The Running Man (1987) Thriller Sci-Fi Action Crime
The Running Man (1987) Movie Release Dates / Movie Details

- Our Score: ☆ 7/10
Read our The Running Man Movie Review - Overall Score: ☆ 6.31/10
IMDB: ☆ 6.6/10
Metascore: ☆ 4.5/10
Tomatometer: ☆ 6.7/10 - Related: Discover more movies like The Running Man
The Running Man Plot Synopsis:
In the year 2019, the world economy has collapsed. The great freedoms of the United States are no longer, as the once great nation has sealed off its borders and become a militarized police state, censoring all film, art, literature, and communications. Even so, a small resistance force led by two revolutionaries manages to fight the oppression. With full control over the media, the government attempts to quell the nation's yearning for freedom by broadcasting a number of game shows on which convicted criminals fight for their lives. The most popular and sad**tic of these programs is "The Running Man," hosted by Damon Killian. When a peaceful protest of starving citizens gathers in Bakersfield, California, a police officer named Ben Richards is ordered to fire on the crowd, which he refuses to do. Subdued by the other officers, the attack is carried out, and Richards is framed for the murder of almost a hundred unarmed civilians. Following a daring jail break months later, Richards is captured once again and forced to appear on "The Running Man" with three other convicts. With their help, he fights his way through a cadre of sad**tic gladiators hunting them down through the ruins of a Los Angeles earthquake, but promising Killian that he'll return to settle the score when the show's host double-crosses him. In the meantime, the contestants must search through the ruins for the resistance in the hopes of finally broadcasting the truth about the government.
Synopsis / Plot Summary: A wrongly convicted man must try to survive a public execution gauntlet staged as a game show.
Tagline: The year is 2019. The finest men in America don"t run for President. They run for their lives.
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The Running Man Movie Information:
Type: MovieYear: 1987 (more 1987 movies)
Box Office: $38,122,105
Nominations: 3
What is The Running Man Streaming On?
The Running Man is Streaming on HBO MaxLanguage: English, Italian, Japanese
Country: United States
Release Dates: Movie Release Dates / The Running Man Release Dates In Theaters: Nov 13, 1987, Netflix: Apr 01, 2016
Writers: Stephen King, Steven E. de Souza
Producers: Keith Barish, Rob Cohen, George Linder, Tim Zinnemann
Editors: Mark Warner, Edward A. Warschilka, John Wright
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Similar Movies to The Running Man (1987)(Click to Expand)
- Predator (1987) / (read Predator (1987) review)
- Total Recall (1990) / (read Total Recall (1990) review)
- True Lies (1994)
- Conan the Barbarian (1982) / (read Conan the Barbarian (1982) review)
- The 6th Day (2000)
The Running Man (1987) Cast (Click to Expand)
The Running Man Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | Character(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | ... | Ben Richards |
| Maria Conchita Alonso | ... | Amber Mendez |
| Yaphet Kotto | ... | William Laughlin |
| Jim Brown | ... | Fireball |
| Jesse Ventura | ... | Captain Freedom |
| Erland van Lidth | ... | Dynamo (as Erland Van Lidth) |
| Marvin J. McIntyre | ... | Harold Weiss |
| Gus Rethwisch | ... | Buzzsaw |
| Professor Toru Tanaka | ... | Subzero |
| Mick Fleetwood | ... | Mic |
| Dweezil Zappa | ... | Stevie |
| Richard Dawson | ... | Damon Killian |
| Karen Leigh Hopkins | ... | Brenda |
| Sven-Ole Thorsen | ... | Sven (as Sven Thorsen) |
| Edward Bunker | ... | Lenny (as Eddie Bunker) |
| Bryan Kestner | ... | Med Tech |
| Anthony Pena | ... | Valdez (as Anthony Penya) |
| Kurt Fuller | ... | Tony |
| Ken Lerner | ... | Agent (as Kenneth Lerner) |
| Dey Young | ... | Amy |
Fun Facts: 15 Real AGES of Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (b. July 30, 1947) – Ben Richards
Sign: Leo, Height: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Also known as: Arnold Strong 'Mr. Universe' | Arnold | Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger | Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger | Arnold Strong - Maria Conchita Alonso (b. June 29, 1957) – Amber Mendez
Sign: Cancer, Height: 5' 6½" (1.69 m)
Also known as: Mª Conchita Alonso | Maria Conchita Alonzo | Maria Conchita - Yaphet Kotto, as William Laughlin, passed away at age 81 in Manila, Philipp.
Sign: Scorpio, Height: 6' 4" (1.93 m)
Also known as: Yaphet Cotto - Jim Brown (b. February 17, 1936) – Fireball
Sign: Aquarius, Height: 6' 2½" (1.89 m)
Also known as: Jimmy Brown - Jesse Ventura (b. July 15, 1951) – Captain Freedom
Sign: Cancer, Height: 6' 3" (1.91 m)
Also known as: Gov. Jesse Ventura | Governor Jesse Ventura | Jesse 'The Body' Ventura | Jessie Ventura - Erland van Lidth, as Dynamo (as Erland Van Lidth), passed away at age 34 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
Sign: Gemini, Height: 6' 6" (1.98 m)
Also known as: Erland Van Lidth De Jeude | Erland Van Lidth - Marvin J. McIntyre – Harold Weiss
Height: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
Also known as: Marvin McIntyre | Mr. Marvin J. McIntyre - Gus Rethwisch – Buzzsaw
Height: 6' 5" (1.96 m)
Also known as: Bernard 'Gus' Rethwisch - Professor Toru Tanaka, as Subzero, passed away at age 70 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Sign: Capricorn, Height: 5' 11" (1.8 m)
Also known as: Prof. Toru Tanaka | Toru Tanaka | prof. Toru Tanaka - Mick Fleetwood – Mic
- Dweezil Zappa (b. September 5, 1969) – Stevie
Sign: Virgo
Also known as: Dweezil - Richard Dawson, as Damon Killian, passed away at age 79 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Sign: Scorpio, Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Also known as: Dickie Dawson | Dick Dawson | Richard & Jody - Karen Leigh Hopkins – Brenda
- Sven-Ole Thorsen (b. September 24, 1944) – Sven (as Sven Thorsen)
Sign: Libra, Height: 6' 4" (1.93 m)
Also known as: Sven Ole-Thorsen | Sven-Ole-Thorsen | Sven Ole Thorsen | Sven Thorsen | Swen-Ole Thorsen | Sven Ole Thorson | Sven-Ole Thorson - Edward Bunker, as Lenny (as Eddie Bunker), passed away at age 71 in Burbank, California, USA.
Sign: Capricorn, Height: 6' 1½" (1.87 m)
Also known as: Eddie Bunker
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