Running Scared

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Running Scared

R

2006

2h 1m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

130 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Mafia flunky Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is ordered to dispose of the guns that killed a pair of policemen. He hides them in his basement, where they are found by Oleg (Cameron Bright), the kid from next door, who uses one to shoot his brutal stepfather, a Russian mobster. The boy runs off, and Joey pursues him into the criminal underworld, desperate to retrieve the incriminating weapon. Meanwhile, corrupt detective Rydell (Chazz Palminteri) is following Joey's trail with his own agenda.

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Critics Consensus

This film runs with frenetic energy punctuated by gratuitous violence but sorely lacks in plot, character development and stylistic flair.

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

03/24/2007

Running Scared exists in that world of movies where there are no good guys - just bad guys, worse guys and worst guys.

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

06/24/2006

With audiences jaded by the usual sex and splatter, do the filmmakers have no qualms about juicing up proceedings with edgy but troubling material which clearly needs more conscientious handling? Apparently not.

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

04/01/2006

3/5

Stylish, rollicking post-Tarantino trash which does the business at such a pace you barely notice its preposterousness.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

10/21/2020

3/4

Running Scared boasts a larger-than-life, gleefully broad sensibility that's been hard-wired into almost every facet of the proceedings...

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Julian Roman

MovieWeb

04/26/2011

3.5/5

Felix Gonzalez Jr.

DVD Review

07/10/2007

Wayne Kramer's latest film is a hard-hitting, visceral, over-the-top extravaganza of blood and bullets that doesn't let up for one second.

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Karol W

@RT27859419 May 21

Paul Walker's best performance, full stop. Running Scared is a relentless, neon-soaked adrenaline machine that never lets you breathe — one insane set piece after another, yet somehow it never loses its emotional core. Wayne Kramer directs with a style that feels like Guy Ritchie and Scorsese collided at 100mph, and it works completely. The pacing is vicious, the cinematography is unlike anything else from that era, and the story keeps twisting in directions you genuinely don't see coming. Walker carries the whole thing on his shoulders and proves he had far more range than Hollywood ever gave him credit for. Criminally underseen, outrageously entertaining, and it only gets better on rewatch.

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Steven F.

@SteveGotScored Feb 19

Easily my favorite Paul Walker movie!

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Frans B

@FransB Oct 12

LOTS of fast moving action, dilemma, twists and suspense. Amazing cinematography, some very innovative techniques which creates curious ambiance. Great performances by whole cast, very convincing in character, Paul Walker nailed this one. An adrenaline fueled ride, best concentrate to keep up

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Troy R

@Grim16 Sep 28

Good story, but was hectic, in some ways it was good as it kept your interested. But then some scenes you wont catch everything and some stuff will be hand waved in order to further the story. Acting was ok, though kids are annoying, as they are intended to be but.. ehh still annoying. Action was interesting, while it wasn't bad it was clearly a deliberate choice to make it very ridiculous and chaotic. The first and last scenes being the pure gun fu nonsense. I think Walker while he had somewhat of a repetitive role, played a good main character and in some ways really carried the show. And I say that not really being his biggest fan.

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Munchie A

@RT97616580 Sep 13

A surreal gem with many memorable scenes and characters. FYI, it’s Alice In Wonderland.

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Pongo K

@RT48921889 04/04/2025

A lot of stuff going on here. Not all of it makes toooo much sense, but that is ok. It is a cool movie. C it

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Wayne Kramer

Director

Paul Walker

Joey Gazelle

Cameron Bright

Oleg Yugorsky

Vera Farmiga

Teresa Gazelle

Chazz Palminteri

Detective Rydell

Johnny Messner

Tommy "Tombs" Perello

Waist Deep

28%

76%

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Synopsis

Mafia flunky Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is ordered to dispose of the guns that killed a pair of policemen. He hides them in his basement, where they are found by Oleg (Cameron Bright), the kid from next door, who uses one to shoot his brutal stepfather, a Russian mobster. The boy runs off, and Joey pursues him into the criminal underworld, desperate to retrieve the incriminating weapon. Meanwhile, corrupt detective Rydell (Chazz Palminteri) is following Joey's trail with his own agenda.

Director: Wayne Kramer
Producer: Michael A. Pierce, Sammy Lee, Stewart Hall
Screenwriter: Wayne Kramer
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Media 8 Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Drug Content|Pervasive Brutal Violence|Sexuality)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 24, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.9M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)