The Running Man (1987): Flamboyant and deadly

ByFabian Bullitt

1987 • Paul Michael Glaser • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser and based on a novel by Stephen King (published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman), The Running Man is a satirical action film set in a dystopian future America. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a wrongfully convicted police helicopter pilot forced to participate in a violent televised game show in which prisoners must evade professional killers for the public’s entertainment.

Adopting the aesthetics of 1980s television, the film’s game show segments are framed like exaggerated entertainment shows, complete with audience reactions and flamboyant introductions. This creates a contrast between the bright studio lighting, neon colours, and glossy stage sets, and the grim dystopian premise. The message is clear: the revolution will not be televised… It’s not what the public wants.

Anchored definitively in the visual style of the 1980s, the game show features flamboyant costumes, themed weapons, and exaggerated personalities, making it a grotesque spectacle. Its violence is entertainment, consumed by the masses. Truth is not important, but ratings are.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: In a dystopian future where the government controls media and truth, a wrongly convicted man is forced to compete in a deadly reality TV show, fighting for his life against murderous stalkers in front of a bloodthirsty audience.
  • Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Richard Dawson, Yaphet Kotto, Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown, Marvin J. McIntyre.
  • Director: Paul Michael Glaser
  • Year: 1987
  • Cinematographer: Thomas Del Ruth
  • Origin: American Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Genre: Action / Sci-Fi
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