Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot's Amazon Prime Video thriller The Runner premiered on Wednesday and instantly became one of 2026's most savaged films, scoring just 9% on Rotten Tomatoes from 22 critics after its London-set kidnapping plot drew near-unanimous scorn.
TL;DR
- The Runner holds a 9% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest of Gadot's career.
- The film began streaming globally, including in the UK, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
- Reviewers panned the script and pacing, though a handful found it a fun "hate watch."
- It is credited as a UK production, shot entirely in London with a British-heavy cast.
Gal Gadot's The Runner scores a career-low 9% on Rotten Tomatoes
The Runner follows Maia Marten (Gadot), a London lawyer whose morning run turns into a desperate ordeal after her son is kidnapped, according to Amazon MGM Studios' official synopsis. A stranger on the phone forces her to keep moving and follow his commands, or her son dies.
9% on Rotten Tomatoes Based on 22 critic reviews as of publication Source: Rotten Tomatoes
That marks the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of Gadot's career, according to Forbes, which noted her highest-ever mark remains 2017's original Wonder Woman at 93%.
Director Kevin Macdonald, whose credits include The Last King of Scotland, has weathered mixed notices before, but rarely a spread this one-sided.
Critics slam The Runner's script — but not everyone agrees
Ready Steady Cut critic Daniel Hart said the movie ranks among Gadot's least impressive outings, faulting its thin plotting and low-budget execution, in a review published Tuesday.
Variety critic Dennis Harvey said the movie moves briskly but never rises above a well-worn kidnap-thriller formula, in his published review.
Not every critic piled on. Hollywood Reporter critic Jordan Mintzer said the film's breakneck momentum keeps viewers from dwelling on its more implausible turns, one of the rare "fresh" marks the film received, according to his review.
Online reaction was swift. DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm). "'THE RUNNER' debuts with 9% on Rotten Tomatoes. Gal Gadot's lowest rated movie ever." X, Sept. 2, 2026. The post drew more than a million views within hours.
According to trade outlet World of Reel, the score puts the film among the year's worst-reviewed major releases, citing the same shaky handheld camerawork and unusually narrow frame that other reviews flagged.
The Runner UK release: London setting, British cast, Prime Video price
The Runner is credited on-screen as a UK production, filmed entirely across London locations, according to Variety's review credits.
Co-star Damian Lewis plays the mysterious kidnapper, and British actor Alfred Enoch rounds out the cast.
UK viewers can stream the film now with a standard Prime membership — no separate release window or extra charge.
£8.99 a month or £95 a year Standard UK Prime membership price, which includes Prime Video Source: Amazon UK
What The Runner means for Gal Gadot in 2026
The film's release comes during an unusually strong year for global box office overall, a trend Screen & Story covered in its The 10 highest-grossing movies of 2026, ranked so far.
It also arrives weeks after Amazon MGM Studios teased another star-led thriller, detailed in Screen & Story's Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson face off in twisted new Verity trailer, suggesting the studio remains committed to the genre despite mixed results this year.
Whether The Runner's numbers move or Gadot's next role changes the conversation will likely shape how critics frame her post-Wonder Woman run.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed September 3, 2026.
