In 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up with director Paul Micheal Glaser aka Starsky from the original Starsky and Hutch series, to bring Stephen King aka Richard Bachman’s story The Running Man to life. While it shifted its tone away from the books into more of a standard action flick it still found its audience. With the new remake now available on home media what better time to revisit the classic action film.

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The Running Man follows Ben Richards, an innocent man who is sentenced to the Running Man game show, a futuristic audience participation capital punishment television show. While Ben is running from champions with chainsaws and sharpened hockey sticks, the host is busy with calls to the network about ratings.

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Growing up in the 80s we were witness to some of the greatest action icons of all time and Schwarzenegger reigns supreme. I remember seeing The Running Man and being blown away by the over-the-top nature and silly goons hunting him, but also all in for the action and carnage. I have rewatched it numerous times over the years and while it is pretty dated still holds up as a great sci-fi action flick like only Arnold can deliver.

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It’s made all the better to have Family Feud host Richard Dawson as the slimy villain and is fun to watch. I love all the over-the-top hunters including Predator co-star, Governor and ex-wrestler/Navy Seal Jesse Ventura going head-to-head with Schwarzenegger. The effects and some of the costumes don’t hold up all that well, but its part of the charm of it all.

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