Now’s Your Last Chance to Stream the Original ‘Running Man’ Movie

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If you’re hoping to watch the original 1987 film, The Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, before the new version comes out in November, you need to act fast! It’s currently available on Netflix, but it will be removed on November 1st.

While the 1987 film adaptation takes inspiration from Stephen King’s original story, it emphasizes action and presents a more physically imposing main character. It also leaves out the darker, more unsettling aspects of the book, and the movie has a very different ending. King wrote the original 1982 novel in just one week and published it under the name Richard Bachman.

The film The Running Man centers on Ben Richards (played by Schwarzenegger), a decorated soldier wrongly accused of a terrible crime. After being framed for a massacre, he’s imprisoned in a work camp, but manages to escape. He attempts to reach his family, but is ultimately caught again.

Damon Killian, the host of the TV show The Running Man, learns about a man on the run named Richards and offers him a deal. If Richards can survive a dangerous, televised manhunt, he’ll earn his freedom and a cash prize, according to a summary from Rotten Tomatoes.

In 2019, the United States has become a controlling and oppressive government. The most popular show on television is “The Running Man,” a dangerous game where prisoners try to escape to freedom while being hunted. Ben Richards, wrongly accused and imprisoned, gets a chance to regain his freedom by competing on the show. However, the show’s cruel host, Damon Killian, is determined to ensure he doesn’t survive.

The 1987 film The Running Man didn’t perform exceptionally well in theaters, earning just over $38 million despite costing $27 million to make. Although it came out when Arnold Schwarzenegger was becoming a major star, it didn’t fully resonate with either audiences or critics. Currently, it has a 65% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers giving it a slightly lower score of 61%.

Ben Richards Will Run Again in 2025 With Edgar Wright’s Modern Adaptation of ‘The Running Man’


Paramount Pictures

A new movie version of Stephen King’s The Running Man is coming to theaters on November 14, 2025, distributed by Paramount Pictures. It’s one of several King stories being adapted for the screen in 2025, alongside The Monkey, The Life of Chuck, and The Long Walk.

Edgar Wright directed The Running Man, working from a script he wrote with Michael Bacall. The film stars Glen Powell, a rising action star, and features a strong supporting cast including Katy O’Brian, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Lee Pace, and Emilia Jones.

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2025-10-25 18:33