The Running Man
In the year 2019, the world economy has collapsed. The great freedoms of the United States are no longer, as the once great nation has sealed off its borders and become a militarized police state, censoring all film, art, literature, and communications. Even so, a small resistance force led by two revolutionaries manages to fight the oppression. With full control over the media, the government attempts to quell the nation's yearning for freedom by broadcasting a number of game shows on which convicted criminals fight for their lives. The most popular and sadistic of these programs is "The Running Man," hosted by Damon Killian. When a peaceful protest of starving citizens gathers in Bakersfield, California, a police officer named Ben Richards is ordered to fire on the crowd, which he refuses to do. Subdued by the other officers, the attack is carried out, and Richards is framed for the murder of almost a hundred unarmed civilians. Following a daring jail break months later, Richards is captured once again and forced to appear on "The Running Man" with three other convicts. With their help, he fights his way through a cadre of sadistic gladiators hunting them down through the ruins of a Los Angeles earthquake, but promising Killian that he'll return to settle the score when the show's host double-crosses him. In the meantime, the contestants must search through the ruins for the resistance in the hopes of finally broadcasting the truth about the government.
Working with a respectable budget of $27.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $38.1M in global revenue (+41% profit margin).
1 win & 3 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Running Man (1987) reveals meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Paul Michael Glaser's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ben Richards refuses to fire on unarmed civilians during the Bakersfield massacre, establishing him as a man of conscience in a fascist state that demands obedience.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Ben escapes from the labor camp with Laughlin and Weiss, breaking free from his false imprisonment and beginning his journey to expose the truth.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Damon Killian forces Ben onto "The Running Man," threatening his friends unless he participates. Ben accepts, entering the deadly game zone and crossing into the televised arena world., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Ben defeats Buzzsaw and the team discovers the underground resistance network in the game zone. False victory: they have access to broadcast technology and a chance to expose Killian's lies to the world., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Laughlin and Weiss are killed by Dynamo and Captain Freedom. The team's deaths are broadcast as entertainment, representing the loss of Ben's brothers-in-arms and the apparent triumph of the system over resistance., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Ben and Amber acquire the Bakersfield massacre footage proving his innocence and the government's lies. Armed with truth and the resistance's support, Ben decides to storm the broadcast studio and expose everything live on air., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Running Man's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Running Man against these established plot points, we can identify how Paul Michael Glaser utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Running Man within the action genre.
Paul Michael Glaser's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Paul Michael Glaser films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Running Man represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Paul Michael Glaser filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Paul Michael Glaser analyses, see The Air Up There, The Cutting Edge.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ben Richards refuses to fire on unarmed civilians during the Bakersfield massacre, establishing him as a man of conscience in a fascist state that demands obedience.
Theme
Television broadcast states "The Running Man: where no resistance fighter lasts long" - establishing the central theme of truth vs. manufactured reality and entertainment as social control.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the dystopian 2019 society: Ben imprisoned as the "Butcher of Bakersfield" for a massacre he refused to commit, food riots, state control of media, and "The Running Man" game show where convicts fight stalkers for freedom.
Disruption
Ben escapes from the labor camp with Laughlin and Weiss, breaking free from his false imprisonment and beginning his journey to expose the truth.
Resistance
Ben seeks refuge with the underground resistance, takes Amber hostage to reach the airport, debates escaping vs. fighting back, but is captured by authorities before he can flee the country.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Damon Killian forces Ben onto "The Running Man," threatening his friends unless he participates. Ben accepts, entering the deadly game zone and crossing into the televised arena world.
Mirror World
Ben reunites with Laughlin and Weiss in the game zone, forming a team. Amber is also thrown into the game, becoming the thematic mirror who will help expose the truth through her network access.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Ben and team fight colorful stalkers (Subzero, Buzzsaw, Dynamo) in the game zone while millions watch. They survive through strength and wit, becoming unexpected audience favorites despite being branded criminals.
Midpoint
Ben defeats Buzzsaw and the team discovers the underground resistance network in the game zone. False victory: they have access to broadcast technology and a chance to expose Killian's lies to the world.
Opposition
Killian sends more stalkers (Fireball, Captain Freedom). The team works to gather evidence of government lies while Killian manipulates footage to show them as villains. Stakes rise as the resistance plans to hijack the broadcast satellite uplink.
Collapse
Laughlin and Weiss are killed by Dynamo and Captain Freedom. The team's deaths are broadcast as entertainment, representing the loss of Ben's brothers-in-arms and the apparent triumph of the system over resistance.
Crisis
Ben processes the loss of his friends while Amber retrieves the unedited Bakersfield footage from network archives. The dark moment of grief transforms into determination to expose the complete truth.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ben and Amber acquire the Bakersfield massacre footage proving his innocence and the government's lies. Armed with truth and the resistance's support, Ben decides to storm the broadcast studio and expose everything live on air.
Synthesis
Ben and the resistance invade the studio during the live broadcast. They kill the remaining stalkers, broadcast the true Bakersfield footage exposing government lies, and Ben sends Killian to his death in his own game, combining rebellion with media truth.
Transformation
Ben and Amber embrace as the truth broadcasts worldwide and the crowd celebrates. The falsely-accused "Butcher of Bakersfield" has become a liberator, transforming from fugitive to hero who freed society from propaganda.