THE REWATCHABLES · April 30, 2024
A 1987 action / sci-fi movie directed by Paul Michael Glaser—and decision no. 5 in the Hanks–Cruise tape.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
The prison break and Chico’s doomed sprint are treated as a classic chaotic opener.
About 24 minThe faux-fitness promo is celebrated for perfectly capturing the era.
About 32 minDamien Killian explains the game show setup and flexes as a TV tyrant.
About 24 minThe cheerleaders, Buzzsaw entrance, and fake massacre footage are singled out as an elite stretch.
About 24 minA short but fun battle that yields the 'now plain zero' line.
About 32 minThe opera-singing stalker fight is liked mainly for Arnold’s taunts and the character concept.
About 32 minThe airport sequence is admired as a very 1980s, pre-security escape scenario.
About 32 minKillian’s final television speech and death are remembered as a satisfying climax.
About 40 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsLeans good movie; says the movie’s energy and lines make it legitimately good.
Kyle BrandtLeans strongly positive but embraces the movie’s ridiculousness and badness as part of the fun.
Kyle BrandtRanks it fifth behind Predator, T2, Commando, and Terminator.
Bill SimmonsPlaces it near the top of Arnold’s rise but not above Total Recall or T2.
Kyle BrandtRanks Fireball worst and Buzzsaw best among the main stalkers.
Bill SimmonsGenerally agrees the stalker designs are fun but focuses more on Dawson and the TV spectacle.
Bill SimmonsThinks the violence-as-entertainment premise could still happen and is uncomfortably plausible.
Kyle BrandtAgrees modern media and TV evolution make the premise feel possible.
Calls it a ridiculously fun, 80s-ingredient-packed movie and one of Arnold’s best rewatchables.
Opening minutesTreats the workout tape as one of the movie’s best and funniest sequences.
About 32 minArgues the movie is weirdly prescient about reality TV, gambling, and media control.
About 8 minSays Dawson’s casting is perfect and central to the film’s lasting appeal.
About 8 minPlaces the film near Arnold’s prime and ranks it in his top five movies.
Opening minutesSays the first 10 minutes are incredibly strong and the movie wastes no time.
About 24 minEnjoys the terrible writing because it produces endlessly funny Arnold lines.
About 8 minThinks a modern remake could work because the premise is durable and relevant.
About 8 min · medium confidenceThe movie is read as a satire of television power, ratings, and audience control.
About 8 minThey stress how the movie anticipated reality shows, betting, and audience-driven violence.
About 8 minThe film is framed as a concentrated blast of 80s ingredients: steroids, bodybuilders, game shows, and neon spectacle.
Opening minutesThe episode situates the film in Arnold’s ascent from action star to global movie-event status.
Opening minutesThe doctored Bakersfield massacre video becomes a focal point for modern parallels to manipulated media.
About 24 minThe movie was directed by Paul Michael Glaser, who the hosts identify as Starsky from Starsky & Hutch.
About 16 minThe film underperformed theatrically relative to their expectations.
About 16 minArnold originally turned down a Kubrick role to do action/comedy instead.
About 8 minThe movie is based on a Stephen King novel written as Richard Bachman.
Opening minutesThe movie’s future setting is 2017, which they connect to Trump-era media politics.
About 8 minThe hosts say the film inspired American Gladiators.
About 40 minThey claim the episode’s deepfake-style Bakersfield edit is an early example of manipulated video.
About 24 minThe movie was supposedly re-routed into cable-TV immortality after its theatrical run.
About 24 minUsed repeatedly as an Arnold benchmark and comparison point for The Running Man’s tone.
Opening minutesDiscussed as Arnold’s prime-era film and a likely higher-ranked movie than The Running Man.
Opening minutesReferenced in Arnold rankings and for the iconic carrying-a-heavy-object entrance.
Opening minutesMentioned for Arnold’s early career and signature 'I'll be back' phrase.
Opening minutesCited as a real-world analogue to the movie’s violent game-show concept.
About 8 minUsed as another future reality-competition comparison.
About 8 minUsed to explain Richard Dawson’s fame and persona.
About 8 minMentioned as part of Dawson’s earlier game-show prominence.
About 8 minReferenced when discussing the invented 'The Hate Boat' parody.
About 40 minCited as a fake future show in the movie that the hosts think is a great concept.
About 40 minMentioned as another fake future game show in the film.
About 40 minReferenced as an upcoming remake they think could work.
About 8 minReferenced as a benchmark for Yaphet Kotto’s later performance.
About 16 minThey keep joking about the phony workout tape and its empty exhortations about pain and suffering.
About 32 minKyle repeatedly ranks the stalkers and makes a case that Fireball is the worst.
About 56 minThey repeatedly compare Dawson’s character to modern media personalities and power brokers.
About 8 minThey jokingly attribute the movie’s wildness and dystopian tone to 1980s cocaine.
About 40 minThey recite and laugh at a long sequence of Arnold quotes as a running joke.
About 8 min“Long Island iced tea orgy”Opening minutes
“I don't do requests.”About 40 min
“Only in a rerun”About 32 min
“Now plain zero!”About 32 min
“I don't want to be the only asshole in heaven.”About 48 min
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before The Running Man, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill Simmons125 tracked appearances · 56 H / 64 C / 5 ties
Kyle Brandt20 tracked appearances · 7 H / 13 CCATEGORY CONTEXT
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