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The Running Man

The Running Man (1987)

tomatometer

40

Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

audience

59

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 76,469

My Rating

Movie Info

Directed by former Starsky and Hutch TV star Paul Michael Glaser, this post-apocalyptic science fiction yarn satirized American entertainment, mocking pro wrestling, game shows, and law-and-order reality programming. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Ben Richards, a cop in the totalitarian America of 2019, framed for massacring rioting civilians during a famine. After escaping from jail, Richards tries to prove his innocence, but his efforts are thwarted at every turn by a regime in need of a

R, 1 hr. 41 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

May 25, 1999

Vestron Video

The Running Man Trailer & Photos

More Trailers and Videos (1)

Cast

Critic Reviews for The Running Man

All Critics (33) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (13) | DVD (20)

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

April 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment (1)
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's not quite Network, but then it also doesn't take itself too seriously.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The movie's problem is that all of the action scenes are versions of the same scenario.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comments (2)
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You want to know if The Running Man is a good-time macho show, right? Stay at home and watch professional wrestling.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The message is irrelevant. It's still the Olympian myth, albeit in a Lycra leotard, that counts with the Arn Man.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A brainless, breathless thrill.

April 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine

It's an arcade-game romp done with flair.

April 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment
Film4 Source: Film4

Only Richard Dawson -- brilliantly cast -- redeems this mess with a superior performance.

June 5, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The fun of the movie is really in its premise, its cool confrontations between Arny & villains, the cheezy one-liners and Maria Conchita-Alonso in tights!

August 25, 2006 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | Comment
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Pretty warmed-over stuff, this future world of the terminal TV game shows, and director Glaser fails to muster much pace and punch.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment
Geoff Andrew
Time Out Source: Time Out

Richard Dawson's best performance in a film.

December 21, 2004 Comment
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

The licenses taken with King's original tale only serve to make a more effective movie.

August 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Scott Weinberg
Apollo Guide

The story concept is good, and the film has plenty of fun and campy moments, but it’s also a little goofy.

May 14, 2004 Comment
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

We can only hope network execs that are watching don't get any funny ideas.

February 5, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Pete Croatto
Filmcritic.com

Cheesy, witty, enjoyable Arnold pic.

January 29, 2004 Comment
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Running Man

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I loved the idea behind this movie, but there have been many other better movies with the same idea, and the movie itself is predictable and much like Schwarzenegger's other films. Richard Dawson was perfect as the game show host, though, I really liked him. Overall, it's okay, but I wouldn't recommend it. A

September 22, 2010
ajv2688
AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

The Running Man can't capitalize on its cheesy premise. It doesn't make much of a satire either. The film comments on society's fascination with violence on TV, and how we're only interested in hearing stories about death and horrible events. But the commentary doesn't shock, doesn't inspire you to think. After

May 1, 2009
MovieGeek13
E.J. Boxler

Super Reviewer

The Running Man Quotes

View All

    1. Damon Killian Running Man Game-Show Host: What, steroids make you deaf? GET HIM OUT OF HERE!
    – Submitted by sean b (5 months ago)
    1. Damon Killian Running Man Game-Show Host: Gilligans Island, yeah the one with the boat!
    – Submitted by sean b (5 months ago)
    1. Ben "Butcher of Bakersfield" Richards: Killian! I'll be back!
    2. Damon Killian Running Man Game-Show Host: Only in a rerun. Go!
    – Submitted by sean b (5 months ago)
    1. Damon Killian Running Man Game-Show Host: Who loves you and who do you love!
    – Submitted by Kos G (10 months ago)
    1. Ben "Butcher of Bakersfield" Richards: Killian, here's your Subzero, now plain zero.
    – Submitted by Kos G (10 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • The Running Man (1987) (DE)
  • The Running Man (1987) (UK)
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