth most-streamed film from August 31 to September 6, with 368 million minutes viewed. The next week, it dropped to tenth place with 201 million minutes. On TMDB, users rate it 6.8 out of 10. The numbers say people watched. The rating says they had mixed feelings about what they watched.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Runner.
Sources
- The Runner on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q134107888 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Runner (2026 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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