Ep. 152 - The Running Man (King, 1982/Glaser, 1987)

Ep. 152 - The Running Man (King, 1982/Glaser, 1987)

From Film is Lit by Film is Lit

May 7, 2026 · 60 min · Season 17 · Episode 152

About this episode

The episode discusses the 1987 film 'The Running Man' and its comparison to the Stephen King novel it was based on.

**THE EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS** More like “The TALKING Man” because Arnie spends half this movie delivering one-liner after one-liner like his life depends on it! On this episode of the Film is Lit podcast, we fire up the 1987 sci-fi action cult classic “The Running Man,” starring the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger in peak action-hero mode. Packed with outrageous kills, gloriously cheesy catchphrases, and iconic retro fashion (sponsored by Adidas!) the film remains a fascinating time capsule of the Reagan era. Beneath all the camp lies a genuinely inspired villain performance by Richard Dawson, the first host of Family Feud. We also had a blast spotting our current home of Culver City in this movie - the good ol' CC! But here’s the big question: does “The Running Man” actually hold up as an action classic, or is it mostly remembered for the vibes? And how does it compare to the much darker, nastier Stephen King novel it was based on? Listen and find out! #TheRunningMan #ArnoldSchwarzenegger #RichardDawson #StephenKing #SciFi #80sMovies #CultClassic #ActionMovies #Dystopian #MariaConchitaAlonso #YaphetKotto #JesseVentura #JimBrown #MickFleetwood #PaulMichaelGlaser…

People in this episode

Host: Film is Lit

Topics covered

  • 1980s cinema
  • sci-fi action
  • film adaptation
  • cult classics
  • Reagan era
  • one-liners
  • dystopian themes

Keywords

  • The Running Man
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger
  • Richard Dawson
  • Stephen King
  • 80s Movies
  • Cult Classic
  • Action Movies
  • Dystopian
  • Film Review
  • Podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Adidas

Books & works: The Running Man, Family Feud

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