The Running Man

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Reeves S 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 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/26/25 Full Review Kevin P A goofy and crazy, but fun and witty dystopian satire based on the Stephen King novel. It's the televised death match predecessor for Battle Royale, the Hunger Games, and Squid Game. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s acting is on-par with most of his roles at the time (cheesy okay acting, but lovably charismatic). The movie isn't too faithful to the book as far as plot goes, but it shares the same themes. There's some good satire of the public's obsession with reality TV being exploited by the system as a distraction from the harsh realities of the world. The digital deep fakes were ahead of its time as a critique. A totalitarian state uses violent reality TV with hope to quench the first of the audience's repressed anger and hope. There's some good commentary, such as the Edutainment Department, trying to escalate violence for ratings, and digital deepfakes. I liked the exciting opening scene at the iron works prison riot escape. But then movie kind of drags down with that questionable apartment scene where Arnold assaults and kidnaps a random woman in his brother's apartment (a sadly typical plotline for many male movie heroes of the 60s, 70s, & 80s). There's even a weird SA comment/joke from her coworker fantasizing Arnold doing that to her (weird). She later joins the action, but she spends most of the time reduced to the dated "lol women are panicky and useless" trope as she just gets pulled in different directions by her male counterparts for most of the runtime. Her kiss with Arnold felt totally unearned. The film is also very, VERY dated in a fashion & music sense (Arnold's yellow jumpsuit, all the aerobics videos, the entire soundtrack, etc.). But there's still a charm to it with the film's cheesy tone. I liked some fake TV shows, such as "Climbing for Dollars". I also liked the thrilling tube slide run at the start of the game. The villains are corny, but really fun, such as Professor Sub Zero the ice hockey player, Buzz-Saw, Dynamo, Fireball, and Captain Freedom (hammed up by Jesse Ventura). I also like the audience’s gradual transition from their blood lust to betting and cheering on Ben Richards. Showing how giving the public what they want on TV for consumerism only works for so long. It's certainly a dated movie that loses some of the depth of the novel. But it has its creative sparks of satire and entertainment that makes this worth a watch and respectable for how it influenced the dystopian death march genre. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/25/25 Full Review A S Absolutely prescient, campy, and just a fun ride. Richard Dawson is icons and Schwarzenegger is at his sarcastic best. Love this movie! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/25 Full Review Mike V It is the year 2019. "The Running Man" is a deadly game no one has ever survived. But Schwarzenegger has yet to play. The Running Man is a 1987 American science fiction-action film directed by Paul Michael Glaser 🏃‍♂️ Not bad, but not my favourite either 😐 Meh, it passed the time. Just. 😐 👍🏼👎🏼 By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where "runners" attempt to evade "stalkers" and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/20/25 Full Review Nathan J. Rating: 6.8/10 A fun, campy 80s action film with prophetic satire and a memorable villain. Highlights - Prophetic Satire: Depiction of media manipulation and reality TV feels relevant today. - Richard Dawson: Brilliant casting as the sleazy, manipulative Damon Killian. - Campy Fun: Over-the-top violence, Schwarzenegger's puns, and absurd game show concept. Criticisms - Deviates from Source: Abandons dark, socially conscious allegory of Stephen King novel. - Thin Characterization: Support characters lack depth, romance feels obligatory. - Aged Effects: Special effects and action choreography show their age. Verdict A cult classic surviving on satire and Dawson's performance. Recommended for Schwarzenegger fans and those who enjoy campy dystopian sci-fi. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/25 Full Review Max W Streamlined storytelling with a concept-first approach; though not faithful to the original work, The Running Man is carried by Arnold Schwarzenegger at his peak, whose charisma elevates this action film with a flawed script. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/18/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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