The Running Man

R

Released Nov 13, 1987

1 hr. 41 min.

Sci-Fi

Action

List

67%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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

The Running Man is winking sci-fi satire with ridiculous clothes and workmanlike direction.

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Líder7reynier Á

The running man is a good adaptation from Stephen King novel my score for this movie is 9.2/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/18/24

Full Review

Howard H

80's action filming at its best. Themes relevant today, cracking 80's soundtrack, haircuts and group acting. The last extra feature on the special edition DVD is very informative viewing about the Patriot Act 2001.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

Full Review

Jeff M

I love the concept of this movie, and as much as I despise the number of remakes that pop up at the cinema every year, I would love to see someone take this and make a really biting expose of reality television and the role media plays in virtually every aspect of our lives. What makes this disappointing is that the filmmakers here didn't seem to know the potential of what they had in their hands and decided to make an average ho-hum action movie! Nothing horrible here, but also nothing excellent. Arnold obviously won't be remembered as a great actor, but his performance here is more wooden than usual. Alonso is given the requisite throwaway female role and is suitable irritating. On the plus side, Dawson is actually pretty awesome here and EASILY walks away with the movie. Playing a game show host is obviously not a stretch, but you can tell he's milking this opportunity for all its worth. The best moments of the film are centered around Dawson. Action and fight scenes are fair, and there are thankfully very few witty one-liners when the characters face death - my action movie pet peeve. This is a rainy day time killer - nothing more.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

Full Review

Alejandro E

From the 80s, in which films with Arnold S. were the daily bread, this one, set in a dystopian future, does not have the power of what he did best: Conan the Barbarian, Terminator, Predator. The most, the least works for a rainy afternoon.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Sebastian L

The Running Man is the perfect blend of camp and satire; the b-movie aficionado's wet dream, complete with some of the best one-liners written. Schwarzenegger will always be Schwarzenegger, but he seems unusually dynamic and enthusiastic here which contributes greatly to the story. This is entertainment in all its glory.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

Farah R

Despite its poignant undertones, The Running Man settles for being a mindless frenzy of violence instead of a reflective social commentary. It's sadly nothing more than another Schwarzenegger action movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

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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

Fireball

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The Running Man: Official Clip - Dynamo Crashes

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

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The Running Man: Official Clip - Fireball Explodes

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The Running Man: Official Clip - Americans Love Television!

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The Running Man: Official Clip - Splitting Buzzsaw

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

However far away from the book's original vision the movie may stray, it ends up right in Arnold's wheelhouse, letting him dispatch a series of worthy rivals with aplomb.

Sep 5, 2019

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

The years have been as unkind to it as they have been to its star's career.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 4, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Schwarzenegger sadistically dispatches the baddies, enunciating typical wisecrack remarks (many repeated from his previous films), but it's all too easy.

Apr 30, 2008

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

While it diverts greatly from the book by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King), this is an entertaining slice of 80s pop action.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 27, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

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

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 15, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

At odds with its own purpose, the movie condemns the exhibition of violence, and yet at every turn resolves to be the very thing it condemns.

Rated: 2/4

Feb 22, 2023

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Keith Barish, Rob Cohen
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
Sound Mix: Surround

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