The next twoStephen Kingmovies that are scheduled to hit theaters are eerily similar. King is a prolific author who is best known for his works in the horror genre. Since the publication of his debut novel,Carrie, in 1974, he has penned a number of notable classics, includingIt,The Shining,Cujo,Misery,The Stand, and’Salem’s Lot.
His works have been adapted into more than four dozen moviesover the years that have collectively grossed $3 billion. These releases include the sprawlingChildren of the Cornfranchise, the Oscar-nominated dramasThe Shawshank RedemptionandStand by Me, and horror classics such as Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shiningand Brian De Palma’sCarrie.
There have already been two majorStephen King moviesin 2025, namely the gory Osgood Perkins horror movieThe Monkeyand the life-affirming Mike Flanagan dramaThe Life of Chuck. While those two movies couldn’t be more different,the next pair of King adaptations set to hit theaters are the exact opposite.
The Next Two Stephen King Movies In 2025 Have Major Things In Common
Their Similarities Are Uncanny
The next King movie to debut in 2025 is theupcomingThe Long Walk, which was directed by theHunger Gamesfranchise’s Francis Lawrence and is due on September 12. Based on King’s 1979 novel, it is set in a dystopian future whereyoung men must compete to walk without stopping for as long as possible until only one survives.
The star-studded ensemble cast ofThe Long Walkfeatures Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, Roman Griffin Davis, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Garrett Wareing, and Mark Hamill.
The Long Walkwill be followed by theremake ofThe Running Manon November 7. The movie, which was helmed by Edgar Wright, is the second adaptation of King’s 1982 novel after a 1987 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and followsa televised dystopian competition where prisoners compete for freedom while they are chased across the country.
The Running Manis similarly star-studded, with Glen Powell leading an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Katy O’Brian, Lee Pace, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Karl Glusman, Sean Hayes, and Colman Domingo.
In addition to both movies following deadly dystopian competitions that were precursors to titles such asBattle RoyaleandThe Hunger Games, and both of those competitions being centered on different speeds of human locomotion, their similarities extend to the fact thatboth original novels were published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
The Long Walk & The Running Man Will Be Very Different Movies
Their Similarities Will Quickly Fade
Even though the pair ofanticipated 2025 moviesare incredibly similar on paper, they promise to be entirely different experiences. For one thing,the directors helming both titles are entirely dissimilar.
WhileLawrence will likely imbueThe Long Walkwith the dour but inspirational tone of hisHunger Gamesmovies, Edgar Wright will more likely utilize his typical stylized, dynamic approach to inject pop-thriller energy into the more glamorous of the deadly competitions.
Edgar Wright is known for comedies and genre pastiches includingShaun of the Dead,Hot Fuzz,Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,Baby Driver, andLast Night in Soho.
Additionally, the way that the dystopian competitions play out on the page take entirely different directions.The Long Walkis a more introspective piece. Because it focuses on young men walking while surrounded by gun-wielding soldiers,it has fewer action setpieces and a more steady vein of dreadrunning through the story as the competitors psychologically and physically break down.
The Running Man, on the other hand,centers a more wide-ranging competition that allows for a splashier series of imagesand more variation between adrenaline-pumping mayhem and quieter, character-building scenes.
The Long Walk Vs. The Running Man: Which Stephen King Movie Is More Exciting?
Both Movies Have Their Merits
It’s difficult to determine which of the twoupcoming Stephen King movieswill be more exciting.Both have issues that could potentially prevent them from shining. For instance,The Long Walkfeels like an extension of theHunger Gamesfranchise thanks to Lawrence’s involvement and may struggle to compare favorably to those incredibly popular movies.
Francis Lawrence has helmed all four installments in theHunger Gamesfranchise since 2013’sCatching Fireand is set to return with the upcomingSunrise on the Reaping.
Similarly, becauseThe Running Manis not the first adaptation of the novel of the same name,it will be unable to escape comparisons to the 1987 movie. While the original was not a huge hit, it has become something of a cult classic, which could prevent audiences familiar with it from approaching the new adaptation with open minds.
However, both titles have strong merits.The most promising aspect ofThe Long Walkis that it features a cast of promising up-and-comers(Ben Wang was just the lead ofKarate Kid: Legends, David Jonsson recently shined inAlien: Romulus, and so on), who could provide excellent foils for Mark Hamill, whose villainous role promises another textured and terrifying performance.
The latter title ismostly intriguing because of the genre credentials of director Edgar Wright and star Glen Powell(who is fresh off the action hitsTop Gun: MaverickandTwisters). Because both have consistently turned out high-caliber work, this likely givesThe Running Manthe edge in terms of excitement, though it is a close race.
The Long Walk Vs. The Running Man: Which Stephen King Movie Will Be Bigger?
Both Have Major Advantages & Disadvantages
The question as to whether2025’sThe Long WalkorThe Running Manwill be bigger is even tougher. The former is an untested IP in theaters. WhileFrancis Lawrence’sHunger Gamesconnection could be helpful, considering the fact that it is also a dystopian adaptation about teenagers, the YA franchise has recently had diminishing returns in theaters.
Below, seea breakdown of the box office performance of theHunger Gamesmovies:
$78 million
$695.2 million
~$140 million
$865 million
$755.4 million
$160 million
$661.4 million
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes(2023)
$100 million
$349 million
However, the originalThe Running Manwas never a box office bonanza, even at the level of the lowest-grossingHunger Gamesmovie, which wasThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In fact,it only ever grossed $38.1 million against a reported $27 million budget, though it was probably bolstered by the video rental market.
The remake’s secret weapon is Glen Powell, who recently starred in a number of box office successes. After playing a major supporting role inTop Gun: Maverick(which grossed $1.496 billion against a reported budget of $170 million), he starred in the smash hit rom-comAnyone But You($220 million against $25 million) andTwisters($372.3 million against $155 million).
WhileThe Running Mancould potentially win the box office competition between the twoStephen Kingmovies thanks to Powell, the fact that the titles are quite different in spite of their similar premisescould allow them both to thrive in the theatrical marketplace, especially because their debuts are separated by nearly two months.
The Long Walk
Cast
The Long Walk, set to be released in 2025, follows sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty among fifty boys participating in an annual, harrowing endurance challenge. Governed by strict rules and the ominous consequence of receiving a ticket, the event underscores the chilling reality that only one can emerge victorious from this relentless competition.
The Running Man
The Running Man centers on a man participating in a perilous game show where contestants evade deadly “Hunters” in a global pursuit.
