Glen Powell Explains Why Politics Is Off-Limits for Him
Powell says he wants to keep the focus on his work as The Running Man fell short of $70 million worldwide.
- In a new Esquire cover story, actor Glen Powell discussed his career, recent box-office setbacks, and his decision to avoid public political discourse. The 37-year-old star emphasized his focus on filmmaking over engaging in divisive conversations.
- Powell explained that he avoids political discourse because it "divides people," noting the environment feels less "healthy" than in the past. He believes his calling lies elsewhere, preferring to focus on his work rather than public arguments.
- Regarding the 2025 tentpole The Running Man, Powell argued the film lacked a fair chance due to Paramount Pictures' mass layoffs and marketing department cuts. The movie earned less than $70 million against a $110 million budget.
- His follow-up project, the A24-backed crime comedy How to Make a Killing, also struggled financially. The film earned about $21.7 million worldwide against a reported $15 million production budget, marking another underperforming release.
- Powell's stance mirrors that of actors Dwayne Johnson and Jennifer Lawrence, who have expressed reservations about celebrity political engagement. Johnson cited fan division for his shift, while Lawrence questioned whether such statements effectively change public opinion.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Glen Powell Says He Doesn’t Want to Talk Politics, Blames Paramount Marketing Cuts for ‘The Running Man’ Box Office Performance
The actor told Esquire that engaging in political conversations was "not presently possible" and that Paramount "let go of an entire marketing department a month before ['The Running Man'] came out in the middle of a merger."
Glen Powell Says He Avoids Politics Because It “Divides People”—Then Blames Corporate Layoffs & A Merger For ‘The Running Man’ Flopping
Glen Powell was looking like part of the next crop of would-be American action stars after the one-two punch of leading “Twisters” (a moderate success of sorts) and being featured as an abrasive U.S. fighter pilot in “Top Gun: Maverick,” the latter being a billion-dollar success story and being cited as helping get audiences back in theaters after COVID did serious damage to the industry and ticket sales. Continue reading Glen Powell Says He Avo…
Glen Powell Explains Why The Running Man Movie Was Such a Big Box Office Flop
Glen Powell explained why The Running Man struggled at the box office despite his recent run of successful movies. The actor pointed to major changes at Paramount Pictures shortly before the film reached theaters. Speaking to Esquire, Powell said Paramount “let go of an entire marketing department a month before our movie came out in […] The post Glen Powell Explains Why The Running Man Movie Was Such a Big Box Office Flop appeared first on Comi…
Glen Powell On Why He Doesn't Talk Politics & Why 'Running Man' Flopped
Glen Powell is opening up about why he shies away from talking about politics publicly, even though his mother worked in the Reagan administration at the U.S. Treasury Department. “Over time, I realized that politics divide people,” Powell told Esquire. “People trying to prove their point — for me, it’s the worst version of a conversation. I genuinely do not like the discourse. It’s not as healthy as it once was.” He continued, “[Engaging in …
Glen Powell has a message for fans asking about his politics
The ‘Running Man’ star largely keeps his political views to himself
Glen Powell Explains Why Politics Is Off-Limits for Him
Glen Powell has spent years becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, but politics remained one subject he preferred to leave untouched. The Top Gun: Maverick actor explained that he saw political discourse as increasingly divisive, even as other celebrities have reconsidered how openly they discuss their views. Powell’s comments came after a busy stretch professionally […]
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