Movielogr

Rating: 5 stars

Tags

Netflix Los Angeles futuristic television show satire dystopian game show

All movies seen on 09/25/2025

View on: IMDb | TMDb

The Running Man (1987)

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser

Action | Fantasy | Thriller

Most recently watched by VicnaLobster, sleestakk, sensoria, scottfinn, danfinn, archstanton43, ashe5k, zombiefreak, schofizzy, vivalaserdisc

Overview

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.

Rated R | Length 100 minutes

Actors

Arnold Schwarzenegger | Richard Dawson | María Conchita Alonso | Yaphet Kotto | Jim Brown | Jesse Ventura | Erland van Lidth | Marvin J. McIntyre | Gus Rethwisch | Professor Toru Tanaka | Mick Fleetwood | Dweezil Zappa | Karen Leigh Hopkins | Sven-Ole Thorsen | Edward Bunker | Bryan Kestner | Anthony Pena | Kurt Fuller | Ken Lerner | Dey Young | Rodger Bumpass | Dona Hardy | Lynne Marie Stewart | Bill Margolin | Tony Brubaker | Joel Kramer | Billy D. Lucas | George P. Wilbur | Thomas Rosales Jr. | Sondra Holt | Daniel Celario | Mario Celario | Sidney Chankin | Kim Pawlik | Roger Kern | Barbara Lux | Franco Columbu | Lin Shaye | Boyd Kestner | Wayne Grace | Charlie Phillips | Greg Lewis | John William James | Jon Cutler | Kerry Wall | Paula Brown | Megan Gallivan | Suzie Hardy | Debby Harris | Melissa Hurley | Marlene Lange | Morgan Lawley | Cindy Millican | Andrea Moen | Mary Ann Hermansen | Karen Owens | Sharon Owens | Pamela Rossi | Mia Togo | Sheree Ali | Kadrolsha Ona Carole | Maureen Flaherty | Sandy Holt | Jeff Jensen | Jon McBride | Mel Scott-Thomas

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

With a remake coming up, I felt like revisiting the original, which I haven’t seen since it came out. It’s not that good, and mostly fun as a piece of nostalgia of ‘80’s action films. I hope the remake is much better.

The directing and acting are uneven and the action scenes aren’t that good. As a satire, it has some funny moments: the Department of Justice has an Entertainment Division and prisoner Arnold is given a court-appointed talent agent! Unfortunately, Arnold’s one-liners are real groaners.

Richard Dawson is pretty good as the slimy game show host. Fun to see Mick Fleetwood as a former musician named Mic.

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