The Running Man

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1:25

The Running Man

R

1987

1h 41m

Sci-Fi

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

124 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In the year 2019, America is a totalitarian state where the favorite television program is "The Running Man" -- a game show in which prisoners must run to freedom to avoid a brutal death. Having been made a scapegoat by the government, an imprisoned Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has the opportunity to make it back to the outside again by being a contestant on the deadly show, although the twisted host, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), has no intention of letting him escape.

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Critics Consensus

Combining slick production values and a strong cast with predictable thrills and a surprisingly muted Schwarzenegger, The Running Man is an uneven albeit occasionally rousing sci-fi action satire.

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David Edelstein

Village Voice

Nov 7

As an actor, Schwarzenegger makes Stallone look profound. He's pretty hilarious cast as someone called "the running man"; he's so muscle-bound he can hardly walk.

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

Nov 7

This movie may barely escape the exploitation category, but not the garbage classification.

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Joe Kane

New York Daily News

Nov 6

The Running Man is an often sophomoric but generally fun dystopian slaughterfest.

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Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

Nov 15

2/5

This is more cheesy than Cheetos and brings back the nightmare of French-cut leotards. Richard Dawson does make a great villain, but that's about it.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 12

2.5/4

A particular kitschy piece of 80s Arnie action, with a great premise and some potent underlying themes limply handled.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Nov 11

2/4

Its core idea is similar to 'Battle Royale' and 'The Hunger Games,' but those movies had a firm grasp on the social satire involved, whereas the simplistic 'The Running Man' is more about spectacle, violence, and the good guys winning.

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Laurian D

@Laurian 2d

Three stars because it's Arnie and I love most of his work. But I found this one ridiculous when it came out even though I was a child at the time. Gave it another try in 2025 and felt the exact same way about it.

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HippieX

@hippiex Dec 12

This movie is a classic. So much cheesy goodness.

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shane o

@Shanes_DVD_Shack Dec 11

It’s a classic for a reason . Full of one liners and good fun , but with a message that really speaks to modern times . Watch this movie

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Jace E

@thefilmguy Dec 1

For some strange reason, the moment the movie ended I wanted to watch it again. Don't hear what I'm not saying. I did not like the movie but I was intrigued by it. Honestly, most of the time I was confused by where the plot was going. Amber's character was dumb and unnecessary, the whole "resistance" story felt half-baked and there were more than enough puns by Schwarzenegger. (It felt like I was watching Batman Forever again) I'm curious where the Edgar Wright adaptation goes, because I really do think that the premise is interesting. Best Character: Ben Richards Best Quote: "Only in a rerun." - Killian Best Scene: Landing in the Arena Best Piece of Score: Logo-Bakersfield

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matthias s

@Thescreenasvor Nov 29

Never seen this one till now, but I’m glad I finally knocked it off my watchlist—especially with the remake on the way. The Running Man is peak cheesy dystopian chaos, the kind only early-Stephen-King stories (under his Bachman alter ego) can deliver. It’s loud, ridiculous, and somehow still incredibly entertaining. The satire hits harder than expected, and the over-the-top action feels like a time capsule you can’t look away from. Honestly, it made me even more curious about what Edgar Wright’s take will look like. Consider me happily surprised—and weirdly charmed—by this vintage slice of future-shock mayhem.

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Reeves S

Nov 26

I just watched this tonight and I LOVED IT. I now want to rewatch it with drinks and have a shot every time a one- liner is said. What a classic! 10/10! Hilarious lol

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Paul Michael Glaser

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Ben Richards

Maria Conchita Alonso

Amber Mendez

Richard Dawson

Damon Killian

Yaphet Kotto

William Laughlin

Jim Brown

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The Running Man: The Running Man (1987) - Best Scenes

9:40

The Running Man: Official Clip - Dynamo Crashes

2:59

The Running Man: Official Clip - Let's Start Running!

2:56

The Running Man: Official Clip - Subzero Gets Iced

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The Running Man: Official Clip - TV Studio Shootout

2:11

The Running Man: Official Clip - Captain Freedom's Kills

2:39

The Running Man: Official Clip - Fireball Chase

2:07

The Running Man: Official Clip - Fireball Explodes

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The Running Man: Official Clip - Buzzsaw Attacks

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The Running Man: Official Clip - Americans Love Television!

2:03

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The Running Man: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the year 2019, America is a totalitarian state where the favorite television program is "The Running Man" -- a game show in which prisoners must run to freedom to avoid a brutal death. Having been made a scapegoat by the government, an imprisoned Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has the opportunity to make it back to the outside again by being a contestant on the deadly show, although the twisted host, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), has no intention of letting him escape.

Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Producer: George Linder, Tim Zinnemann
Screenwriter: Steven E. de Souza
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Production Co: TAFT Entertainment, Home Box Office (HBO)
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $38.0M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Surround

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