The Running Man
The Running Man
- Release Date: November 13th, 1987
Set in the “future” of 2019, The Running Man follows Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a framed ex–police officer forced to compete in a deadly game show where convicts must battle flamboyant killers, called stalkers, for public amusement. Richard Dawson, best known as the host of Family Feud, plays Damon Killian, the smarmy and ruthless game show host. Maria Conchita Alonso appears as Amber Mendez, who becomes Richards’ reluctant ally, while Yaphet Kotto joins him as a resistance fighter.
The stalkers themselves are played by larger-than-life personalities, including Jesse Ventura as Captain Freedom, Jim Brown as Fireball, Professor Toru Tanaka as Subzero, and Erland Van Lidth as Dynamo. Part action spectacle and part media satire, the film turns Richards into an unlikely folk hero as he turns the game against its corrupt creators.
The TV network, ICS, where the gameshow is filmed, is set at One Culver (formerly Sony Pictures Plaza).
Early in the film, Damon Killiam (Dawson) arrives at his TV station to great fanfair. An exterior shot shows ICS as a tall tower. The tower is movie effects, while the lower part of the building is the distinctive pyramid structure of One Culver.
Below is One Culver today. The building underwent an extensive renovation when Sony vacated the property circa 2020. Its formerly distinctive maroon and beige is now white and black. The building now houses Apple among other tenants.
Killian stands in front of One Culver cheered on by his adoring fans. He then walks through the inside lobby to the elevator.
Below is the exterior of One Culver in 2025. The distinctive lattice work survived the remodel.
Killiam enters One Culver and takes a walk through the distinctive lobby. The lobby can also be seen in Venom, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and a Jersey Mike’s subs commercial.
Killiam walks through the lobby of One Culver. The security desk pictured has been relocated.
The Running Man is one of Arnold’s most underrated action films. I always enjoy rewatching it for Arnold, and for the awesome cameos. Other Schwarzenegger films in Culver City include Last Action Hero filmed outside The Culver Hotel, and Terminator 3 filmed outside the Culver City fire station.
A remake of The Running Man is coming in 2025. Let’s hope we see One Culver!
