TIFF REVIEW: BY DARREN ZAKUS

SEPTEMBER 19, 2026

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

Run Terry Run is a powerful tribute to one of our nation’s greatest heroes that tells his Marathon of Hope like never before with the meticulous restoration of never before seen footage of Terry Fox’s run across Canada, that under the talented direction of Sean Menard, ensures that this documentary honouring one of Canada’s greatest heroes is every bit as worthy of Terry Fox and his legacy.

Everyone’s definition of a hero differs, and it is very possible for many to disagree over who deserves to be called a hero, but there is little doubt that the entirety of Canada would unequivocally agree that Terry Fox is a true Canadian hero. The story of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope remains one of our nation’s most celebrated stories, even forty-six years after it occurred, with Terry’s dream of fundraising for cancer research being continued annually across the country with the Terry Fox Run. It is one of the few stories that every Canadian knows and cannot help but feel inspired by, and it is only fitting that Terry’s story is finally making its way to the big screen in an all new documentary. Heralding from Canadian documentarian Sean Menard, who has made a career of telling Canadian centric stories in film such as chronicling the rise and fall of MuchMusic in 299 Queen Street West and the impact NBA athlete Vince Carter had in Canada while playing for the Toronto Raptors in The Carter Effect, there is no better choice of director to bring Terry’s story to the big screen. Utilizing newly restored and released footage of Terry’s Marathon of Hope, Menard breaks through the legendary status of Terry to give an honest portrayal of the young man who accomplished the unthinkable, and in doing so delivers an inspiring and emotional documentary that will no doubt unite Canada as a nation as Terry originally did over four decades ago.

Forgoing the traditional talking heads documentary style, Menard tells Terry’s story entirely through archival footage and interview audio, a good majority of which is never before seen and has been meticulously restored in 4K quality. The visual result of the restoration delivers a stunning picture quality of footage from Terry’s Marathon of Hope, but what Menard achieves with this is more than just preservation and reclamation of the footage: it transports audiences back to 1980. Focusing solely on the Marathon of Hope itself, told from the perspective of journalist Leslie Scrivener who interviewed Terry at the beginning of his run and throughout, his journey from Newfoundland to Thunder Bay unfolds on screen with on the ground insight from Terry’s brother Darrell and his best friend Doug who were with him every step of the way.

The footage itself makes you feel like you are there on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway watching Terry run by you, or in his van with him, his brother and best friend on their remarkable journey. With this effect on viewers, Menard is able to move past the legendary status of Terry that every Canadian knows, but show us Terry as an individual. You can see Terry’s immense achievement while running and the strain the prosthetic leg took on his body, allowing his perseverance and strength to take on new meaning that the stories of his legendary run cannot capture. This allows Menard to evoke a powerful emotional reaction from audiences as they watch Terry’s run like never before, never more so evident than during the segment of the documentary focusing on former Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain Darryl Sittler running behind Terry on the streets of Toronto which evokes a visceral emotional reaction that will leave audiences in tears. 

Not only does the restoration of the footage immerse audiences in Terry’s run like never before, it allows Terry to be displayed to the world in the most human way possible. As a Canadian hero, Canadians often think of Terry as a beacon of hope and life changing force that has raised over a billion dollars for cancer research, which is all true. But with this new footage, Menard is able to break beyond Terry’s iconic figure and share the man behind the legend. Between the footage and interviews with Darrell, Doug and Leslie, who are the select few who can speak to Terry during this time being alongside him on his cross-country journey, Menard finds honesty in Terry about what he was feeling at the time. On one hand, the significance and inspiration Terry created that not only helped unite the country but became a beacon of hope for young children sick with cancer is given the utmost care and respect, honouring this national hero as he deserves. At the same time, Menard shows Terry’s struggles, frustration and clashes with his loved ones, showing that Terry was human just like the rest of us, which makes his accomplishments all the more resonant, inspiring and important. 

While his own run ended in Thunder Bay, Ontario forty-six years ago, the impact that Sean Menard’s documentary explores enshrines Terry’s legacy of hope over Canada as a nation. We still continue to run his Marathon of Hope every year, honouring his mission and memory while continuing to fundraise and raise awareness for cancer research, ensuring that he will never be forgotten in the hearts of millions of Canadians. And while we as a nation know his story, Sean Menard displays Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope with an intimate exploration of the man at the centre of it with an immersive approach to the subject matter that delivers a documentary every bit as worthy as the legend it is honouring. Becoming essential viewing for any Canadian, Sean Menard crafts a moving documentary with Run Terry Run that, like Terry Fox himself, captures the heart of a nation with stunning restored footage that continues Terry Fox’s legacy, delivering a phenomenal documentary that will be shown for decades across our country.