What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRunner Runner
Brad Furman · Film · 2013
If you loved Runner Runner, start with StartUp (Ben Ketai, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Runner Runner across media.
If you enjoyed the high-stakes moral erosion in Runner Runner, you will appreciate these stories of ambition, deception, and greed.
Books on the same thread
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Explores: Survival, Memory Loss, Conspiracy.
Like the protagonist of Runner Runner, Thomas finds himself trapped in a dangerous game where he must outsmart his surroundings to survive a high-pressure, artificial environment.
Pronto
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1993
Explores: Gambling, Mob life, Witness protection.
Much like the offshore world of Runner Runner, this story captures the frantic energy of someone entangled in a gambling lifestyle forced to flee from dangerous criminals.
The Runaway Jury
John Grisham · Book · 1997
Explores: Jury Tampering, Corporate Corruption, David vs. Goliath.
This legal thriller mirrors the corruption found in Runner Runner, focusing on the way powerful figures manipulate systems for profit while testing the moral boundaries of justice.
The Winner
David Baldacci · Book
Shares a thread with Runner Runner: crime thriller.
If the consequences of extreme wealth and moral ambiguity in Runner Runner intrigued you, this narrative about the fallout of a massive, life-changing jackpot will certainly resonate.
Series on the same thread
Ozark
Bill Dubuque · Series · 2017
Explores: Money Laundering, Moral Decay, Family Dysfunction.
This series captures the same tension found in Runner Runner, following a desperate individual forced into the criminal underworld to launder money and appease a dangerous boss.
White Collar
Jeff Eastin · Series · 2009
Explores: Partnership, Redemption, Moral Ambiguity.
The cat and mouse dynamic between a clever con artist and authority figures in this show directly echoes the complex power struggle seen throughout Runner Runner.
StartUp
Ben Ketai · Series · 2016
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Forced Alliance, Modern Organized Crime.
This show dives into the same intersection of tech, crime, and the American Dream that drove the plot of Runner Runner, highlighting the dangers of modern financial shortcuts.
MINDHUNTER
Joe Penhall · Series · 2017
Explores: Serial Killers, FBI Investigation, Criminal Profiling.
While the setting differs, this series mirrors the moral ambiguity and psychological weight that characters face when navigating the dark side of their professions in Runner Runner.
Podcasts on the same thread
Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Podcast
Explores: Paranoia, Expatriation, Wealth and Corruption.
This podcast explores the downfall of a brilliant mind in a foreign setting, reflecting the same themes of wealth and corruption that define the offshore crime in Runner Runner.
Scam Junkie
Podcast
Explores: scams, con artists, fraud.
This podcast provides a real-world look at the con artist lifestyle that Runner Runner explores, offering insights into the mechanics of fraud and the mindset of professional scammers.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Runner Runner based on a true story?
The film Runner Runner is a fictional 2013 crime thriller directed by Brad Furman. It follows a college student who travels offshore to confront a gambling entrepreneur he believes cheated him in an online poker game. There is no official record of this specific plot being based on true events.
What is the premise of Runner Runner?
In Runner Runner, a college student loses his tuition money playing online poker. Suspecting the game was rigged, he travels offshore to confront the site's owner. The film depicts the high-stakes power struggle that ensues when the student attempts to challenge the sly entrepreneur who runs the operation.
Who directed Runner Runner?
Runner Runner was directed by Brad Furman. Released in 2013, the film focuses on the dangerous intersection of online gambling and offshore business, centering on a student who attempts to hold a powerful entrepreneur accountable for what he perceives as a rigged online poker game.
What happens to the student in Runner Runner?
After losing his funds in an online poker game, the student in Runner Runner travels to a remote location to face the man he believes cheated him. The story follows his attempt to confront the offshore entrepreneur, leading to a tense face-to-face encounter regarding the integrity of the game.