Alan Ritchson's latest big-screen action outing, Runner, is making its way to home screens after a brief and underwhelming theatrical run. The film, which also stars Owen Wilson, will hit premium video-on-demand (PVOD) platforms on October 13, following a significant reduction in its theater count.
Ritchson has become a household name thanks to his starring role in Prime Video's hit series Reacher, which recently wrapped its fourth season to record viewership and critical acclaim. His earlier 2025 sci-fi actioner War Machine became one of Netflix's biggest hits, cementing his status as a streaming favorite. However, his transition to the big screen has been less triumphant. Both Motor City and Runner—his two theatrical releases this year—performed respectably with their target audiences but failed to break out commercially.
Directed by Scott Waugh, Runner follows a Good Samaritan who joins forces with a courier to deliver a liver to a dying girl while being pursued by gangsters. The film was distributed domestically by Angel Studios, a company known for faith-based content that has been expanding into mainstream genre fare with subtle religious undertones. Despite its high-octane premise and the chemistry between Ritchson and Wilson, the movie has only grossed around $18 million worldwide against a reported $45 million budget.
In its fifth weekend, Runner's theatrical footprint shrank dramatically from 2,568 screens to just 78. This sharp decline mirrors the trajectory of other action films that have struggled to draw crowds away from streaming. For comparison, Resident Evil, which also features a similar survival-action vibe, has amassed over $300 million globally. Runner's box office performance places it alongside recent Jason Statham vehicles like Mutiny and Shelter, which also saw modest returns.
Despite its box office struggles, Runner has earned a “Verified Hot” 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a solid 77% critics' score. The consensus praises the film for its “fast and gleefully over-the-top” action and the winning chemistry between Ritchson and Wilson. This positive reception suggests the movie could find a second life in the home entertainment market, much like Motor City did on PVOD.
The digital release of Runner coincides with the PVOD debuts of Practical Magic 2 and the sci-fi film Hope. For fans of Ritchson's action-hero persona, this is an opportunity to catch the film without a trip to the multiplex. As the actor continues to dominate streaming, it remains to be seen whether his big-screen projects will ever match his small-screen success.
Stay tuned for more updates on Runner and other action releases. In the meantime, check out our coverage of Chris Pratt's return in The Terminal List and the theatrical exit of Practical Magic 2.
