Gal Gadot's new psychological action thriller The Runner arrives on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 2, placing a high-powered London lawyer in an 84-minute race to save her abducted son.
The film is directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald and co-stars Damian Lewis. Prime Video lists it as an Amazon MGM Studios release available to subscribers in supported markets.
Unlike a weekly television series, The Runner is a feature film and will be available in full when it launches.
The Runner: key details
- Streaming service: Prime Video
- Release date: September 2, 2026
- Runtime: Approximately 1 hour 24-25 minutes
- Genre: Psychological thriller, action and drama
- Director: Kevin Macdonald
- Writer: Mark Gibson
- Lead actor: Gal Gadot
- Co-star: Damian Lewis
- Rating: PG-13 in the United States
- Setting: London
Availability, rating and exact launch time can vary by country. Viewers should check the title page in their local Prime Video app.
What time does The Runner release?
Prime Video's title page displays a September 2 release, with the exact clock time changing by region and account location.
Amazon originals often become available globally around a coordinated release window, but the date shown in the app is the safest guide. Some viewers may see the title late on September 1 because of time-zone differences, while others will receive it during September 2.
Add the film to your Watchlist and enable notifications if it is not immediately visible. A local Amazon listing may also differ from a third-party countdown.
What is The Runner about?
Gadot plays Maia Marten, a brilliant and successful lawyer operating at the top of London's legal world.
During a routine morning run, Maia receives a call telling her that her son has been abducted. The caller gives her a brutal set of rules: keep moving, obey every instruction and trust no one.
The threat turns familiar London streets into a real-time obstacle course. Maia must complete a sequence of tasks while trying to understand who is controlling her and why.
Prime Video's premise avoids revealing whether the caller's demands are connected to Maia's legal career, personal life or a larger conspiracy. The central tension comes from her lack of reliable information: stopping could endanger her son, but blindly following instructions may pull her deeper into the trap.
The Runner cast
The confirmed principal cast includes:
- Gal Gadot as Maia Marten
- Damian Lewis as the mysterious caller
- Rory Wilmot as Noah Marten
- Alfred Enoch
- Kenton Lloyd Morgan
Prime Video's public listing highlights Gadot and Lewis, while additional credited roles appear in production and film databases.
Gadot carries most of the physical story because Maia is continually moving through the city. Lewis can generate pressure through voice and instruction even when his character is not physically beside her.
Who directed The Runner?
Kevin Macdonald directed the film from a screenplay by Mark Gibson.
Macdonald won an Academy Award for the documentary One Day in September and later directed films including The Last King of Scotland, State of Play, The Mauritanian and the documentary Whitney.
His experience across documentary and dramatic filmmaking is relevant to a thriller built around movement through real locations. A city chase works best when the geography feels immediate rather than like a series of disconnected sets.
Anthony Dod Mantle served as cinematographer, while David Kosse produced the project. Amazon MGM Studios distributes the film through Prime Video.
Why the movie was physically demanding
Gadot told People that the production required far more running than she initially expected.
She trained with an Olympic coach to improve her technique, but the repeated physical work caused injuries. Gadot said she completed the film while using crutches after breaking bones in her feet.
That detail helps explain the movie's title and format. Running is not limited to one opening chase; it is the mechanism through which the story unfolds.
The production team had to adapt around her injury to complete filming. Gadot has since recovered.
Where was The Runner filmed?
Principal photography took place in London, beginning in April 2025 and wrapping during the summer.
Using real city locations gives the thriller recognisable streets, bridges and urban spaces. London is more than a background: traffic, crowds, surveillance and the distance between locations become part of Maia's problem.
Viewers should expect the film to use movement across the city to maintain urgency. The 84-minute runtime also suggests a compact story without the extended world-building of a series.
Is The Runner based on a book?
The film is presented as an original screenplay by Mark Gibson, not as an announced adaptation of a novel.
Its premise shares elements with real-time phone thrillers and urban chase films: an unseen controller, strict instructions and a protagonist forced to act without help.
That does not mean the story is connected to similarly titled films. There are several unrelated projects called Runner or The Runner, including a separate 2026 action film involving Alan Ritchson. Viewers looking for the Prime Video title should confirm Gal Gadot and Kevin Macdonald are listed.
Is The Runner a movie or series?
It is a feature film.
Prime Video lists a runtime of approximately one hour and 25 minutes. There are no episodes and no announced second part required to complete the initial story.
This makes it suitable for viewers wanting a self-contained thriller rather than a multi-week release.
What does the trailer reveal?
The promotional material establishes Maia's morning routine before the abduction call destroys it.
She is forced to continue running and follow commands while the caller appears to know her location and actions. The trailer emphasises London pursuit scenes, phone-based threats and Maia's attempts to make decisions without revealing that she is seeking help.
The safest expectation is a psychological chase rather than a conventional superhero-style action film. Gadot's character relies on endurance, observation and legal-world intelligence while under physical pressure.
The trailer does not provide enough evidence to state the caller's full motive or the ending. Online plot claims revealing those details before release should be treated cautiously.
Why this is a major Prime Video release
The film combines a globally recognised lead, an Oscar-winning director and a simple premise that is easy to understand across markets.
Streaming thrillers often perform well when they can be explained in one sentence. A mother must keep running through London to save her kidnapped son gives the audience an immediate objective and countdown.
The release also arrives at the beginning of Prime Video's September slate, a period that includes several returning shows, films and live sports.
Gadot remains associated with large-scale action roles, but The Runner reduces the scale to one character, one city and a personal crisis. That contrast may attract viewers interested in seeing her in a more contained thriller.
Can you watch it without Prime?
The film is listed as a Prime Video exclusive. Access normally requires an active Prime or standalone Prime Video subscription, depending on the country.
Amazon may offer a trial to eligible new subscribers, but price and eligibility differ by market. The title is not advertised as a free ad-supported release or simultaneous cinema launch in most territories.
Before subscribing, viewers should confirm that The Runner appears in their regional catalogue because streaming rights can vary.
Will there be a sequel?
No sequel has been announced.
Whether the story allows another film will only become clear after release, and any continuation would depend on audience response, contracts and a new creative decision from Amazon MGM Studios.
Claims that The Runner 2 is already confirmed are unsupported at this stage.
What to know before watching
- It is a short, self-contained thriller
- The plot involves child abduction and sustained threats
- The US rating is PG-13
- The story unfolds largely through a chase around London
- Damian Lewis plays the caller controlling Maia's actions
- No prior film or series is required
Viewers sensitive to kidnapping themes or intense peril should review the content advisory shown on their local Prime Video listing.
The bottom line
The Runner begins streaming on Prime Video on September 2, 2026.
Gal Gadot stars as Maia Marten, a London lawyer ordered to keep running and follow a stranger's commands after her son is abducted. Damian Lewis co-stars, Kevin Macdonald directs and the compact 84-minute runtime promises a fast, focused thriller.
Check Prime Video for the exact release time in your region and use the official title page rather than unofficial download links.
Sources
- Prime Video: official title page, release date, synopsis and runtime
- Reuters: Gal Gadot interview and September 1 entertainment coverage
- People: Gadot's training and filming-injury interview
- Amazon MGM Studios promotional material
