10 Movies That Would Actually Benefit From A Remake

5. The Running Man (1987)

The Running Man is 1980's sci-fi at its cheesiest; based on a Stephen King novel, directed by Starsky and featuring big muscles, bigger hair, Paula Abdul choreography and Arnold Schwarzenegger in yellow spandex. Over 25 years on the movie has not aged well, but the central concept of convicted criminals fighting for their lives in the titular game show is ripe for an update, especially given the onslaught of reality television in the last decade. Despite being made when The Austrian Oak was at the height of his box office powers, The Running Man was only a mild success and made just over $38m on a $27m budget. The movie is unsure whether it wants to be a standard Schwarzenegger vehicle or corporate satire, and gamely tries to balance both as Arnie dispenses one-liners while also rebelling against 'the network'. There are some notable thematic undertones to the movie that still ring true today, especially Richard Dawson's Damon Killian justifying the murderous game-show as a way to satiate America's love of both television and violence. However, any social commentary is soon made irrelevant when a rocket-powered sled fires him through a billboard. The simplest way to market an updated Running Man would be as the R-rated Hunger Games, which is both a blessing and a curse. Those unfamiliar with the original could possibly see it as being too similar to the Jennifer Lawrence-starring box office juggernaut, as both see people fighting for their lives in a television show broadcast in a totalitarian future America. However, without the boundaries of a PG-13 rating a Running Man remake would be able to incorporate underlying themes on our desensitization to violence, as well as the market saturation of reality television in the guise of an action-packed sci-fi thriller. One thing's for sure; the costumes definitely need to change.