Movie Info
Movie Name: The Running Man
Studio: Republic Pictures
Genre(s): Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): November 13, 1987
MPAA Rating: R
I’ll be back!
Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has been accused of a heinous crime. He’s gunned down innocent, unarmed protestors and now finds himself imprisoned for the attack. Ben, however, is a victim of the system which cannot allow him to prove that he was framed. Now, Ben finds himself shoved in the nation’s most popular show The Running Man and he is fighting for his life…winning might gain him his freedom but Ben Richards wants his good name back!
Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, The Running Man is an adaptation of the 1982 short story by Stephen King. The novella was published under the pen name Richard Bachman and published as one fourth of The Bachman Books in 1985. The movie received mix reviews from critics but has gained a cult following over the years.
Ouch…spikes hurt!
The Running Man was released as Arnold Schwarzenegger was becoming the premiere action star. I can remember renting The Running Man over and over again and even watching it now, I feel that the movie was pretty ahead of its time.
When The Running Man was released, most people felt that the concept of a game where killed for entertainment was unrealistic. As we get more and more reality shows, The Running Man’s plot doesn’t feel as extreme. This concept has been used multiple times since The Running Man’s release with movies like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, and Series 7. The Running Man was an original.
I’m going to light you up!
Schwarzenegger is Schwarzenegger and the script is loaded with one liners for him. There is a good supporting cast with Richard Dawson stealing the show as the game show host which feels like a more extreme version of his Family Feud persona. The movie also has Jesse Ventura, Maria Conchita, Dweezil Zappa, Professor Toru Tanka, Jim Brown, and Fleetwood Mac performer Mick Fleetwood.
The movie does feel rather dated. The special effects aren’t great and the high tech sci-fi world of the movie didn’t feel that hi-tech when it was even released. I could easily see this movie remade, though it probably shouldn’t be.
The Running Man probably won’t impress younger viewers who will want the higher energy of movern versions of this story. I can still get behind The Running Man. It is pretty smart (despite Arnold) and rather a prediction of what television has evolved into…or at least close.
