10 Movie Dystopias To Make You Feel Better About The Current Political Hellscape
2. The Running Man
Fittingly enough, the dystopian future explored in The Running Man begins in 2017, when the United States has become a totalitarian police state. It uses reality television as a way to both control and distract the population, with a game show that pits convicted criminals against each other in a fight to the death. Basically modern day gladiators broadcast live into every home in America.
But the background of this film's society is quite frankly chilling. Before this oppressive government came into power, there was a severe economic crisis that crippled the world's economy, and all television is controlled by the state and basically just churns out propaganda (Fox News, anyone?).
It explores the implications of America's dependence on television culture, both for entertainment and news purposes. And more than any of the other films on this list, it delves into the cultural impact of a totalitarian regime. Telling you to take notes might seem a little melodramatic, but it probably wouldn't hurt?