Runner (2026) Review: Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson Are a Chaos Duo in Scott Waugh's Action Ride

Runner (2026) Review: Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson Are a Chaos Duo in Scott Waugh's Action Ride

Alan Ritchson (Reacher) and Owen Wilson (Loki, Wedding Crashers) walk into an action movie together — and somehow it works? Runner, directed by Scott Waugh (Expend4bles, Need for Speed), hit theaters on September 11, 2026 via Angel Studios, and it is exactly the kind of wild buddy action flick that September needed.

What Is Runner Actually About?

Without spoiling too much: Ritchson plays a burned-out operative forced to transport a fast-talking witness (Wilson) across the country while every hitman with a pulse tries to stop them. Yes, it is a familiar setup — think Midnight Run meets The Fall Guy. But the formula works because the leads commit completely. Ritchson brings the same bone-crunching physicality that made Reacher a Prime Video phenomenon, while Wilson's "wow"-era charm somehow makes exposition dumps entertaining. Director Scott Waugh, a former stuntman, stages chase sequences with genuine grease-under-the-fingernails energy — practical stunts, real crashes, minimal green-screen mush.

What the Reviews Say

Critics are calling Runner a "good-enough action thriller" elevated by its stars' "weirdo charm" — and honestly, that is a fair cop. The plot is generic, the villain is forgettable, but the Ritchson-Wilson banter crackles. Standout moments include a highway chase through the desert that rivals anything in Mad Max: Fury Road's lower-budget cousins, and a third-act warehouse brawl where Ritchson reminds everyone why he is the most convincing bruiser working today. Angel Studios, best known for faith-driven hits like Sound of Freedom, is clearly pushing into mainstream action territory — and Runner is their loudest statement yet.

Should You Watch It in Theaters?

Here is the millennial verdict:

Love Reacher? Ritchson doing Ritchson things on a bigger screen. Go.
Love Owen Wilson being Owen Wilson? He is at peak Wilson here.
Need a loud, dumb, fun night out? This beats doomscrolling.
Want prestige cinema? Wait for The Odyssey or the fall festival slate instead.

Runner is not reinventing action movies — it is just a reminder that a mismatched duo, big stunts, and 100 minutes of chaos still play great in a dark theater. Grab popcorn, turn your brain to airplane mode, and enjoy the ride.