Running Man is a 2013 South Korean action film starring Shin Ha-kyun as an ordinary man who begins to be chased and watched by the entire nation after he is falsely accused in a homicide case. Running Man was the first ever Korean movie to have 100% of its investment come from a Hollywood studio, 20th Century Fox, which also produced it along with CreaPictures. Distributed by Fox both domestically and worldwide, it was released in theaters on April 4, 2013.
Plot
Jong-Woo went to prison four times for petty crimes likes burglary and car theft, but he now works as an auto mechanic. He has a 17-year-old son named Gi-Hyuk, which he raises by himself. Gi-Hyuk is a smart kid, but troubled. The father and the son also do not get along. Although Jong-Woo might appear like an irresponsible father, he tries his best and even works at night as a private taxi service. One evening, Jong-Woo drops off a couple at a ritzy hotel. Suddenly, another man hops into Jong-Woo's car and tells him to drive off. Once the man pulls out a large stash of cash, Jong-Woo is happy to drive the man wherever he wants. The man asks Jong-Woo to drive him to a delivery company. Jong-Woo walks into the delivery company and asks for directions to the bathroom. He then notices the man mailing off a small electronic device. The man then comes up to Jong-Woo and offers him $1,000 if he will drive him to an apartment and then to the airport. Jong-Woo happily agrees, but he first grabs the man's cellphone and calls his own cellphone. Once they get into the parking garage of the apartment complex, Jong-Woo's life is about to turn completely upside down. He runs out of the garage on foot and becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. Meanwhile, Gi-Hyuk is shocked and confused that his father is now a murder suspect. Gi-Hyuk attempts to uncover the truth.
Running Man was released in South Korea on April 4, 2013. It opened at number one at the South Korean box office, grossing a total of in its first week. The film fell to third place in its second week, behind the premieres of Fists of Legend and Oblivion. The film has grossed a total of.
Critical reception
Film Business Asia gave the film a three out of ten rating, referring to it as an "over-played and under-written action marathon quickly wears out its welcome."
