
The Running Man (1987)
It is the year 2019. "The Running Man" is a deadly game no one has ever survived. But Schwarzenegger has yet to play.
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The Running Man rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic
With 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 6.6/10 on IMDb and 45/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been mixed.
About 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.
Cast of The Running Man

Arnold Schwarzenegger
as Ben Richards

Richard Dawson
as Damon Killian

María Conchita Alonso
as Amber Mendez

Yaphet Kotto
as William Laughlin

Jim Brown
as Fireball

Jesse Ventura
as Captain Freedom

Erland van Lidth
as Dynamo
- M
Marvin J. McIntyre
as Harold Weiss
- G
Gus Rethwisch
as Buzzsaw

Professor Toru Tanaka
as Subzero

Mick Fleetwood
as Mic

Dweezil Zappa
as Stevie
The Running Man facts
- Budget
- $27M
- Box office
- $38.1M
Ranked by the iRankMovies editorial teamUpdated August 2026MethodologyData sources
Audience opinions
What the audience liked
- •Alternate future dystopia establishes compelling sci-fi premise
- •Death game spectacle delivers consistent action thrills
- •Authoritarian social commentary carries satirical weight
What the audience disliked
- •Crowd mentality subplot feels underdeveloped and unresolved
- •Dark future worldbuilding gets overshadowed by action focus
Trailer
Where to watch The Running Man(US)
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Availability may change. Data by JustWatch.
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