The Runner (2026)

Gal Gadot’s newest action thriller, The Runner, has set a new low‑water mark for the star on Rotten Tomatoes – a dismal 9% from critics and just 31% from audiences, the worst scores of her career. The Prime Video release follows a string of recent misfires, from Disney’s Snow White (39% critics) to the crime drama In the Hand of Dante (29% critics), but The Runner has sunk even lower on the review aggregator. Surprisingly, the critical drubbing hasn’t stopped the film from dominating the streaming charts. It debuted at No. 2 worldwide and, just a day later, vaulted to the top spot in 38 countries, including the United States, becoming the global No. 1 film on Prime Video. The plot offers a high‑concept premise: Gadot plays prosecuting attorney Maia Martin, a mother forced to sprint through London’s streets after a kidnapper threatens her son’s life unless she keeps running. Critics dismissed the execution as “ridiculous” and “wooden,” with one calling it “migraine cinema” and another deeming it “a flat, amateurish thriller.” Only two reviewers saw a silver lining, praising director Kevin Macdonald’s ability to turn a familiar thriller framework into something “visceral, intelligent and cinematically exhilarating.” The Runner’s paradox highlights Gadot’s roller‑coaster recent run – from box‑office flops to a cameo in the upcoming Fast & Furious finale, Fast Forever. While the film may have failed to impress reviewers, its streaming surge proves that star power and a gripping premise can still draw massive global audiences, even when the critics walk away.