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The Running Man

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
158K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,704
758
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
Trailer
Play trailer1:54
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionSci-FiThriller

In a dystopian America, a falsely convicted policeman gets his shot at freedom when he must forcibly participate in a TV game show where convicts, runners, must battle killers for their free... Read allIn a dystopian America, a falsely convicted policeman gets his shot at freedom when he must forcibly participate in a TV game show where convicts, runners, must battle killers for their freedom.In a dystopian America, a falsely convicted policeman gets his shot at freedom when he must forcibly participate in a TV game show where convicts, runners, must battle killers for their freedom.

  • Director
    • Paul Michael Glaser
  • Writers
    • Stephen King
    • Steven E. de Souza
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Maria Conchita Alonso
    • Yaphet Kotto
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    158K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,704
    758
    • Director
      • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Steven E. de Souza
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Maria Conchita Alonso
      • Yaphet Kotto
    • 312User reviews
    • 162Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos3

    The Running Man
    Trailer 1:54
    Watch The Running Man
    Jeff Probst Wants This Celebrity on "Survivor"
    Full Episode 4:07
    Watch Jeff Probst Wants This Celebrity on "Survivor"
    What Roles Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down?
    Video 3:34
    Watch What Roles Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down?

    Photos225

    Erland van Lidth in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Dawson, and Sven-Ole Thorsen in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Dawson, Karen Owens, and Mia Togo in The Running Man (1987)
    The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gus Rethwisch in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gus Rethwisch in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Belushi in The Running Man (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Ben Richards
    Maria Conchita Alonso
    Maria Conchita Alonso
    • Amber Mendez
    Yaphet Kotto
    Yaphet Kotto
    • Laughlin
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Fireball
    Jesse Ventura
    Jesse Ventura
    • Captain Freedom
    Erland van Lidth
    Erland van Lidth
    • Dynamo
    • (as Erland Van Lidth)
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    • Weiss
    Gus Rethwisch
    Gus Rethwisch
    • Buzzsaw
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    • Subzero
    Mick Fleetwood
    Mick Fleetwood
    • Mic
    Dweezil Zappa
    Dweezil Zappa
    • Stevie
    Richard Dawson
    Richard Dawson
    • Damon Killian
    Karen Leigh Hopkins
    Karen Leigh Hopkins
    • Brenda
    Sven-Ole Thorsen
    Sven-Ole Thorsen
    • Sven
    • (as Sven Thorsen)
    Edward Bunker
    Edward Bunker
    • Lenny
    • (as Eddie Bunker)
    Bryan Kestner
    Bryan Kestner
    • Med Tech
    Anthony Pena
    Anthony Pena
    • Valdez
    • (as Anthony Penya)
    Kurt Fuller
    Kurt Fuller
    • Tony
    • Director
      • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Writers
      • Stephen King(based on the novel by)
      • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Rob Cohen purchased the rights to the Richard Bachman novel "The Running Man", he had no idea that Bachman was actually a pseudonym for Stephen King.
    • Goofs
      In the helicopter, Ben says, "I will not kill helpless people"; in the game show with the original "uncensored" footage of the massacre he says, "I will not kill helpless human beings."
    • Quotes

      Damon Killian: [1:10:37] There are still two crack stalkers out there. Dynamo and Fireball. Who do you think will make the next kill?

      Elderly Lady: Oh, boy. That's a tough one.

      Damon Killian: Come on. You can do it. Who do you think?

      Elderly Lady: Okay, I think the next kill will be made by... Ben Richards.

      Damon Killian: Agnes, Richards is a runner. You gotta pick a stalker.

      Elderly Lady: I can pick anyone I choose. And I choose... Ben Richards. That boy's one mean motherfucker.

    • Crazy credits
      Announcer's voiceover: "The Running Man has been brought to you by: Breakaway Paramilitary Uniforms, Orthopure Pure Procreation Pills, and Cadre Cola - it hits the spot. Promotional considerations paid for by Kelton Flame Throwers, Wainwright Electrical Launchers, and Hammond & Gage Chain Saws. Damon Killian's wardrobe by Chez Antoine, 19th-century craftsmanship for the 21st-century man. Cadre trooper and studio guard's sidearms 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!"
    • Alternate versions
      An edited version was produced for network TV broadcast in which extreme violence was removed, and certain dialogue was redubbed by the original actors (eg. an expletive Barbera Lux uses at the end of the movie was changed to "Bullsquat").
    • Connections
      Edited into 5 Second Movies: Gamer (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      The Ride of the Valkyries
      from "The Valkyries"
      Music by Richard Wagner

    User reviews312

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Dated, But still entertains
    This Arnie veichle made in his 80's heyday is one of his better ones, It's a movie based on a Stephen King book of the same name. It stars Arnie as a convicted killer (framed of course!)in the near future - Where TV is everything, He's forced to take part in a sadistic game show called 'The Running man' with an equally sadistic host played by real life game show host Richard Dawson in which convicted killers are chased by 'Stalkers' with Chainsaw's and flametorches who aim to kill the bad guys on National Live TV with the audience going wild and choosing which stalker will make their next kill to win board games and other crap, Stalkers have NEVER been killed on the show - Will Arnie & CO in their silly lycra pants kick the crap outta them? Of course they will

    All in all a likeable if dated 80's Arnie Flick

    My Rating 8/10
    helpful•39
    16
    • liammurphy1
    • Sep 28, 2003

    FAQ6

    • What were Weiss' & Laughlin's crimes?
    • What's the difference between the film and the book?
    • What Did Stephen King think of the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Running Man
    • Filming locations
      • Sony Pictures Plaza, Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • TAFT Entertainment Pictures
      • Keith Barish Productions
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $27,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,122,105
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,117,465
      • Nov 15, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,122,105
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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