The Running Man
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.
What critics thought
DivisiveMixed on arrival, The Running Man found defenders and detractors divided on the same core question: whether its satirical jabs at televised violence are sharp enough to justify wallowing in exactly what they mock. Schwarzenegger struck some critics as unusually subdued, while others found the game-show premise energetic and self-aware enough to work as pulpy entertainment.
“coarsens the star's hitherto winning formula”
Variety
“a fast-paced, futuristic purée of Beat the Clock, Max Headroom, professional wrestling and The Most Dangerous Game. Pumped and primed for self-parody, the burly star proves as funny as he is ferocious in this tough guy's commentary on America's preoccupation with violence and game shows.”
Rita Kempley·The Washington Post
“It's a format all right, but it may be too much of a format for a feature-length film.”
Dave Kehr·Chicago Tribune
“The Running Man is, by far, Schwarzenegger's best vehicle since The Terminator—not such high praise if you recall what came in between—and it suggests that his Frank Frazetta frame shows best in these fantasy sci-fi settings”
Michael Wilmington·Los Angeles Times
Genres
Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Paul Michael GlaserDirector
Arnold SchwarzeneggerBen Richards
Richard DawsonDamon Killian
María Conchita AlonsoAmber Mendez
Yaphet KottoWilliam Laughlin
Jim BrownFireball
Jesse VenturaCaptain Freedom
Erland van LidthDynamo
Professor Toru TanakaSubzero
Mick FleetwoodMic
Dweezil ZappaStevie
Harold FaltermeyerComposer
Steven E. de SouzaWriter
Stephen KingWriterThe Running Man
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.
What critics thought
DivisiveMixed on arrival, The Running Man found defenders and detractors divided on the same core question: whether its satirical jabs at televised violence are sharp enough to justify wallowing in exactly what they mock. Schwarzenegger struck some critics as unusually subdued, while others found the game-show premise energetic and self-aware enough to work as pulpy entertainment.
“coarsens the star's hitherto winning formula”
Variety
“a fast-paced, futuristic purée of Beat the Clock, Max Headroom, professional wrestling and The Most Dangerous Game. Pumped and primed for self-parody, the burly star proves as funny as he is ferocious in this tough guy's commentary on America's preoccupation with violence and game shows.”
Rita Kempley·The Washington Post
“It's a format all right, but it may be too much of a format for a feature-length film.”
Dave Kehr·Chicago Tribune
“The Running Man is, by far, Schwarzenegger's best vehicle since The Terminator—not such high praise if you recall what came in between—and it suggests that his Frank Frazetta frame shows best in these fantasy sci-fi settings”
Michael Wilmington·Los Angeles Times
Genres
Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Paul Michael GlaserDirectorArnold SchwarzeneggerBen RichardsRichard DawsonDamon KillianMaría Conchita AlonsoAmber MendezYaphet KottoWilliam LaughlinJim BrownFireballJesse VenturaCaptain FreedomErland van LidthDynamoProfessor Toru TanakaSubzeroMick FleetwoodMicDweezil ZappaStevieHarold FaltermeyerComposerSteven E. de SouzaWriterStephen KingWriter