The Running Man (1987)
Action, Science Fiction, Thriller • 1h 41m
Overview
By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where “runners” attempt to evade “stalkers” and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free.
Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Dawson, María Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura, Erland van Lidth, Marvin J. McIntyre, Gus Rethwisch, Professor Toru Tanaka, Mick Fleetwood, Dweezil Zappa, Karen Leigh Hopkins, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Edward Bunker, Bryan Kestner, Anthony Pena, Kurt Fuller, Ken Lerner, Dey Young, Rodger Bumpass, Dona Hardy, Lynne Marie Stewart, Bill Margolin, Tony Brubaker, Joel Kramer, Billy D. Lucas, George P. Wilbur, Thomas Rosales Jr., Sondra Holt, Daniel Celario, Mario Celario, Sidney Chankin, Kim Pawlik, Roger Kern, Barbara Lux, Franco Columbu, Lin Shaye, Boyd Kestner, Wayne Grace, Charlie Phillips, Greg Lewis, John William James, Jon Cutler, Kerry Wall, Paula Brown, Megan Gallivan, Suzie Hardy, Debby Harris, Melissa Hurley, Marlene Lange, Morgan Lawley, Cindy Millican, Andrea Moen, Mary Ann Hermansen, Karen Owens, Sharon Owens, Pamela Rossi, Mia Togo, Kadrolsha Ona Carole, Maureen Flaherty, Sandy Holt, Jeff Jensen, Jon McBride, Mel Scott-Thomas, Peter Kent, Trinidad Silva
Director: Brian De Palma
2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray
Director: Brian De Palma
2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray
Director: Stanley Kubrick
US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray
International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray
US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray
International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray
Director: Stanley Kubrick
US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray
International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray
US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray
International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray
Director: George A. Romero
Shout! Factory Blu-ray for the original Dolby stereo, 4K Blu-ray is a downmix
Director: George A. Romero
Shout! Factory Blu-ray for the original Dolby stereo, 4K Blu-ray is a downmix
Director: John Carpenter
Sony 4K Blu-ray and France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray are similar
Director: John Carpenter
Sony 4K Blu-ray and France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray are similar
Director: Lewis Teague
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray disappointing
R1 DVD sounds best and has the original mono and a Dolby Stereo remix
Director: Lewis Teague
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray disappointing
R1 DVD sounds best and has the original mono and a Dolby Stereo remix
Director: Rob Reiner
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray added Dolby Vision and more extras
The DVD has an isolated score track
Director: Rob Reiner
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray added Dolby Vision and more extras
The DVD has an isolated score track
Director: Michael Gornick
Director: Michael Gornick
Director: Mary Lambert
Paramount Scares Vol. 1 Set 4K Blu-ray
Paramount Scares Vol. 1 Set 4K Blu-ray
Director: Mary Lambert
Paramount Scares Vol. 1 Set 4K Blu-ray
Paramount Scares Vol. 1 Set 4K Blu-ray
Director: Rob Reiner
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or German Capelight 4K Blu-Ray?
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or German Capelight 4K Blu-Ray?
Shout! Factory Blu-ray has exclusive extras the Kino Lorber/Capelight release doesn't
Director: Rob Reiner
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or German Capelight 4K Blu-Ray?
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or German Capelight 4K Blu-Ray?
Shout! Factory Blu-ray has exclusive extras the Kino Lorber/Capelight release doesn't
Director: Robert Wise
Disney 4K Blu-ray, see caps https://slow.pics/c/hE3HUCdj
Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.
All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.
Director: Robert Wise
Disney 4K Blu-ray, see caps https://slow.pics/c/hE3HUCdj
Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.
All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.
The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.
Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.
The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.
Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.
Director: John McTiernan
Director: John McTiernan
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Directors: Jean Vigo & Boris Kaufman
Directors: Jean Vigo & Boris Kaufman
Director: Danny Boyle
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617) > Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray
5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs.
Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps
Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps
Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps
Director: Danny Boyle
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617) > Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray
5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs.
Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps
Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps
Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Like previous releases, the 4K Blu-ray was scanned from an interpositive rather than the original camera negative at Paul Thomas Anderson’s request which may explain the softness.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Like previous releases, the 4K Blu-ray was scanned from an interpositive rather than the original camera negative at Paul Thomas Anderson’s request which may explain the softness.
Director: Michael Mann
Arrow 4K Blu-ray is encoded by FiM encode is better than Criterion, see caps https://slow.pics/c/Z2RRQAAT
Criterion 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray: caps colors are more different and nuanced than anticipated even in the SDR-converted caps and the usual gain in highlight detail is also apparent. Encode looks excellent except for the brightest areas as usual.
Arrow/Criterion 4K Blu-ray. Only imperceptible differences in bit-depth: 20 vs 24.
Arrow and Criterion 4K Blu-rays have differing extras, Arrow LE has Theatrical cut Blu-ray from older HD master, most likely from a 2K scan of an interpositive.
Director: Michael Mann
Arrow 4K Blu-ray is encoded by FiM encode is better than Criterion, see caps https://slow.pics/c/Z2RRQAAT
Criterion 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray: caps colors are more different and nuanced than anticipated even in the SDR-converted caps and the usual gain in highlight detail is also apparent. Encode looks excellent except for the brightest areas as usual.
Arrow/Criterion 4K Blu-ray. Only imperceptible differences in bit-depth: 20 vs 24.
Arrow and Criterion 4K Blu-rays have differing extras, Arrow LE has Theatrical cut Blu-ray from older HD master, most likely from a 2K scan of an interpositive.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray for the US Cut.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray, is significantly better than the US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (even with FEL Baked in and Dolby Vision), with more grain retention and detail
SDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/TEPHtKjl
HDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/hIFe11Hx
Comparisons in SDR using L8 Trim from CM v4.0 (both UHDs can use CM v4.0): Remux vs USA UHD: https://slow.pics/c/mkrhVtpl
The International Cut, which contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act, hasn't been released on home video to date.
International Cut contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray for the US Cut.
International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray, is significantly better than the US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (even with FEL Baked in and Dolby Vision), with more grain retention and detail
SDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/TEPHtKjl
HDR Comparisons: International Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray vs US Paramount 4K Blu-ray: https://slow.pics/c/hIFe11Hx
Comparisons in SDR using L8 Trim from CM v4.0 (both UHDs can use CM v4.0): Remux vs USA UHD: https://slow.pics/c/mkrhVtpl
The International Cut, which contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act, hasn't been released on home video to date.
International Cut contains alternate, more violent shots in the final act.
Director: Peter Weir
Director: Peter Weir
Director: Tony Scott
Director: Tony Scott
Director: Haskell Wexler
Criterion Blu-ray is slightly better than MoC Blu-ray: while both are from a 4K restoration approved by director, MoC is more sharpened but gamma is flatter see caps
Paramount DVD and potentially Paramount LaserDisc see blah-ray
Criterion and MoC Blu-ray has the same audio, and additional (destructive) hiss reduction was applied, and one segment was made significantly louder.
Also, every home video release except the 1982 Paramount VHS cassette replaces Wild Man Fischer's 'Merry-Go-Round' in the roller derby scene with a version of 'Sweet Georgia Brown' by Brother Bones. Two very different songs, and one must assume that the tone of the scene has changed considerably
Director: Haskell Wexler
Criterion Blu-ray is slightly better than MoC Blu-ray: while both are from a 4K restoration approved by director, MoC is more sharpened but gamma is flatter see caps
Paramount DVD and potentially Paramount LaserDisc see blah-ray
Criterion and MoC Blu-ray has the same audio, and additional (destructive) hiss reduction was applied, and one segment was made significantly louder.
Also, every home video release except the 1982 Paramount VHS cassette replaces Wild Man Fischer's 'Merry-Go-Round' in the roller derby scene with a version of 'Sweet Georgia Brown' by Brother Bones. Two very different songs, and one must assume that the tone of the scene has changed considerably
Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though
Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though
Director: Jon Favreau
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray disappointing review
Director: Jon Favreau
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
US Universal Blu-ray with both cuts, Kino Lorber Blu-ray (extended cut only) included in the disappointing 4K Blu-ray and International Paramount Blu-ray (both Theatrical and Extended Blu-rays in different countries) have similar encoding.
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray disappointing review
Director: Wes Craven
Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.
Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.
2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray
The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes.
The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325
Director: Wes Craven
Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.
Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.
2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray
The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes.
The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325
Director: Karyn Kusama
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release is a significant upgrade from the 2006 Blu-Ray and features Dolby Vision and HDR10)
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release features a 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio; 2006 Blu-Ray featured a lossy DD track)
Paramount 4K HD Blu-Ray's video and audio are significant upgrades from the previous 2006 Blu-Ray. ViaVision's 4K UHD Blu-Ray features the same 4K video scan, but has 2 audio commentary tracks included on the 4K disc; Paramount's 4K does not (the commentary tracks are available only on the included Blu-Ray).
Director: Karyn Kusama
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release is a significant upgrade from the 2006 Blu-Ray and features Dolby Vision and HDR10)
Paramount 4K Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release features a 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio; 2006 Blu-Ray featured a lossy DD track)
Paramount 4K HD Blu-Ray's video and audio are significant upgrades from the previous 2006 Blu-Ray. ViaVision's 4K UHD Blu-Ray features the same 4K video scan, but has 2 audio commentary tracks included on the 4K disc; Paramount's 4K does not (the commentary tracks are available only on the included Blu-Ray).
Edit History
1/17/2026
12/4/2025
Additional Info
Added
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has no extras, Capelight 4K Blu-ray has most of the extras, Olive Films Blu-ray has a exclusive commentary
Added
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has no extras, Capelight 4K Blu-ray has most of the extras, Olive Films Blu-ray has a exclusive commentary
3/18/2025
Best Video Release
From
Paramount UHD
From
Paramount UHD
3/18/2025
Best Video Release
From
Capelight DE UHD
To
Paramount UHD
From
Capelight DE UHD
To
Paramount UHD
Best Audio Release
Added
70mm 6-Track: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
35mm: 1995 Live Home Video LaserDisc
Added
70mm 6-Track: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
35mm: 1995 Live Home Video LaserDisc
12/22/2024
