The Running Man: What a Father Will Do for His Family to Survive

In a world where every choice feels like a race for survival, The Running Man reminds us of the lengths a parent will go to protect the ones they love

Long before Squid Game burst into people’s consciousness, there was The Running Man, the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and based on the novel by Stephen King. In 2025, the movie was remade, starring Glenn Powell as Ben Richards — a man who joins the deadly game show The Running Man to win the cash prize he needs to send his daughter to the hospital.

But for Ben to get the prize money, he must survive a series of hunters whose sole aim is to capture and kill him. Along the way, he discovers that survival means more than just running — it means facing the truth behind a corrupt system built on fear and spectacle.

The Storyline

Set in a dystopian world, we see Ben pleading with his former employer for help to pay his daughter’s medical bills. When his request is refused, he nearly causes a scene but walks away, defeated.

At home, Ben watches a popular game show while his wife Sheila — who works nights as a waitress — checks on their sick daughter. When Sheila asks if he plans to join The Running Man, Ben insists he won’t. She reminds him that no contestant has ever come home alive.

But like any father desperate to save his family, Ben breaks his promise. He auditions for the show, passes the physical tests, and signs away his freedom for a chance at the prize. What begins as an act of sacrifice turns into a fight for truth, as Ben discovers that the network has been hiding dystopian realities — censoring reports, spreading misinformation, and manipulating the public.

When he’s told his wife and daughter have been killed, Ben’s grief fuels his final act of defiance. He faces the hunters and the show’s ruthless producer, Dan Killian, determined to expose the lies — and reclaim his family’s future.

Why Parents Can Relate

For many parents, Ben Richards’s dilemma feels painfully familiar. With the cost of living rising and jobs becoming scarce, many will do whatever it takes to ensure their children’s safety, health, and well-being. When Cathy, his daughter, becomes ill, Ben’s desperation mirrors the countless sacrifices parents make — even when it means stepping far outside their comfort zone.

Across the world — and especially in the Philippines — we see parents making similar choices every day. They borrow money, take on extra work, or leave home to provide for their children as overseas workers. Some even join contests and raffles, hoping for that one chance to lift their families out of hardship.

While The Running Man may be dark and violent, it captures a truth every parent knows: the fierce determination to give one’s child a better life, no matter the cost.

A Reminder for Families

In the end, The Running Man isn’t just an action-thriller. It’s a reflection of every parent who has ever faced the unthinkable — the choice between risk and responsibility, fear and love.

In a world obsessed with competition and survival, this film reminds us that behind every act of courage is a parent’s unbreakable promise: to do whatever it takes for their child.

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