Released in 1987, The Running Man is one of about a thousand sci-fi action movies of its decade to open with an ominous title crawl that reads something like this:
THE YEAR IS 2012. PETROLEUM WARS HAVE DECIMATED THE ECONOMY. THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLS ALL KNOWLEDGE. BEING IN LOVE OR PETTING A DOG IS ILLEGAL. RATIONING LAWS MEAN THE PUBLIC IS ONLY ALLOWED TO FEEL TWO FEELINGS A DAY. UNTIL NOW …
The film takes place in a recognizable not-so-distant future dystopia, where the rabble are placated with bread-and-circus television programming. The top-rated show on the planet is The Running Man, a hyper-violent, live-broadcast game show in which “runners” (typically convicted criminals) attempt to escape a colorful cadre of professional assassins called “stalkers.” By navigating a series of themed arenas (there’s a fire one, a chain saw one, an ice hockey one, etc.), and taking out the stalkers in turn, the runners can (allegedly) win their freedom.
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Running Man is a fairly conventional, often-repetitive romp. Equal parts Wrestlemania and The Most Dangerous Game, The Running Man established a template for everything from Battle Royale to The Hunger Games. More than influential, it was notable for its wry, at times ruthless humor. The Running Man’s host is the charismatic Killian (played by real-life Family Feud host Richard Dawson), who dazzles his slobbish studio audience with his oily charm. Huddled masses in the street eagerly bet on the action, which is all rigged, anyway. The sleazy TV network’s other programs include a show called Climbing for Dollars and another titled, hilariously, The Hate Boat. It imagined a future of media-driven bloodlust that was grim, sure. But more than that, it was very, very stupid.