Support NeoGAF

[MrCunningham]

That really is the greatest Arnold line of all time.

Todays trivia: Killian is actually Richard Dawson, who was famous for 2 stints of hosting the real TV game show Family Feud.

It makes me wonder what a modern remake would be like if they chose Steve Harvey as the new Killian.

 

[Rhomega Beta]

Saw it back in April. it was a nice film, loved some of the Stalkers, and Richard Dawson as the host (having also seen old episodes of Family Feud).

 

[Purple Cheeto]

There's a song in this that Uematsu straight up lifted for the FF7 soundtrack.

 

[hermitpurple]

Before this movie I never knew he how awesome Arnold looked with a beard. He definitely shoulda worn one more often.

 

[wonderful103]

Don't forget to send me a copy!

 

[Lee Chaolan]

Win one for the Zero!

 

[Daingurse]

The movie doesn't hold up, but I don't give a single fuck. It's fun.

This. Was one of my childhood staples along with Robocop, Terminator 2, and The Thing. I can't believe the movie takes place next year lol.

 

[bionic77]

I also noticed the dystopian future that took place in 2017 and thought it was a prophetic vision of what could happen if Trump became president.

Also, this movie is a masterpiece.

 

[Kozak]

Looks like I'm adding this to the watch list.

 

[Forsaken82]

Yes, and it does not hold up.

Doesn't stop most of the 80s actioneers from being dumb fun entertainment. And it's pretty amazing how ahead of it's time this concept is when you consider just how popular (and perverse) Reality Television has become over the last decade or so

 

[Brashnir]

Clap if you love Dynamo.

I said clap.

there's nothing funny about a dickless moron with a battery up his ass.

 

[Currygan]

I mean, movie's worth watching for Killian alone. that guy is pure fire ( and got hints of a southern English accent, which I found amusing)

 

[br3wnor]

Great fucking movie, watched it a couple months ago. The "holding up" thing is interesting for me personally because I have a super super SUPER 80's aesthetic boner so all of the 80s/early 90's action movies hold up incredibly well for me because I'm actually watching them in large part for the aesthetic, warts and all.

 

[hateradio]

Movie is so good.

Arnold looks total B0ss at the start

Big BOSS

 

[buckfutter]

There's a song in this that Uematsu straight up lifted for the FF7 soundtrack.

Flying Lotus played a remix of the track from FF7 during a DJ set of his that my brother and I were at, and I completely mistook it for the track from The Running Man. My brother had to correct me.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

I thought Richard Dawson was some rando TV host and not running the country

I thought Donald Trump was some rando reality TV character and not trying to run the country.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I mean, movie's worth watching for Killian alone. that guy is pure fire ( and got hints of a southern English accent, which I found amusing)

Richard Dawson was a Brit

 

[Cracklox]

Not particularly recently but I think I can safely assume its as awesome as it always was.

Doesn't stop most of the 80s actioneers from being dumb fun entertainment. And it's pretty amazing how ahead of it's time this concept is when you consider just how popular (and perverse) Reality Television has become over the last decade or so

This too. The second point especially. The movie came out a good 10-12 years before the term 'reality TV' even existed. Let alone go to the extremes it has and does

 

[Unknown Soldier]

This too. The second point especially. The movie came out a good 10-12 years before the term 'reality TV' even existed. Let alone go to the extremes it has and does

There is now a reality TV show with almost the same premise as The Running Man, except that the runner doesn't actually get killed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runner_(TV_series)

edit:

I randomly found this in the Walmart bargain bin awhile back now. I guess I should watch it sometime.

 

[CommandThrower]

This movie probably has my favorite Arnold one liner, and it's foreshadowed early in the movie! Early in the movie you see an advertisement for the "Cadre Cola" beverage with the slogan: "Cadre Cola; it hits the spot!".


Fast forward to the climax where Arnold sends Richard Dawson flying into a Cadre Cola billboard which causes an explosion. Arnold's one liner?

"Well, that hit the spot!"

 

[Cindres]

One of the greatest Arnie movies for one liners. I don;t know that I'd look at it so deeply to compare it to modern day but damn if it isn't fun.

 

[The Rain King]

What happened to buzz saw

He had to split.

 

[Any Questions]

And here I thought you were cool.

You have to consider that I wave watched this movie dozens of times as a Saturday or Sunday hangover lazy day cure with friends.

Good times

 

[PARANO1A]

I rewatched recently. I was amazed at how much music from this film was copied in FFVII. Really noticeable.

 

[Cracklox]

There is now a reality TV show with almost the same premise as The Running Man, except that the runner doesn't actually get killed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runner_(TV_series)

That looked kinda interesting and then I realized there wouldn't be fights to the death with Jesse Ventura. Might have to pass

He had to split.

lol

 

[Hambulance]

I'm pretty sure it's still amazing fam

 

[Polk]

Yes, and it does not hold up.

Only thing that doesn't hold up is Dynamo's lightning.

 

[Currygan]

Richard Dawson was a Brit

just checked, woah, lol

 

[Polioliolio]

Are there any other 'people are in a grotesque gameshow' movies out there?

The closest things to Running Man that I can tell are games Smash TV and Dead Rising 2

 

[mackattk]

One of my favorite Arnold movies ever, right up there with kindergarten cop.

 

[Graphics Horse]

Are there any other 'people are in a grotesque gameshow' movies out there?

The closest things to Running Man that I can tell are games Smash TV and Dead Rising 2

Death Race 2000 and the mario kart-esque remake

 

[Saganator]

Sub Zero.

Now.. Plain Zero.

Tremendous.

Watched the movie in my teens while smoking weed with a friend. This part had us rolling on the floor for a while.

 

[Armoured Priest]

Are there any other 'people are in a grotesque gameshow' movies out there?

The closest things to Running Man that I can tell are games Smash TV and Dead Rising 2

Fatal Rewind was a Genesis/MegaDrive (I believe also Amiga...it was a Psygnosis game) that had kind of a similar premise. You were in a lethal game show.

Also, there was a section of the game Flashback (Genesis/SNES/3D0/SegaCD/other systems/modern ports) where your character had to go through Running Man gameshow like scenario (It's been a long time since I've played the game, I don't recall why your character had to do it).

 

[The Kree]

Are there any other 'people are in a grotesque gameshow' movies out there?

The closest things to Running Man that I can tell are games Smash TV and Dead Rising 2

A movie called Stay Tuned with John Ritter. It's not a game show exactly and it's not grotesque, but there's a married couple trapped in a fucked up parody-TV-land trying to avoid dying in horrible ways and going to hell. They just have to survive for a day and they get to keep their souls.

 

[ElFly]

this movie was amazing

your face does not hold up

 

[Aske]

A movie called Stay Tuned with John Ritter. It's not a game show exactly and it's not grotesque, but there's a married couple trapped in a fucked up parody-TV-land trying to avoid dying in horrible ways and going to hell. They just have to survive for a day and they get to keep their souls.

I loved this movie. Watched it a bunch of times back in the day. Well remembered!

 

[Straight Edge]

I'm pretty sure it's still amazing fam

There is nothing funny about a dickless moron with a battery shoved up his ass.

 

[Rudimental]

Are there any other 'people are in a grotesque gameshow' movies out there?

The closest things to Running Man that I can tell are games Smash TV and Dead Rising 2

There is Series 7: The Contenders, which is similar, though it involves a reality TV show rather than a classic gameshow.

 

[Coffee Dog]

You said I could choose, so I choose Ben Richards. THAT BOY'S ONE MEAN MOTHERFUCKER

 

[blankempathy]

Yes, and it does not hold up.

Holds up to what standard? You got guys dressed up in Christmas lights or as an ice hockey goalie trying to murder people in spandex.

 

[Neff]

TOTALLY holds up. Timeless.

There are better movies with Scharzenegger in them, but The Running Man is the best Arnold Scharzenegger movie. As pure as custom-made star vehicles get.

 

[Tunesmith]

You'll recall this movie starred Arnold Schwarzenegger having to survive a killer reality TV show in a dystopian future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv5XWW1JTZk

Watching it in 2016 it literally plays like a satirical prediction of a Donald Trump presidency. It's AMAZING. It would be so easy to replace Richard Dawson with Trump and see him hosting this show where he gets to put "Crooked Hillary" and "Lyin' Ted Cruz" through the gauntlet.

The best part? THE MOVIE STARTS IN THE YEAR 2017.

and THEN...

 

[Khoryos]

But the book was INSANE.

Completely different story though.

The Running Man could travel anywhere in The States, but had drop a video recording in a mailbox every 6 or 12 hours. He had to rely on the trust of the people as there was a bounty on his head that anyone (public) could collect on.

Amazong SK short story. One of his best.

No way in hell you could film that ending today, though.

 

[MrCunningham]

Holds up to what standard? You got guys dressed up in Christmas lights or as an ice hockey goalie trying to murder people in spandex.

As cheesy as those elements are, they work perfectly in the context of the movie. The Stalkers are essentially like old school WWF superstars, each one with their own stupid gimmicks and personas that the audience can instantly recognize.

Jesse Ventura's character make's a pretty funny comment about it when they reinstate him as a Stalker:

The producers of the show equip him with all of this tacky looking future tech and then he throws it off in disgust and says: "I was killing guys like this ten years ago with my bare hands!".

It fits with the theme of giving the audience what they want.

 

[Camwi]

Movie is so good.

Arnold looks total B0ss at the start

Fuck yes.

 

[blankempathy]

As cheesy as those elements are, they work perfectly in the context of the movie. The Stalkers are essentially like old school WWF superstars, each one with their own stupid gimmicks and personas that the audience can instantly recognize.

Jesse Ventura's character make's a pretty funny comment about it when they reinstate him as a Stalker:

The producers of the show equip him with all of this tacky looking future tech and then he throws it off in disgust and says: "I was killing guys like this ten years ago with my bare hands!".

It fits with the theme of giving the audience what they want.

That's my point. It's a silly cheesy movie but it excels at what it aims to be.

 

[Livingskeletons]

The Rifftrax for it is amazing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYNBIxmy5AA


Not the usual dudes though.

 

[PandaShake]

Fire Boylt?

 

[What did he mean by this?]

The Butcher of Benghazi Street?

 

[LifEndz]

Quintessential 80's music, dark dystopian themes, modern collesium...I love that movie and I still watch from time to time.