‘The Runner’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Is In, and Critics Say Gal Gadot’s Thriller Can’t Outrun Its Own Clichés

Prime Video has leaned hard into star-driven thrillers over the past few years, betting that a recognizable face racing against the clock is enough to hook subscribers scrolling their homepage. That formula has worked before, but it also means each new entry gets measured against a genre that’s already been done, and done well, plenty of times.

Gal Gadot’s latest attempt to fill that lane arrived this week with real pedigree behind the camera, pairing the ‘Wonder Woman’ star with director Kevin Macdonald and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, the latter known for his work on films like ’28 Years Later.’ On paper, the setup sounded promising: a high-powered London attorney forced into a frantic, real-time sprint across the city after her son is kidnapped.

Now that the reviews are actually rolling in, the verdict looks rough. ‘The Runner‘ currently sits at just 10% on the Tomatometer based on 10 reviews, with critics largely agreeing that the film’s slick visuals can’t compensate for a thin, predictable script.

The consensus forming around ‘The Runner’ centers on a familiar complaint: style outpacing substance. Variety’s review noted the film has energy but lacks the strong suspense or novelty needed to elevate an overly familiar concept, while also criticizing its attempt at “retro cool” through a pair of bookending Blondie needle-drops that only underline how little personality the movie actually has.

Screen Rant’s review raised similar issues with the film’s voice-on-phone thriller structure, arguing that the script is plotted well enough but isn’t rich or witty enough to sustain interest once the pace slows down. The review also took aim at director Macdonald’s stylistic choices, suggesting his efforts to inject excitement only end up making ‘The Runner’ feel like a weaker imitation of a Danny Boyle film.

Other outlets were even more pointed. AV Club’s review handed the film a blunt D- grade, while Flickering Myth’s assessment argued the movie cheats its way toward a climax that ultimately isn’t satisfying, adding that nothing involving the villain or the underlying court case ends up mattering by the time the credits roll.

Gadot herself hasn’t escaped criticism either, with multiple reviews pointing to her performance as a weak link. One review described her line delivery and attempts at conveying emotion as clunky and slightly awkward, even while acknowledging she appeared to be putting in more effort than usual.

By contrast, Damian Lewis, who plays the mysterious kidnapper known only as “the Caller,” has drawn more favorable reactions for leaning fully into the character’s menace and dark humor. Several reviews singled out the dynamic between Lewis and Gadot as one of the few elements keeping the film’s energy going once the initial premise wears thin.

The film’s real-world London setting fared better critically than its plotting, with reviewers praising the way cinematographer Dod Mantle turned the city’s crowded streets into a genuinely kinetic, obstacle-filled backdrop for Maia’s desperate run.

With ‘The Runner’ now streaming on Prime Video following its September 2 premiere, the film joins a growing pile of star-led thrillers that generated pre-release buzz but struggled to win over critics once reviews actually dropped.

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