The Running Man (1987)
- Starring:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- Director(s):
- Paul Michael Glaser
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action / Adventure
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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" (Prof. 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. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 101 mins
Complete Cast:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger - Ben "Butcher of Bakersfield" Richards
- Richard Dawson - Damon Killian, Running Man Game-Show Host
- Jim Brown - Fireball, Stalker
- Erland Van Lidth - Dynamo, Stalker
- Gus Rethwisch - Buzzsaw, Stalker
- Mick Fleetwood - Mic, Underground Resistance Leader
- Karen Leigh Hopkins - Brenda, Damon's Assistant
- Boyd Kestner - Yuppie Yeller
- Roger Bumpass - Phil Hiton
- Charlie Phillips - Teen-Age Punk
- Roger Kern - Travel Pass Guard
- George Wilbur - Lt. Saunders
- Wayne Grace - 911 Security Officer
- Kurt Fuller - Tony
- Franco Columbu - 911 Security Officer
- Edward Bunker - Lenny
- Kerry Brennan - Dancer
- Suzie Hardy - Dancer
- Tommy Rosales, Jr. - Chico
- Kim Pawlik - Newscaster
- Barbara Lux - Elderly Lady
- John William James - Barrio Bettor
- Bryan Kestner - Med Tech
- Mary Ann Oedy - Dancer
- Anthony Penya - Valdez
- Billy Lucas - Soldier
- Maria Conchita Alonso - Amber Mendez
- Yaphet Kotto - Laughlin
- Jesse Ventura - Capt. Freedom
- Marvin J. McIntyre - Weiss
- Prof. Toru Tanaka - Subzero, Stalker
- Dweezil Zappa - Stevie, Mic's Son
- Sven Ole Thorsen - Sven
- Mario Celario - Barrio Foreman
- Paula Brown - Dancer
- Joel Kramer - Soldier
- Dey Young - Amy
- Lynne Stewart - Edith Wiggins
- Megan Gallivan - Dancer
- Jon Cutler - Underground Tech
- Sidney Chankin - Custodian
- Tony Brubaker - Soldier
- Melissa Hurley - Dancer
- Donna Hardy - Mrs. McArdle
- Jesse Captain Freedom
- Bill Margolin - Leon
- Joe Leahy - Narrator
- Sondra Holt - Suzie Checkpoint
- Ken Lerner
- Lin Shaye - Propaganda Officer
- Greg Lewis - Locker Room Manager
- Director(s):
- Paul Michael Glaser
- Writer(s):
- Steven E. de Souza, John Herzfeld
- Producer(s):
- Tim Zinnemann, George Linder
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Language, Not For Children, Graphic Violence, Profanity, Violence)
- Categories:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action / Adventure
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
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