Strong pre-release tracking estimates, fueled by Alan Ritchson’s established fanbase from Reacher and Owen Wilson’s broad appeal, positioned Runner for a solid opening above $6 million despite a competitive September 11 release window. Positive early word-of-mouth, reflected in an A- CinemaScore and generally favorable reviews, reinforced trader confidence in audience turnout across roughly 2,500 theaters. Angel Studios’ targeted marketing and the film’s action-comedy premise further supported momentum toward the higher threshold. An upset below $6 million would have required markedly weaker presales, sharply negative critical consensus, or heavier competition from holdovers like Practical Magic 2, none of which materialized in final data.