A game nobody survives. But Schwarzenegger has yet to play.
1987
101 Minutes
Feature, Rated R
Available on DVD
The year is 2019 and the government uses television to control the people. The most popular show is "The Running Man", hosted by Damon Killian (Richard Dawson) where criminals must try and run away from the "Stalkers" to win pardons. Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenager) runs in several scenes, first away from the government detention camp (after being framed), then across the airport tarmac (before he is captured in a net), and lastly when appearing on the television show. The running is in short sequences and this motion picture has become quite a classic due to the fight scene between Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Schwarzenegger.
Amazon.com offers this production in numerous formats including VHS, DVD, and Widescreen DVD Special Edition. If you are going to spend the money for this one go all the way on the Special Edition and enjoy the additional three featurettes: "Game Theory" a short documentary on the impact of reality TV programming on popular culture, "Meet the Stalkers", and the somewhat controversial "Lockdown on Main Street" showing devastation of the World Trade Center disaster, and examining the US Patriot Act in response to acts of terrorism and how this has impacted personal privacy. Rated R for violence, based very loosely on the original short story by Stephen King (under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman).
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for this 1987 film was released in 1990 under the Varese Sarabande label. You may visit Amazon.com to listen to a sample of each of the 17 songs from this album:
