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The Running Man

Play trailer 1:25 Poster for The Running Man R 1987 1h 41m Sci-Fi Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Running Man

The Running Man

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review
Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Nov 7
This movie may barely escape the exploitation category, but not the garbage classification. Go to Full Review
Joe Kane New York Daily News Nov 6
The Running Man is an often sophomoric but generally fun dystopian slaughterfest. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Richard B @Komard 4d The Running Man is classic late-’80s action on the surface, but it’s also a blunt satire of media, power, and entertainment culture. Set in a dystopian future where televised executions pass as game shows, the film uses exaggeration to make its point loud and clear. Arnold Schwarzenegger is well cast as a wronged man forced into a rigged system, delivering action, charisma, and iconic one-liners. The colorful stalkers and over-the-top violence aren’t just spectacle, they reinforce how disposable human life has become in a ratings-driven world. While the effects and tone are unmistakably dated, the message still lands. The Running Man may not be subtle, but it’s energetic, cynical, and surprisingly relevant, making it more than just another Arnold action vehicle. See more letaiser Jan 3 This Movie is pretty bad but still fun to watch, the acting is so hilarious that it is funny. The Idea of the Movie is pretty great so for that reason im glad they made a Remake for this Movie that I haven't watched yet but this movie could've been a lot better even though it was made in 1987. The story build up just isn't that great and there are some scenes that are kind of hard to watch but overall it is not terrible, just not good either. See more David F @dfulmer Dec 30 Some interesting ideas here about the future, and about reality TV. See more Laurian D @Laurian Dec 17 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. See more HippieX @hippiex Dec 12 This movie is a classic. So much cheesy goodness. See more 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 See more Read all reviews
The Running Man

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The Running Man

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Movie Info

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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