Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- glossy
- tense
- paranoid
- crime thriller night
- glossy thriller double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly found the impressive cast and intriguing gambling premise undermined by bland, predictable, haphazard storytelling and little payoff.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Richie's online poker dealings and confrontation with Ivan make gambling the film's central mechanism of leverage, temptation, and danger.
Ivan's immense wealth and glamorous organization lure Richie before the underlying exploitation and illegality become clear.
The FBI tries to coerce Richie into helping bring down Ivan while Ivan's operation also controls and threatens him.
The Costa Rican gambling world is presented through the allure of immense wealth, elite access, and international criminal spectacle.
Films like Runner Runner, and why
The Gambler
Shares a crime thriller framework centered on gambling, corruption, wealth, and a morally compromised protagonist navigating powerful criminal operators.
The Informers
Comparable for its glossy international crime setting, seductive criminal wealth, and escalating pressure from law enforcement.
21
Shares themes of financial deception, organized crime, and a young protagonist drawn into a dangerous world of illicit money.
Movie Details
- Director
- Brad Furman
- Release Date
- 2013-09-24
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (1345)
Cast
- Justin Timberlake
- Ben Affleck
- Gemma Arterton
- Anthony Mackie
- Michael Esper
- Oliver Cooper
- Christian George
- Yul Vazquez
- John Heard
- James Molina
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Runner Runner about?
- A Princeton graduate student enters a Costa Rican online gambling empire and must outplay both its ruthless tycoon and the FBI.
- What is Runner Runner like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Runner Runner as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Runner Runner violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Runner Runner as mild.
- What did critics think of Runner Runner?
- Critics broadly found the impressive cast and intriguing gambling premise undermined by bland, predictable, haphazard storytelling and little payoff.
- Which films are like Runner Runner?
- Films with a similar feel include The Gambler, The Informers, and 21.
- How long is Runner Runner?
- Runner Runner runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Runner Runner?
- In United States, Runner Runner streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
