Runner is an upcoming 2026 action thriller starring Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson. Directed by Scott Waugh, the movie follows a former soldier who becomes caught in a dangerous race against time after a critical medical delivery turns him into the target of a ruthless cartel.
With its combination of action, comedy, crime and survival-thriller elements, Runner is shaping up as an interesting September 2026 theatrical release.
Here’s everything you need to know about the movie, including its release date, cast, story, trailer, runtime, genre and where to watch.
Runner Movie 2026 Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie | Runner |
| Release Date | September 11, 2026 |
| Director | Scott Waugh |
| Lead Actor | Alan Ritchson |
| Co-Star | Owen Wilson |
| Genre | Action / Thriller / Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 1 hour 37 minutes |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Distributor | Angel Studios |
| Production Countries | USA / UK / Australia |
The film is officially listed for a September 11, 2026 theatrical release and has a reported runtime of 97 minutes.
Runner Movie Release Date
Runner will release in US theaters on September 11, 2026.
Angel Studios has confirmed that the movie will be released exclusively in theaters beginning September 11, with international release information handled separately.
That makes Runner one of the notable Hollywood movies releasing in September 2026.
Runner Release Date
September 11, 2026
Moviegoers interested in the film should check their local listings because international theatrical dates can vary.
What Is Runner Movie About?
The story follows Hank Malone, a former soldier who becomes involved in an extremely dangerous medical delivery mission.
What should be a straightforward delivery quickly turns into a deadly chase when Hank and his unlikely partner, played by Owen Wilson, become targets of a powerful cartel.
The pair must keep moving while trying to protect a critical medical package that could save a young girl’s life.
According to Angel Studios, every delay puts the mission—and the girl’s survival—at greater risk.
The basic setup is simple:
Deliver the medical cargo.
Stay ahead of the cartel.
Keep the girl alive.
But the journey becomes increasingly complicated as betrayal and danger close in around the characters.
Runner Movie Cast
The movie has an interesting combination of action-star power and comedy experience.
Alan Ritchson as Hank Malone
Alan Ritchson leads Runner as Hank Malone, a former soldier caught in the dangerous mission.
Ritchson is particularly known for physically demanding action roles, making him a natural fit for a movie built around a relentless chase.
Owen Wilson as Ben Bishop
Owen Wilson plays Ben Bishop, Hank’s unlikely partner.
His involvement gives the movie an opportunity to balance its serious action with lighter moments.
Other Runner Cast Members
The cast also includes:
- Kate Box
- Leila George
- Rodrigo Santoro
- Peta Sergeant
- Jacob Hohua
- Geraldine Hakewill
- Cecilia Toussaint
- Scarlett Crabtree
IMDb currently lists Ritchson, Wilson and Kate Box among the principal cast.
Who Directed Runner?
Scott Waugh directed Runner.
Waugh is known for action-focused filmmaking, which makes him a fitting choice for a story centered around a high-pressure chase and survival mission.
The screenplay is credited to Miles Hubley, with Alan Ritchson also among the producers.
Runner Movie Trailer
The Runner trailer previews a fast-paced action story involving a medical delivery, cartel pursuit and a race against time.
The movie appears to rely heavily on practical action, vehicle sequences, pursuit scenes and the chemistry between Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson.
IMDb currently lists both a teaser and a final trailer for the movie.
What the Trailer Suggests
From the promotional material, viewers can expect:
- High-speed chases
- Gun battles
- Survival situations
- A dangerous cartel
- Medical urgency
- Comedy between the leads
- A race against time
Rather than building the movie around a complicated mythology, Runner appears to focus on a relatively straightforward action-survival premise.
Runner Movie Genre
Runner combines several genres:
Action + Thriller + Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes currently categorizes the movie as Action, Mystery & Thriller, and Comedy.
This combination could make it appealing to viewers who want an action movie that doesn’t take itself completely seriously.
Why Runner Could Be Worth Watching
There are several reasons to keep Runner on your 2026 movie watchlist.
1. Alan Ritchson Leads the Movie
Ritchson has become increasingly associated with physically demanding action roles.
A former-soldier character involved in a dangerous mission fits that image particularly well.
2. Owen Wilson Adds Comedy
Owen Wilson brings a very different screen presence to the project.
His involvement suggests the movie won’t be a completely serious military thriller.
3. Simple High-Stakes Premise
The movie has an easy-to-understand central objective:
Get the medical delivery through while staying alive.
That type of premise can work extremely well when the pacing and action are strong.
4. Short Runtime
At approximately 97 minutes, Runner is relatively compact for a modern action movie.
A shorter runtime could help the movie maintain momentum without unnecessary subplots.
Runner Movie Runtime
The listed theatrical runtime for Runner is:
1 hour 37 minutes
That’s approximately 97 minutes.
For viewers looking for a relatively quick action movie, this could be a positive.
Is Runner a Family Movie?
Runner has been rated PG-13.
Angel Studios says the rating is for strong violence, bloody images and some language.
The studio’s viewer guidance also recommends the movie for older teens rather than younger children because of the violence and intense situations.
So while Runner isn’t an R-rated action movie, parents should be aware that it contains substantial action violence.
Runner Movie vs Other Action Thrillers
The premise of Runner is built around urgency.
Unlike a superhero movie where the stakes can involve saving the entire world, this story focuses on a much more immediate objective: getting critical medical supplies to someone who needs them while being hunted.
That gives the movie a potentially strong emotional hook.
The biggest question will be whether the film can turn that straightforward setup into sustained suspense.
Runner Movie: What We Expect From the Story
Without giving away anything that isn’t already revealed in the official premise, the movie appears to follow a classic escalating-thriller structure:
The Mission
Hank and Ben have to transport critical medical cargo.
The Threat
A ruthless cartel begins hunting them.
The Race
Every delay makes their situation more dangerous.
The Stakes
The delivery isn’t simply valuable—it could determine whether a young girl survives.
The Final Challenge
The characters must survive the pursuit long enough to complete their mission.
This structure gives Runner a straightforward emotional objective, which could make it easy for audiences to follow.
Runner Movie 2026: First Impression
Based on the available premise and trailers, Runner looks designed as a fast, accessible action movie rather than a complicated prestige thriller.
The Alan Ritchson-Owen Wilson pairing is probably its most unusual selling point.
Ritchson provides the physical action presence, while Wilson can potentially provide the lighter side of the story.
If the film successfully balances these two tones, it could become a fun September theatrical option.
Is Runner Movie Worth Watching?
Our answer: potentially yes, especially for action fans.
The movie has several ingredients that make it worth keeping on the radar:
- Alan Ritchson in the lead
- Owen Wilson as co-star
- A simple race-against-time premise
- Cartel action
- Medical rescue stakes
- 97-minute runtime
- PG-13 accessibility
However, the final verdict should depend on the completed film rather than the promotional material.
Watch Runner if you enjoy:
✅ Action thrillers
✅ Chase movies
✅ Alan Ritchson
✅ Owen Wilson
✅ Survival stories
✅ Fast-paced Hollywood movies
✅ Crime/action adventures
You may want to skip it if you prefer:
❌ Slow character dramas
❌ Art-house cinema
❌ Complex mystery stories
❌ Long, detailed political thrillers
Runner Movie 2026 Rating Prediction
FlixBabaMovies Pre-Release Watch Score: ⭐ 3.5/5
This is not a final movie review.
The score reflects the movie’s cast, premise, genre appeal and available promotional material.
Once the movie receives broader reviews and audience reactions, this section should be updated with the final FlixBabaMovies rating.
Runner Movie vs The Runner: Don’t Get Confused
There is another 2026 movie titled The Runner, starring Gal Gadot.
That’s a completely different movie.
Runner:
- Alan Ritchson
- Owen Wilson
- Scott Waugh
- Angel Studios
- September 11, 2026
- Theatrical release
The Runner:
- Gal Gadot
- Kevin Macdonald
- Prime Video
- September 2, 2026
- Psychological action thriller
The Gal Gadot film follows a London lawyer whose son is kidnapped and who is forced to follow a series of instructions while running through the city.
This distinction is useful for SEO too because people searching “Runner movie 2026” could easily land on the wrong film.
Runner Movie: Where to Watch
Runner is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States on September 11, 2026. Angel Studios says the movie will initially be released exclusively in theaters.
At the time of writing, readers should not assume a streaming release date.
For the latest availability, check official theater listings and Angel Studios’ release information.
Runner Movie 2026 FAQs
When is Runner movie releasing?
Runner is scheduled to release in US theaters on September 11, 2026.
Who stars in Runner?
The movie stars Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson, with Kate Box, Leila George and Rodrigo Santoro also among the cast.
Who directed Runner?
Runner is directed by Scott Waugh.
What is Runner about?
The movie follows a former soldier and his unlikely partner as they attempt to deliver critical medical cargo while being hunted by a ruthless cartel.
How long is Runner?
The listed runtime is approximately 97 minutes, or 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Is Runner a comedy?
Runner is primarily an action thriller but is also categorized as a comedy, suggesting that humor will be part of the movie’s tone.
Is Runner suitable for teenagers?
The movie has a PG-13 rating for strong violence, bloody images and some language.
Is Runner the same movie as The Runner starring Gal Gadot?
No. They are two different 2026 movies. Runner stars Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson, while The Runner stars Gal Gadot and is a Prime Video thriller.
Is Runner worth watching?
If you enjoy fast-paced action, chase thrillers and Alan Ritchson’s style of action filmmaking, Runner is worth putting on your watchlist. The final verdict should wait until the movie is released and reviewed.
Final Verdict
Runner has a straightforward but promising setup: a former soldier, a critical medical delivery, a ruthless cartel and a race where every delay could cost a life.
The combination of Alan Ritchson’s action presence and Owen Wilson’s comedic personality is the film’s most interesting element. With a compact 97-minute runtime and a September 11 theatrical release, it could be an easy choice for audiences looking for a quick Hollywood action thriller.
⭐ FlixBabaMovies Pre-Release Watch Score: 3.5/5
Verdict: WATCHLIST — Especially for Action Fans
