The Runner: Gal Gadot’s London Marathon Thriller Becomes a Hate-Watch Comedy

Key points

• The Runner, an Amazon MGM Studios thriller, received a D- rating from AV Club reviewer Jacob Oller, who described it as a 'perfect hate watch.'
• Gal Gadot plays Maia, a London lawyer who must jog across the city for an hour while her son Noah is held hostage by a kidnapper played by Damian Lewis.
• The film’s 84-minute runtime is criticized for feeling excessively long due to poor pacing, with Gadot’s running sequences described as monotonous and visually unclear.
• The plot involves a kidnapper with AI-powered surveillance capabilities who forces Maia to kill a witness in one of her cases, but the villain’s powers are inconsistently portrayed.
• Director Kevin Macdonald’s use of quick-cut montages and over-saturated drone shots is criticized for making the film resemble a commercial rather than a coherent narrative.
• The script, written by Mark Gibson, is noted for its anti-technology sentiment and a soapy B-plot involving Maia’s parents, which adds to the film’s chaotic tone.

Background

This release follows recent public comments by Gal Gadot regarding her departure from the DC Universe, where she criticized the handling of Wonder Woman 3 and the broader DC Studios reboot. In September 2026, Gadot also faced backlash for her comments on the use of AI in filmmaking, noting its application in previous projects while advocating for performer protections. The Runner’s release coincides with these industry discussions, though the film itself does not address AI usage in its production, focusing instead on a traditional thriller premise that critics found lacking in tension and logic.

Why it matters

The critical reception of The Runner highlights the risks of high-concept premises in streaming thrillers, where a lack of tension and inconsistent logic can turn a serious genre film into a comedic misfire. The film’s poor reception may impact future projects involving Gal Gadot and Amazon MGM Studios, as it underscores the importance of coherent scripting and pacing in maintaining audience engagement. Additionally, the film’s absurdity serves as a case study in how unintentional humor can arise from poor execution, offering a cautionary tale for filmmakers attempting to blend action and suspense in a modern urban setting.

What to watch

Amazon MGM Studios may need to reassess its approach to thriller productions, particularly those relying on high-concept premises that require tight pacing and coherent logic. Gal Gadot’s next projects may face scrutiny regarding their execution, given the critical backlash from The Runner. The film’s performance on streaming platforms will likely be low, given the negative critical reception, but its status as a 'hate watch' may generate some viewership among audiences seeking comedic content. Future collaborations between Gadot and Amazon may require stronger scripts and more experienced directors to avoid similar missteps.