Runner (2026) [Film Review] — Alan Ritchson & Owen Wilson Make This Action Ride Surprisingly Fun

Movie: Runner

Director: Scott Waugh

Writer: Miles Hubley and Tommy White

Stars: Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson, Rodrigo Santoro, Peta Sergeant, Cecilia Toussaint, Kate Box, Leila George, and more.

Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes

Release Date: 11 Sept 2026

Scott Waugh’s Runner is not trying to reinvent the action-comedy genre, and that becomes clear almost immediately. Instead, the film takes a straightforward premise and pushes it through a relentless series of chases, fights, explosions, and unexpected detours. The result is undeniably familiar, occasionally silly, but considerably more entertaining than its generic setup might suggest. With Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson leading the charge, Runner finds enough personality to keep its 90-plus-minute runtime moving.

Alan Ritchson Gives the Hero More Than Just Muscle

Ritchson stars as Hank, a former Navy SEAL who now works as a courier transporting unusual items around Brisbane, Australia. His life has been shaped by sobriety, a strained relationship with his former wife, and the devastating loss of his young daughter. These details establish a redemption angle that gives Hank more emotional weight than the typical action protagonist.

When Hank receives what appears to be a routine assignment to collect a medical package from the airport, he discovers that the package is actually a liver needed by a critically ill seven-year-old girl. Suddenly, a simple delivery becomes a race against time.

Ritchson handles the physical demands of the role confidently, but his quieter moments are equally important. He gives Hank a bruised, restrained quality that makes the character easier to root for.

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Owen Wilson Brings the Comedy Into the Chaos

Owen Wilson provides the film with its most welcome change of pace. His character, Ben, is a carefree medical courier who refuses to abandon the organ during its dangerous journey. His easygoing personality contrasts nicely with Hank’s guarded nature.

The developing friendship between the two becomes one of Runner’s biggest strengths. Their banter adds genuine humor to an otherwise relentlessly violent story, while Wilson’s comic timing prevents the film from becoming too grim.

The pairing does not reach the level of classic action-comedy partnerships, but Ritchson and Wilson have enough chemistry to make their scenes work.

A Liver, a Cartel and a Race Against Time

The plot quickly escalates when a violent drug cartel led by Damien, played by Rodrigo Santoro, begins pursuing the pair. Whether the cartel wants the liver for its potential value on the black market or has another motive, the threat gives the film an excuse to move from one action set piece to another.

Shootouts, car crashes, explosions, hand-to-hand combat, and brutal encounters dominate the journey. The action is frequent and energetic, although some sequences feel noticeably choppy. The PG-13 presentation also occasionally makes the violence feel less impactful than the premise suggests.

Runner Keeps the Action Moving Despite Its Familiarity

The film clearly follows a well-worn action template, with shades of the Transporter formula and a redemption story added underneath. The screenplay by Miles Hubley and Tommy White rarely surprises, but it understands that momentum is crucial for this kind of movie.

Waugh keeps the story moving efficiently, while the hospital scenes involving the young girl’s mother provide a necessary emotional counterpoint to the chaos on the road.

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Runner Review Verdict: Simple, Silly and Surprisingly Watchable

Runner is hardly a groundbreaking action-comedy, but it does not need to be. Its greatest strengths are Alan Ritchson’s commanding presence, Owen Wilson’s comic energy, and the unexpectedly enjoyable chemistry between them.

The film is formulaic and sometimes too polished around its violence, while the redemption storyline could have been handled with greater subtlety. Still, if the goal is an uncomplicated action movie packed with mayhem, humor, and a race against time, Runner delivers enough entertainment to justify the trip.

Rating: 6.5/10