Release: Running from the Spotlight

 

Running from the Spotlight

Genre: Drama/Teen

Director: Michael Fimognari

Writer: Jacob Jones

Cast: Kylie Cantrall, Malia Baker, Sadie Munroe, Michela Luci, Isaac Arellanes, Peter Krause, Priah Ferguson, Orli Gottesman

Budget: $10,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $4,013,555

Foreign Box Office: $3,671,594

Total Profit: -$8,777,100

Reaction: Based on the numbers here, Running from the Spotlight clearly struggled to find an audience. At least it wasn't very expensive to produce....

"This film attempts to manufacture operatic drama out of what are ultimately low-stakes high school theater squabbles. Rivalry over a school production is treated with the gravity of a courtroom thriller, creating a tonal mismatch that borders on unintentional comedy. The repeated confrontations and big revelations feel inflated rather than earned, and the moral messaging becomes heavy-handed. What could have been a contained coming-of-age story instead collapses under its own exaggerated sense of importance." - Chris Mears, Slashfilm

"A messy, dive into high school theater politics, RFTS follows Maria, a star actress suddenly dethroned by a newcomer. Jealousy, sabotage, and romantic drama collide in a tangled web of rumors, texts, and late-night panic calls. It’s exhausting, chaotic, and completely addictive—like watching someone spiral in slow motion. Ultimately, it feels very much "Seen this before" from writer Jacob Jones. This one carries that Free on Tubi energy." - Dexter Quinn, Cinematic Observer Newsletter

"Running from the Spotlight aims for psychological depth but never quite convinces, largely due to miscasting. The young Disney TV alumni struggle to carry the emotional weight of a theatrical drama. Kylie Cantrall works hard to give Maria dimension, but the unraveling never feels fully grounded. The one genuine bright spot is Malia Baker’s Thalia, who brings natural presence and restraint, offering moments of authenticity the rest of the film often lacks. Still, the overall tone lands closer to an overextended after-school special than a compelling teen character study." - Stephen Bonds, San Francisco Chronicle

Rated PG-13 for some language and thematic elements.