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Running Man

Original title: The Running Man
  • 1987
  • 16
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
172K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,401
372
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Running Man (1987)
Trailer
Play trailer1:54
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Dystopian Sci-FiActionSci-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 info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    172K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,401
    372
    • Director
      • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Steven E. de Souza
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Maria Conchita Alonso
      • Yaphet Kotto
    • 341User reviews
    • 176Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Running Man
    Trailer 1:54
    The Running Man
    What Roles Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down?
    Video 3:34
    What Roles Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down?
    What Roles Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down?
    Video 3:34
    What Roles Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Turned Down?

    Photos217

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    + 211
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    Top cast67

    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
    • Med Tech
    Anthony Pena
    Anthony Pena
    • Valdez
    • (as Anthony Penya)
    Kurt Fuller
    Kurt Fuller
    • Tony
    • Director
      • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Writers
      • Stephen King
      • Steven E. de Souza
    • 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
      When Killian is at the entrance to the control room, the gate opens before Sven has finished entering the security code.
    • Quotes

      Ben Richards: Killian, here is Subzero! Now, plain zero!

    • 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 from King Kong (1976)
    • Soundtracks
      The Ride of the Valkyries
      from "The Valkyries"

      Music by Richard Wagner

    User reviews341

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    What if it were made today?

    If the film were remade today, it would have a little more resonance for a modern audience, especially with the amount of reality based television that is so prolific today.

    A straight adaptation from Stephen King's original novel (under the pen name Richard Bachman) would have been much more suitable, especially with the rise of shows like Cops and World's Scariest Police Chases. Placing the entire game within an actual arena isn't quite like how the future turned out. However, they may have to modify the ending (the ending of a novel involves a large airplane crashing into a building).

    Considering all the remakes and sequels that have been made as of late, it's surprising that they haven't remade this one, even though it's a bit more relevant to today's audience than it was back in 1987. Shoot the whole thing on digital video (a la "Series 7: The Contenders") and throw in a lot more dark comedy, and you'd have yourself a nice little independent flick and a cult classic in the making. No need for something with an overbloated budget.
    • Puke Bag
    • Aug 23, 2003
    • Permalink

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    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
      • June 30, 1988 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • El sobreviviente
    • Filming locations
      • Sony Pictures Plaza, 10000 Washington Blvd, Culver City, California, USA(Killian arrives at the TV Centre in a red car)
    • 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
      • $38,123,906
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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