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The Running Man

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
151K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
921
1,579
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987)
Trailer
Play trailer1:54
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller

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.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
151K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
921
1,579
  • Director
    • Paul Michael Glaser
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(novel)
    • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Maria Conchita Alonso
    • Yaphet Kotto
Top credits
  • Director
    • Paul Michael Glaser
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(novel)
    • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Maria Conchita Alonso
    • Yaphet Kotto
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 304User reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos3

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

    Photos221

    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 in The Running Man (1987)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger 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 Richardsas Ben Richards
    Maria Conchita Alonso
    Maria Conchita Alonso
    • Amber Mendezas Amber Mendez
    Yaphet Kotto
    Yaphet Kotto
    • Laughlinas Laughlin
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Fireballas Fireball
    Jesse Ventura
    Jesse Ventura
    • Captain Freedomas Captain Freedom
    Erland van Lidth
    Erland van Lidth
    • Dynamoas Dynamo
    • (as Erland Van Lidth)
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    • Weissas Weiss
    Gus Rethwisch
    Gus Rethwisch
    • Buzzsawas Buzzsaw
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    • Subzeroas Subzero
    Mick Fleetwood
    Mick Fleetwood
    • Micas Mic
    Dweezil Zappa
    Dweezil Zappa
    • Stevieas Stevie
    Richard Dawson
    Richard Dawson
    • Damon Killianas Damon Killian
    Karen Leigh Hopkins
    Karen Leigh Hopkins
    • Brendaas Brenda
    Sven-Ole Thorsen
    Sven-Ole Thorsen
    • Svenas Sven
    • (as Sven Thorsen)
    Edward Bunker
    Edward Bunker
    • Lennyas Lenny
    • (as Eddie Bunker)
    Bryan Kestner
    Bryan Kestner
    • Med Techas Med Tech
    Anthony Pena
    Anthony Pena
    • Valdezas Valdez
    • (as Anthony Penya)
    Kurt Fuller
    Kurt Fuller
    • Tonyas Tony
    • Director
      • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Writers
      • Stephen King(novel)
      • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the year 2019, the world economy has collapsed. The great freedoms of the United States are no longer, as the once great nation has sealed off its borders and become a militarized police state, censoring all film, art, literature, and communications. Even so, a small resistance force led by two revolutionaries manages to fight the oppression. With full control over the media, the government attempts to quell the nation's yearning for freedom by broadcasting a number of game shows on which convicted criminals fight for their lives. The most popular and sadistic of these programs is "The Running Man," hosted by Damon Killian. When a peaceful protest of starving citizens gathers in Bakersfield, California, a police officer named Ben Richards is ordered to fire on the crowd, which he refuses to do. Subdued by the other officers, the attack is carried out, and Richards is framed for the murder of almost a hundred unarmed civilians. Following a daring jail break months later, Richards is captured once again and forced to appear on "The Running Man" with three other convicts. With their help, he fights his way through a cadre of sadistic gladiators hunting them down through the ruins of a Los Angeles earthquake, but promising Killian that he'll return to settle the score when the show's host double-crosses him. In the meantime, the contestants must search through the ruins for the resistance in the hopes of finally broadcasting the truth about the government. —Curly Q. Link
    • game of death
    • oppression
    • explosive collar
    • fictional game show
    • government conspiracy
    • 225 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The year is 2019. The finest men in America don't run for President. They run for their lives.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    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: 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 reviews304

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    He Said He'd Be Back..."The Running Man" is Fun No Matter How You Slice and Dice it...
    "The Running Man" is based on a story by Richard Bachman, a.k.a. Stephen King writing under pseudonym.

    It takes place in the near future, where everything is run by the media and the government. Kind of like right now. In the future, there isn't much selection on television. All there is is "The Running Man"--hosted by Damon Killian (Richard Dawson, host of "Family Fortune" in real life)--a show that features convicts, or "runners" being chased by madmen, or "stalkers." It's a bit like a futuristic gladiator sport. No one ever, ever wins the show. But Schwarzenegger has yet to play. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Ben Richards, also known as The Butcher of Bakersfield, for firing upon a crowd of humans in a food strike. Only one problem. He's been framed--he never shot anyone. After Arnie escapes from jail, Damon Killian wants his hands on him for the show--so they hunt him down and bring him in. Damon offers Ben a deal--if he goes on the show, he'll let his friends from jail go free. But if he doesn't...he puts his friends on. So Richards agrees to play the game, only to find that Damon has put his friends-from-jail in the show anyway. Right before being launched in the arena, Ben Richards says to Damon, "Hey, Damon. I'll be back." There is a pause. "Only in a rerun," Damon says. Yeah, right.

    This movie is about as action-packed and adrenaline-punched an action movie you're going to see in a while. We see an excuse for Schwarzenegger being thrown into an arena with killers, where he must use his brains, strategy, and most of all muscles, to kill the stalkers. But the thing is, the excuse for throwing Schwarzenegger in the arena is a good one. They didn't completely ignore the plot; they don't even throw him in the arena until at least a half hour into the film. They set up the plot first, which is nice.

    Arnold proves his acting talent is not just in his muscles once again. Too many people make fun of Schwarzenegger's acting skills, but to tell you the truth, I prefer him over Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone any day. Bruce and Sly are mumblers, in my opinion. Anyway, I like Arnold in this movie, because unlike in "The Terminator" where he is an indestructible cyborg, he is a vincible human with emotions in this film. We see a different side to Schwarzenegger, and it's pretty nice.

    Richard Dawson is surprisingly good as Damon. I love his charisma on screen. Of course he's good at playing a gameshow host--he himself was one--but he also has a very good acting talent. Check out the scene where he offers Arnold a deal for going on the show. Look how smug he is in that scene, and how well he delivers his lines. He envelops his character very well. An underrated actor if ever I saw one. He comes off slightly creepy and slightly likable.

    This movie is good fun no matter how you slice and dice it. I've often noticed it has a bit of a weird vibe to it, but then I realized that's just the sci-fi/futuristic vibe of the film. I've felt it before when watching sci-fi films. There's something about them. When I watch a film, or a certain genre, I get different vibes. Sci-fi gives me a weird vibe that is undescribable. This film gives that vibe to me. It sounds weird, but I think a lot of people get "vibes" and don't realize it.

    I recently viewed this movie twice in less than a day; once at night and once in the morning. It just goes to show how easy it is to watch. It is strictly a fun, action film with lots of imagination and charisma. Easy to watch with a high re-watch factor.

    What would you rather do with 90 minutes of your life on a Friday night then watch Arnold Schwarzenegger get to knock some skulls together in a gladiator arena? Exactly.

    4/5 stars -
    helpful•105
    45
    • MovieAddict2016
    • Mar 28, 2003

    FAQ6

    • Although this film is futuristic, why isn't everyone fatter?
    • 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
      • Belmont Tunnel - 1304 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, 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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