Memorable quotes for
The Running Man (1987) More at IMDbPro »

Damon Killian: This is television, that's all it is. It has nothing to do with people, it's to do with ratings! For fifty years, we've told them what to eat, what to drink, what to wear... for Christ's sake, Ben, don't you understand? Americans love television. They wean their kids on it. Listen. They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give 'em *what they want*! We're number one, Ben, that's all that counts, believe me. I've been in the business for thirty years.
Ben Richards: Well, I may not have been in show business for as long as you have. But I'm a quick learner. And right now, I'm going to give the audience what *I* think they want.
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[Referring to dead bodies]
Amber: They're running men. Last season's winners.
Fireball: No. Last season's losers.
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Ben Richards: I'm not into politics. I'm into survival.
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Amber: I warn you I get sick. Car sick, air sick. And I'm going to throw up all over *you*.
Richards: Go for it. Won't show on this shirt...
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[Damon Killian is talking to the operator on the telephone]
Damon Killian: Hello, this is Killian. Give me the Justice Department, Entertainment Division.
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Ben Richards: Now I'm gonna untie you, and then you're gonna get dressed, and then you're gonna come with me.
Amber: Oh yeah? But why should I?
Ben Richards: Because I'm gonna say "please"...
[Arnold tears up the bench Amber is tied to from the floor it was bolted to]
Amber: Well, why didn't you say so?
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Ben Richards: Killian! I'll be back!
Damon Killian: Only in a rerun.
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Damon Killian: You bastard! Drop dead!
Ben Richards: I don't do requests.
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Ben Richards: Killian, here's your Subzero, now plain zero.
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Ben Richards: Uplink underground, uplink underground. If you say that one more time, I'll uplink your ass, and you'll be underground!
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Ben Richards: [after strangling Sub-Zero with barbed wire)] What a pain in the neck.
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Amber: [after Richards cut Buzzsaw in half with a chain saw] What happened to Buzzsaw?
Ben Richards: He had to split.
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Ben Richards: I live to see you eat that contract, but I hope you leave enough room for my fist because I'm going to ram it into your stomach and break your god-damn spine!
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Damon Killian: It's all part of life's rich pattern, Brenda, and you better fucking get used to it.
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Ben Richards: If you're not ready to act, give me a break and shut up!
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Damon Killian: Yes, I know a stalker died! It had to happen sooner or later!
[pause]
Damon Killian: Well, it is a contact sport, okay? You want ratings. You want people in front of the television instead of picket lines. Well, you're not gonna get that with re-runs of Gilligan's Island.
[pause]
Damon Killian: Gilligan's Island.
[hums the theme song]
Damon Killian: Yeah, the one with the boat.
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Damon Killian: Who loves you and who do you love?
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Amy: You're lucky he didn't kill you, too. Or rape you, then kill you. Or kill you, then rape you.
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Damon Killian: I want a kiss, now, a big kiss, but remember... no tongues.
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Stevie: Don't touch that dial!
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Ben Richards: [to Killian] One of us is in deep trouble.
[Sven enters]
Damon Killian: [laughs] Sven, do you wanna talk to Mr. Richards?
[long pause]
Damon Killian: Well?
Sven: I've got to score some steroids.
[Sven leaves]
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Mic: Mr. Spock, you have the com.
Underground Tech: Who is Mr. Spock?
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Ben Richards: I told Killian I'd be back. I wouldn't want to be a liar.
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Damon Killian: Hi, cutie pie. You know one of us is in deep trouble. You know who I am?
Ben Richards: I've seen you before. You're the asshole on TV.
Damon Killian: That's funny. I was going to say the same thing about you.
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Ben Richards: [to a trapped Dynamo] No. I won't kill a helpless human being. Not even sadistic scum... like you.
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[Ben Richards finds a mortally-wounded Laughlin]
William Laughlin: I'm going somewhere, but not with you. Buzzsaw took care of my traveling arrangements.
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Tony: The Justice Department's calling every ten minutes.
Damon Killian: Just give them an evasive answer. Tell them to go fuck themselves.
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Dynamo: Thought it was pretty funny out there in the zone? What's the matter now bitch, why aren't you laughing?
Amber: Because there's nothing funny about a dickless moron with a battery up his ass.
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Ben Richards: [trying to get Dynamo's attention] Hey, Lighthead! Hey, Christmas Tree!
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Amber: [seeing Fireball enter the game] Jesus Christ!
Ben Richards: [seeing Fireball discharge a burst from his flamethrower] Guess again!
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Damon Killian: What's the matter? Steroids make you deaf?
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Damon Killian: There are still two stalkers out there. Dynamo and Fireball. Who do you think will make the next kill?
Elderly Lady: Oh my. That's a tough one.
Damon Killian: Come on, Agnes. You can do it. Who do you think?
Elderly Lady: Alright, I think the next kill will be made by... Ben Richards.
Damon Killian: No, no. Agnes, Richards is a runner. You have to pick a stalker.
Elderly Lady: I can pick anyone I choose. And I choose... Ben Richards. That boy is one mean motherfucker.
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Amber: They think I'm your girlfriend.
Ben Richards: I can straighten that out. See that camera up there? I'll strangle you in front of the whole audience.
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Amber: Me and my big mouth. We should have taken the trip to Hawaii.
Ben Richards: I had the shirt for it, but you fucked it up.
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Ben Richards: Women. Can't live with 'em, can't live... with 'em.
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Damon Killian: [after incriminating footage is shown on the studio screen] ... If you'll please bare with us, we're experiencing technical difficulties...
Elderly Lady: Bulls - t!
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Airport announcer: Flights to Tutuville and Mandelaburg are arriving on time...
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[last lines]
Phil Hiton: *The Running Man* has been brought to you by: Breakaway Paramilitary Uniforms, Ortopure Procreation Pill, and Cadre Cola; it hits the spot! Promotional considerations paid for by: Kelton Flame Throwers, Wainwright Electrical Launchers, and Hammond & Gage Chainsaws. Damon Killian's wardrobe by Chez Antoinne: 19th-Century craftsmanship for the 21st-Century man. Cadre Trooper and studio-guard side arms provided by Colchester: the pistol of patriots. Remember: Tickets for the ICS studio tour are always available for Class-A citizens in good standing. If you'd like to be a contestant on THE RUNNING MAN, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: ICS Talent Hunt, care of your local affiliate, and then go out and do something really despicable! I'm Phil Hilton! Good night, and take care!
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Buzzsaw: I love this saw! It's a part of me... now I'm gonna make it part of *you*!
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[after killing Damon Killian]
Ben Richards: Now that hit the spot.
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Agent: Mr. Richards, I'm your court-appointed theatrical agent.
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William Laughlin: [his last words] Don't let us down. I don't want to be the only asshole in heaven, Ben.
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[Ben had just killed Subzero]
Ben Richards: [to Damon] Hey, Killian! Here's Subzero! Now... plain zero!
Damon Killian: [sadly] Ladies and Gentlemen, this is... just horrible. Words can't express what we're all feeling at this very moment. A great champion has fallen. We'll be back right after these important messages.
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Damon Killian: [after the introduction of Dynamo] Oh, thank you. You're beautiful. Well, it's been an exciting show so far, right? We've had shocks. We've had surprises. And we thought, why not one more surprise? Will you please help me welcome our mystery contestant: Miss Amber Mendez!
[Amber is dragged onstage by Sven and his other two guards; audience applauds]
Amber: Let me go!
Damon Killian: Amber! Now I understand that you're single, Amber, and that you live on the West Side. And not surprisingly, she's flaunted the law and traditional morality all of her life.
Amber: Go ahead. Tell some lies about me now.
Damon Killian: We don't lie. Phil, tell us all about her.
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Damon Killian: We have one hell of a show for you tonight. Phil, please, if you will, introduce tonight's guest runner...
Damon Killian: [to Mrs. Agnes McArdle and the audience] ... and watch that screen.
[an CGI falsified version of the actual events of the Bakersfield massacre is shown; the police heilcopter is flying over the city]
Phil Hiton: Our star runner tonight needs no introduction. He's Ben Richards, the brutal slayer of 60 men, women, and children in the Bakersfield massacre.
Ben Richards: Food riot in progress. Approximately 1,500 civilians. Moving in.
Dispatcher: [to Richards] Yankee-nine-niner, the crowd is unarmed. Repeat, unarmed. Abort attack. Acknowledge, Yankee-Nine-Niner.
Ben Richards: [to dispatch] The hell with you.
Dispatcher: Lieutenant Sanders, take command. Detain Richards and return to base.
[Ben attacks Sanders and the crew; Thousands of shanty residents, the audience, and the guests in the locker room, including Captain Freedom, are watching the shocking events infolding]
Dispatcher: Acknowledge, Yankee-Nine-Niner! Acknowledge! Return to base! Those are innocent, unarmed people down there! Cease fire! CEASE FIRE!
[Ben starts shooting at the crowd with an automatic machine gun and laying waste to the entire city using rocket launchers; The audience and the residents watch in sheer horror]
Damon Killian: Well, we all know the aftermath: Grieving parents, orphaned children, and a nation shocked to its very core. Here he is, ready to pay the price for our home audience. In person, the Butcher of Bakersfield!
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