The Running Man / 1987

( 6 )

Overview

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 scapegoat. Richards is ...
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Overview

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 scapegoat. Richards is captured along with an innocent civilian, Amber Mendez Maria Conchita Alonso, and they are forced to participate in a violent game show called "The Running Man" hosted by the unctuous Damon Killian Richard Dawson. The object of the game for Richards and Mendez: obtain freedom by staying alive against a gauntlet of skillful assassins like "Subzero" Professor Toru Tanaka and "Captain Freedom" Jesse Ventura, each armed with unique weapons like razor-sharp hockey sticks and chainsaws. With the help of some fellow "contestants," Richards is able to tap into government computers and prove his innocence. The Running Man was very loosely based on a short story by Stephen King, who wrote it under the name Richard Bachman.
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Special Features

New audio commentary with director Paul Michael Glaser
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse
Based on a fanciful page-turner written pseudonymously by Stephen King, this futuristic thriller -- crammed with action and breathlessly paced -- shows Arnold Schwarzenegger at his bone-crunching best. The Running Man, originally released in 1987, took a drubbing from overly sensitive critics who fretted that it glorified violence and wallowed in gore. Their protests certainly didn’t inhibit the film’s box-office performance, as it proved an international smash and enhanced Arnold’s burgeoning rep as a top draw. It also influenced at least a half dozen similarly themed sci-fi flicks that have followed. It takes place in the year 2019, with the United States under totalitarian control and its increasingly restive populace thirsting for violent entertainment. Unfairly imprisoned Ben Richards Schwarzenegger is chosen to participate in a bizarre show that pits convicts against ruthless assassins known as "stalkers." Prisoners who evade their murderous pursuers can earn their freedom, and Ben is determined to make the most of his opportunity. Directed with verve by former cop-show star Paul Michael Glaser The Cutting Edge, Running Man doesn’t offer much by way of social commentary. It does, though, dazzle viewers with a series of bloody battles and mind-blowing stunts. Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, and Jim Brown all afford Schwarzenegger able support, with Richard Dawson parodying his TV-host trade and Jesse Ventura in his WWF prime both adding to the fun. Unabashedly trashy, The Running Man is mindless fun that shows one of the screen’s greatest action heroes in peak form.
All Movie Guide - Karl Williams
One of the better adaptations of novelist and short story writer Stephen King's fiction to the screen, this tongue-in-cheek science fiction-adventure ranks among the best of star Arnold Schwarzenegger's futuristic film efforts; its success likely influenced the tone of his later, quite similar Total Recall (1990). Screenwriters Steven E. de Souza and John Herzfeld take a jaundiced but delightfully jovial and cynically twisted view of the public's passion for professional wrestling, game shows, and bloody reality programming (all of which would become even more popular in the years after this film's release). The result is a vision of a dystopian future that will be familiar to fans of such 1970s fare as Logan's Run (1976) and Soylent Green (1973), but with a decidedly late '80s sense of humor. Schwarzenegger and his wrestling co-stars (including future governor Jesse Ventura) provide their usual qualities: hulking, muscle-bound menace. They do what they were hired to do, which is essentially smash the living heck out of each other, vehicles, walls, etc. The sole acting performance is a great one from former actor and game show host Richard Dawson, wickedly sending up his own image in a savagely funny fashion. The Running Man is definitely not the type of film to take home Oscars, but it's enormous fun for both those who "get" the film's sly lacerating of the modern zeitgeist and those who don't.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 2/19/2013
  • UPC: 887090054300
  • Original Release: 1987

    • Rating:

  • Source: Olive Films
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Wide Screen
  • Time: 1:41:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 19,638

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Arnold Schwarzenegger Ben "Butcher of Bakersfield" Richards
Maria Conchita Alonso Amber Mendez
Richard Dawson Damon Killian, Running Man Game-Show Host
Yaphet Kotto Laughlin
Jim Brown Fireball, Stalker
Jesse Ventura Capt. Freedom
Erland Van Lidth Dynamo, Stalker
Marvin J. McIntyre Weiss
Gus Rethwisch Buzzsaw, Stalker
Prof. Toru Tanaka Subzero, Stalker
Mick Fleetwood Mic, Underground Resistance Leader
Dweezil Zappa Stevie, Mic's Son
Karen Leigh Hopkins Brenda, Damon's Assistant
Sven Ole Thorsen Sven
Kerry Brennan Dancer
Paula Jean Brown Dancer
Tony Brubaker Soldier
Rodger Bumpass Phil Hiton
Roger Bumpass Don Pardo
Edward Bunker Lenny
Mario Celario Barrio Foreman
Sidney Chankin Custodian
Franco Columbu 911 Security Officer
Jon Cutler Underground Tech
Jesse Captain Freedom
Kurt Fuller Tony
Megan Gallivan Dancer
Wayne Grace 911 Security Officer
Donna Hardy Mrs. McArdle
Suzie Hardy Dancer
Sondra Holt Suzie Checkpoint
Melissa Hurley Dancer
John William James Barrio Bettor
Roger Kern Travel Pass Guard
Boyd Kestner Yuppie Yeller
Bryan Kestner Med Tech
Joel Kramer Soldier
Joe Leahy Orchestra Narrator
Ken Lerner
Greg Lewis Locker Room Manager
Billy Lucas Soldier
Barbara Lux Elderly Lady
Bill Margolin Leon
Mary Ann Oedy Dancer
Kim Pawlik Newscaster
Anthony Penya Valdez
Charlie Phillips Teen-Age Punk
Tommy Rosales Jr. Chico
Lin Shaye Propaganda Officer
Lynne Stewart Edith Wiggins
George Wilbur Lt. Saunders
Dey Young Amy
Technical Credits
Paul Michael Glaser Director
Paula Abdul Choreography
Keith Barish Executive Producer
Richard G. Berger Set Decoration/Design
Robert Blackman Costumes/Costume Designer
Jackie Burch Casting
The Burman Studio Makeup Special Effects
Chris Casady Special Effects
Lawrence James Cavanaugh Special Effects
Rob Cohen Executive Producer
Jack T. Collis Production Designer
Gary Daigler Production Manager
Jeff Dawn Makeup
Steven E. de Souza Screenwriter
Bennie E. Dobbins Stunts
Jim Duffy Set Decoration/Design
Harold Faltermeyer Score Composer
Richard Bryce Goodman Sound/Sound Designer
Gary Gutierrez Special Effects Supervisor
John Herzfeld Screenwriter
George Linder Producer
Nick Navarro Set Decoration/Design
Nancy Patton Set Decoration/Design
Thomas del Ruth Cinematographer
R. Bruce Steinheimer Special Effects, Special Effects Supervisor
John Stoll Production Designer
Reynaldo Villalobos Cinematographer
Mark Warner Editor
Edward Warschilka Editor
John Wright Editor
Tim Zinnemann Producer
Stephen King Source Author
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Running Man
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Running Man
   Play
   Chapters
   Special Feature
      Audio Commentary
         Audio Commentary: On
         Audio Commentary: Off
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3
( 6 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 6 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    One of the better Arnold movies

    This is the way prisons should be run. Funny as it's before reality shows. This would make a great one. Inmates are put on the google box and told to run a maze. If they get to the end they get to live but first they have to live through the horrors of working a job. Streets smarts are key here. The best is that the kissing bandit richard dawson is the game show king.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    An underated movie.

    This is without doubt one of Arnold Schwarzeneggers most underated movies. It is actually really cool and i dont understand why people dont like it. Trust me, you will if you give it a chance.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Classic Mindless Action, but Fun

    Actually quite enjoyable to watch, as long as you're not expecting a deep story. Some of the dialogue is a bit stilted, but the characters are enjoyable. Dawson in particular makes the movie work, and the sendup of gameshows is a hoot. Some good bits are scattered throughout. The ending does degenerate into the usual shootout drivel. If you enjoy Arnold, Ventura, or Dawson in any of their other vehicles, this is worth a look.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    What a mistake

    This movie isn't a very good one. For those of you who have read my review on total recall you heard me saw few movies i dislike. This is one.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 29, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 9, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 6 Customer Reviews