''Running Man'' () is a 2013 South Korean action film starring

Shin Ha-kyun Shin may refer to: Biology * The front part of the human leg below the knee * Shinbone, the tibia, the larger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates Names * Shin (given name) (Katakana: シン, Hiragana: しん), a Japanese g ...

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 Major film studios are production and distribution companies that release a substantial number of films annually and consistently command a significant share of box office revenue in a given market. In the American and international markets, t ...

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film studio, film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm o ...

, 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 (

Lee Min-ho Lee Min-ho (, born June 22, 1987) is a South Korean actor, singer, model, creative director and businessman. He gained widespread fame worldwide with his role as Gu Jun-pyo in ''Boys Over Flowers'' (2009) which also earned him the Best New Acto ...

), 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.

Cast

- Cha Jong-woo, auto mechanic *

Lee Tae-ri Lee Tae-ri () (born Lee Min-ho; June 28, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He is well-known for his role as young Yang Myung in ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (2012), Song Man-bo in '' Rooftop Prince'' (2012), Jung Joo-hwan in '' The Beauty Inside'' (2 ...

- Cha Gi-hyuk, Jong-woo's son (credit as Lee Min-ho) * Kim Sang-ho - Ahn Sang-ki, detective *

Jo Eun-ji Jo Eun-ji (born February 10, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She debuted in the gritty Im Sang-soo film ''Tears'', and has since become better known for her supporting roles on film and television, such as in '' The President's Last Bang'', '' ...

- Park Sun-young, reporter *

Oh Jung-se Oh Jung-se (born February 26, 1977) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series '' Missing 9'' (2017), ''When the Camellia Blooms'' (2019), '' Hot Stove League'' (2019), and '' It's Okay to Not Be Okay'' (202 ...

- Jang Do-sik, computer geek *

Joo Hyun Joo Hyun (; born Joo Il-choon, ; March 1, 1943) is a South Korean actor. Biography Joo graduated from Konkuk University in Seoul, where he majored in political science and diplomacy. He began his acting career after being selected through a ...

- Pastor Moon *

Kim Eui-sung Kim Eui-sung (; born December 17, 1965) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his roles in films '' The Day a Pig Fell into the Well'' (1996), ''Office'' (2015), '' The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo'' (2015) and ''Train to Busan'' (2016) ...

- Director Kim *Jung Suk-yong - Chief of police *Nam Kyung-eup - Richard Ma *Won Woong-jae - Detective Choi *Jung Mi-seong - Reporter Choi *Kwon Beom-taek - Dr. Hong Seung-hoon * Park Sang-wook - Beard *Yeom Dong-heon - Drunk

Release

''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 ''Film Business Asia'' was a film trade magazine based in Hong Kong. The magazine was created in 2010 by Patrick Frater, former journalist for '' Variety'', ''The Hollywood Reporter'', and '' Screen International'' and Stephen Cremin, co-founder ...

'' 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."

References

External links

* * * * {{hancinema film, Running_Man, Running Man 2013 films 2013 action thriller films South Korean action thriller films Films set in Seoul 20th Century Fox films 2010s Korean-language films 2010s South Korean films