Run Terry Run

Run Terry Run
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySean Menard
Written bySean Menard
Produced bySean Menard
Molly Ye
StarringTerry Fox
Edited bySean Menard
Music byTom Caffey
Distributed byElevation Pictures
Release dates
  • November 10, 2025 (2025-11-10) (Roy Thomson Hall)
  • October 9, 2026 (2026-10-09)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Run Terry Run is a 2025 Canadian documentary film, directed by Sean Menard. The film is a behind-the-scenes depiction of Terry Fox's 1980 Marathon of Hope, through previously unseen footage taken in 1980 by filmmaker John Simpson, which passed into the possession of the Terry Fox Foundation but had languished in storage, and was long believed to be lost entirely, until it was located again in the 2020s.

Distribution

The film received a special advance screening on November 10, 2025, at Roy Thomson Hall, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra performing the score live. It received a gala screening at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, before going into commercial release in October 2026 in 150 theatres across Canada, the widest commercial release for a non-musical documentary film in over 20 years.

The film will also screen at the Windsor International Film Festival, in competition for the $25,000 WIFF Prize in Canadian Film.

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 11 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10.

Zachary Lee of RogerEbert.com gave the film three out of four stars and wrote that it "should be studied for how it properly builds a documentary around its archival footage." In a positive review, Rachel West of That Shelf wrote, "Almost 45 years later, Fox's story remains extraordinary not because the legend has grown larger, but because the person at its centre was so profoundly human. By allowing Fox to tell his own story, Menard reminds us why his legacy has endured – and why it still matters."

Box office

In commercial release the film took in CA$116,000 at the box office on its opening weekend, the biggest opening take for a non-concert documentary since Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004.

Awards

At the 2026 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, the film won the Audience Choice award for documentaries, and the juried award for Best Canadian Feature.

References

  1. ↑ "Run Terry Run (G)". British Columbia Film Classification Office. Consumer Protection BC. September 2, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ Matt Ingram, "Unseen film of Terry Fox featured in new documentary by Hamilton filmmaker". CHCH-DT, August 29, 2025.
  3. ↑ Cameron Ormond, "New Terry Fox documentary reveals his true heroism". Canadian Running, November 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ Dorcas Marfo, "‘Run Terry Run’: Terry Fox documentary unveils heart and humanity of Canadian hero". CTV News, November 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ John Hazelton, "Chris Rock, Yeon Sang-ho, Peter Farrelly titles among Toronto film festival galas and special presentations". Screen Daily, July 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ Nathan Caddell, "New documentary Run Terry Run is the ‘definitive Terry Fox movie’". The Georgia Straight, October 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ Kaitlyn McGrath, "Montreal filmmakers headline list of movies up for the $25,000 WIFF prize". Toronto Star, September 16, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Run Terry Run". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ Lee, Zachary (September 19, 2026). "Run Terry Run". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ West, Rachel (September 19, 2026). "Run Terry Run Review: TIFF 2026". That Shelf. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ Connie Thiessen, "‘Run Terry Run’ sets Canadian box office record for a documentary opening". Broadcast Dialogue, October 13, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Sylvester Stallone biopic, Terry Fox doc earn honours at Cinéfest". Sudbury.com, 30 September 2026.