BeforeGlen Powellsteps into the arena this fall,Arnold Schwarzenegger’scult classicThe Running Manis getting a second wind — and this time, it’s free. StartingJuly 1, the 1987 dystopian action film will stream onPluto TV, just in time for audiences to revisit (or discover) the original adaptation ofStephen King’snovel, released under his pseudonymRichard Bachman. Back in the day,The Running Manwas billed as a high-octane futuristic thrill ride starring one of the most bankable action heroes of all time. With a budget of$27 millionand a worldwide gross of$38 million, it barely scraped by financially — a rare miss for Schwarzenegger during his ’80s dominance. But withTop Gun: Maverickstar Powell suiting up forEdgar Wright’smuch-hyped remake, the original is suddenly back in the pop culture bloodstream.
Directed byPaul Michael Glaser(Starsky & Hutch), the 1987 version ofThe Running Mandoesn’t exactly stay true to King’s grim novel. Instead of a desperate everyman volunteering for a brutal competition to support his family, Schwarzenegger playsBen Richards, a police officer framed for a massacre and sentenced to death. His execution? Oh, it’s fun. You’ll like it. Participating in atelevisedbloodbath where “stalkers” hunt him across a game zone in front of millions of gleeful viewers.
What unfoldsis a garish, neon-drenched satire that plays likeAmerican Gladiatorson a war crime budget. With over-the-top villains (includingJesse Ventura,Jim Brown, andErland Van Lidth), cheesy one-liners, and a plot soaked in Reagan-era cynicism,The Running Manisn’t what you’d call “faithful” — but it’s definitely memorable.
Is ‘The Running Man’ Any Good?
At the time,The Running Manwas met with tepid reviews and middling box office. Critics weren’t sure what to make of its blend of satire, gore, and cheesy action, and it didn’t help that it came out the same year asPredator— which also starred Schwarzenegger, but actuallywasa hit. Compared to his run of mega-successes,The Running Manunderperformed, both financially and critically.
But in hindsight? It’s clear the film was ahead of its time. With reality television becoming a global obsession and questions about state-run media more relevant than ever,The Running Mannow plays like eerie prophecy — albeit one dressed in spandex and synths.
The Running Manbegins streaming free onPluto TVonJuly 1, while Edgar Wright’s remake hits theatersNovember 7.
The Running Man
