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.
Directed by Paul Michael Glaser
based on novel or book
dystopia
game show
on the run
totalitarian
prison break
paranoid
dark future
wrongly accused
death game
not too distant future
fight for life
authoritarian
stalkers
alternate future
crowd mentality
dystopian
dystopian future
Rank
#59 in 1987·#5691 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.1 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ben Richards
Richard Dawson
Damon Killian
María Conchita Alonso
Amber Mendez
Yaphet Kotto
William Laughlin
Jim Brown
Fireball
Jesse Ventura
Captain Freedom
Erland van Lidth
Dynamo
Professor Toru Tanaka
Subzero
Mick Fleetwood
Mic
Dweezil Zappa
Stevie
Karen Leigh Hopkins
Brenda
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Sven
Crew
Paul Michael Glaser
Director
Steven E. de Souza
Screenplay
Harold Faltermeyer
Original Music Composer
Rob Cohen
Executive Producer
John Parr
Theme Song Performance
Erik Cord
Stunts
Gene LeBell
Stunts
Tony Brubaker
Stunts
Stephen King
Novel
Kevin O'Connell
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Jeff Dawn
Key Makeup Artist
Jamie Anderson
Camera Operator
Popular Reviews
838 reviews
Matteo Carradore
5.0★ · 05/08/26
Soirée cinéma avec le padre, que demander de plus
Soirée cinéma avec le padre, que demander de plus
Mary
8.0★ · 05/05/26
I saw first the Glen Powell version of this movie, and even tho the plot of the newest one is more interesting, this one is perfect in the sense of action dystopic movie.
I saw first the Glen Powell version of this movie, and even tho the plot of the newest one is more interesting, this one is perfect in the sense of action dystopic movie.
Ruaidhri
9.0★ · 03/29/26
It’s fun I know it’s bad
It’s fun I know it’s bad
Matt Sulla
4.0★ · 03/25/26
Just not for me but I could see the appeal. Arnold with some hilarious line delivery throughout but the story didn’t grab me and actual jokes did not land. Would not watch again unless prompted. 47/100
Just not for me but I could see the appeal. Arnold with some hilarious line delivery throughout but the story didn’t grab me and actual jokes did not land. Would not watch again unless prompted. 47/100
Ben
6.0★ · 03/25/26
There was 0 acting done they all were just like that
There was 0 acting done they all were just like that
