Actress Gal Gadot's new action thriller film The Runner premiered on September 2 to overwhelmingly negative reviews from film critics, debuting with a 10 percent freshness score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
Most reviewers identified Gadot as the single positive aspect of the project, praising her physical fitness and sincere commitment to the role. However, critics largely dismissed the film itself as too banal to entertain audiences, noting that the filmmakers failed to create emotional tension.
Several critics offered detailed assessments of the production. One reviewer noted that films of this genre rely on the audience's willingness to suspend disbelief, adding that the movie maintains a sufficiently fast pace to prevent viewers from asking too many questions. Another critic acknowledged Gadot's visible physical exertion, but argued that the film falls short due to overly familiar elements that have been executed repeatedly in earlier thrillers.
Critical reception and reviews
Other assessments were significantly harsher. A third reviewer called the picture a shameful failure in Gadot's career, labeling it a flat and amateurish thriller that squanders a promising core idea on cheap direction and a complete lack of suspense. A fourth reviewer commented that while viewers must set aside skepticism for such stories, no amount of running from Gadot can help her escape the film's overall mediocrity. Additionally, another critic wrote that the movie ran out of breath soon after starting due to primitive dialogue, weak action sequences, and a total absence of emotional depth.
Plot summary and release details
The Runner centers on Maya, a successful lawyer who is preparing for the most critical court case of her professional career. Her life turns chaotic when an unknown individual kidnaps her son, and a caller subsequently demands that she follow a series of brutal conditions to secure the child's release.
The film is available for streaming on Amazon's Prime Video service and opens officially in Russian cinemas on September 3. Gadot, an Israeli actress best known internationally for starring in superhero blockbusters such as Wonder Woman, leads the cast. Rotten Tomatoes measures critical consensus by compiling reviews into an overall percentage score, where ratings under 60 percent indicate a negative reception.
