Action Comedy Thriller

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Runner (2026)

Runtime 97 min

Release date 07/09/2026

Country United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom

Production

Broken Road Productions

AllyCat Entertainment

Nickel City Pictures

A Higher Standard

G2 Dispatch

Angel Studios

International Media Funds Management

Bright White Light

Overview

A former soldier is thrown into a brutal race against time when a critical medical delivery makes him and his unlikely partner the targets of a ruthless cartel. As the mission spirals into a deadly manhunt, every detour, delay, and bullet pushes them closer to failure. With betrayal closing in from every side, they must survive the chase and deliver their cargo to save the life of a little girl.

Directors & Screenwriters

Scott Waugh

Director

Cast

Alan Ritchson

as Hank Malone

Owen Wilson

as Ben Bishop

Rodrigo Santoro

as Damian Zaldivar

Leila George

as Kate Baker

Kate Box

as Dr. Ainsley

Adriana Barraza

as Donna

Peta Sergeant

as Nurse Julie

Scarlett Crabtree

as Ellie Baker

Geraldine Hakewill

as Monica

Goran D. Kleut

as Luke

Gyton Grantley

as Iggy

Deirdree Wallace

as AA Group Leader

Anthony Cogin

as Senator Roger Cameron

Thomas Larkin

as Tech CEO

Beth Waugh

as Stewardess Audrey

Salomé Chandler

as Pre Op Nurse

Jackson Raine

as Donna's Doctor

Thomas Cocquerel

as Josh

Ashan Kumar

as Gas Station Attendant

Amelia Parsonson

as Ambulance Medic

Joel Pierce

as Ambulance Driver

Tommy Archer

as Sergeant Borg

Miguel Bernardo Pérez Solís

as SUV Bruiser

Josh Thomson

as Detective Mänoa

Kate Jenkinson

as Bird Lady

Jacob Hohua

as Greedy

Daniel Stone

as The Hand

Danny Greenstein

as Broken Leg Thug

Lachlan Engeler

as EMT

Skye Kaden

as Event Staff

Callie Brutnell

as Market Lady (uncredited)

Shé D'Montford

as Hotel Guest (uncredited)

Florian Delain

as Orderly (uncredited)

Adam Fraser

as Passerby
/ Runner (uncredited)

Lucy Mansfield

as Market Patron (uncredited)

Sabelle Morrow-Woods

as Passerby (uncredited)

Zak Patel

as Runner (uncredited)

Video: YouTube
Duration: 01:18

Did You Know?

An action thriller that unintentionally slams Trump‑era science cuts

"Runner" pits a hardened ex‑convict (Alan Ritchson) and a charismatic courier (Owen Wilson) against a cartel boss (Rodrigo Santoro) in a high‑octane race to deliver a life‑saving liver to a dying girl. Set in Australia but rooted in a distinctly American controversy, the film’s premise hinges on the real‑world fallout of curtailed stem‑cell research and dwindling health‑care funding under the Trump administration. The movie delivers exactly what fans expect from a blockbuster: tightly choreographed set pieces, relentless pacing, and a clear emotional stake that keeps the audience glued to the screen. Ritchson and Wilson’s chemistry makes the duo likable, while Santoro finally gets to flex his stunt muscles beyond the throne‑bound Xerxes of "300". Even the director, Scott Waugh, and writers Miles Hubley and Tommy White manage to keep the action brisk and the tension high. Yet beneath the explosions lies a political elephant that the film never fully confronts. Critics note that if stem‑cell technology and universal health care were truly embraced, the desperate scramble for a single organ wouldn’t be necessary. Director Kevin Greutert, who tackled similar socioeconomic themes in "Saw VI," argues that studios often shy away from “taking the gloves off” when corporate and political interests collide. "Runner" could have been more than a solid action piece—it might have sparked a bold conversation about science policy, but it stops just short, leaving its most provocative subtext to the audience’s imagination.

alternet.org