In 1982, Richard Bachman published The Running Man. Except Richard Bachman wasn’t the author. Horror author Stephen King was the true mastermind behind the dystopian thriller.
Then, in 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger played the role of Ben Richards. He was a wrongfully convicted man placed into a deadly game show. He must battle for his freedom. Stephen King felt the movie deviated too much from his novel and initially hated the movie.
Now, in 2025, The Running Man is back in the theaters with a new lead actor. Glen Powell takes on the role of Ben Richards. The story pleased King more than the first movie. He felt it stayed true to the original while deviating from the book just enough to keep it interesting.
In the 2025 The Running Man, Ben Richards is a man who is at his end. He’s lost his job. His child, Cathy (Alyssa and Sienna Benn), is sick. They’re too broke to afford treatment.
Ben has an epiphany. He could be a contestant on one of the many dangerous game shows that families around the world watched. He had promised his wife, Sheila (Jayme Lawson), that he would take one of the less dangerous game shows. However, Ben wound up as a contestant on The Running Man game show. Maybe the most dangerous game show known to man.
As Ben navigates the dangers of the show, viewers can examine his journey through the lens of leadership. In fact, we’re going to do that today. Let’s take a look at the leadership lessons within The Running Man.
Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Running Man
1. Doing the right thing can be detrimental. Yet, it’s still the right thing to do:
Ben had spoken with his union rep about the dangerous conditions at his workplace. He’d let them know there were major issues and people could get hurt.
His conversation got him fired from his job.
Eventually, he went to his former boss, Richard Manuel (David Zayas), to ask for his job back. It was at this point that the viewing audience learned Ben’s backstory. He’d been fired because he’d done the right thing.
You’ll face situations in your organization where you must speak up. Why? Because it is the right thing.
Great leaders don’t stay silent when something is wrong. They speak up. They expose the darkness.
In doing so, you may experience retaliation. You may lose your job, your position, or the respect of others in your organization.
Know that doing the right thing is worth it.
2. Honor the past:
During a game show titled Spin The Wheel, the host holds up money. They’re talking about how much contestants could win.
The face on the $100 bill was familiar to moviegoers. Whose face was it? The movie honored the past Running Man by featuring a photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger on the bill.
Who in your organization has done great work? Who has passed on that needs to be honored? Is there a great deed that has been done?
Then honor those people.
It could be a simple plaque in the hallway reminding those who walk by of previous accomplishments. It could be honoring them by talking about what they’ve done for the organization.
When you honor the past, you remind people of the organization’s why.
3. Your past experience is valuable in your work:
Ben’s past experiences proved to be valuable in the game show world. We see this through action scenes and flashbacks.
As Ben tries out for the game show, we see various times when Ben takes great risks and is successful.
In one of the trials, Ben had to run along narrow beams. He’d been there and done that when he had to run along the roof ledge in a previous job. In another trial, Tim Jansky (Martin Herlihy) falls. Ben’s quick reflexes allow him to grab him before he falls. How did Ben know to do this? He had a coworker fall and had to catch him.
Ben’s past experiences were valuable in his game trials.
Your past experiences are valuable in your current role.
Think of what you’ve accomplished in the past. What have you done?
- Turn around a failing company?
- Fundraise for a charity?
- Balance your household budget?
Your life intersects with your role in your organization more than you think. Look at what you’ve done in your life and see how it applies to your job.
4. Tim Jansky:
I never would have made it without you.
Tim would have died during one of the trials that the game show company put the contestants through. Thankfully, Ben was there to save him.
Tim was thankful for Ben’s help. He was willing to thank him and let him know of the difference he made in his life.
Who’s helped you advance in your career? Who has reached out their hand to make sure you’re safe?
I think of a former coworker who let a company he worked for know that I would be an excellent fit for them. This led to a new job and a whole new way of life. I reached out and thanked him. He was grateful to know of the difference he’d made.
When someone changes your life, let them know. They’ll appreciate it.
5. Horrible leaders will lie:
Ben found out how crooked that The Running Man show was. He was now a contestant and something wasn’t right.
The Running Man announcer, Bobby T (Colman Domingo), introduced Ben. Except the introduction was twisted.
Bobby T told the audience that Ben was a convict. He was to be reviled. They should hate him for what he’s done.
That wasn’t the truth. Ben was a simple man who looked out for others and wanted to help his family. He wasn’t a criminal.
Bobby T was a horrible leader. So was producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin). They lied about the contestants and had no qualms about their deaths.
Watch out for leaders who lie. They may lie to cover up things they’ve done, to try to make the organization look better, or because they don’t like those around them.
Great leaders don’t lie. They will accept the consequences of their actions and of those they lead.
If you have a lying leader, get out of there!
6. Molie (William H. Macy):
Do you know how much danger you’ve put me in?
Shortly after Ben was put into the game show, he went to an old friend, Molie. Molie was an underground resistance member. He also helped Ben elude capture.
Ben had gone to Molie to get a disguise. Molie also gave him fake IDs.
But Molie wasn’t happy Ben had shown up at his shop. Ben put Molie in a lot of danger. The Hunters in The Running Man could come after him. What they would do to him wouldn’t be pretty.
Leaders have to consider the cost of their actions. Will their decision put someone in mortal danger? Will it cause them to lose their job? Could someone be hurt?
Think about the consequences of your actions. Will they help or hurt others?
Choose to help them.
7. Ben Richards:
Faster every day.
Ben is discovered by a young boy, Stacey (Angelo Gray). Stacey brings him to his brother, Bradley (Daniel Ezra). Bradley is a vlogger fighting corruption that he sees in the world.
Ben is asked how fast he can run… Ben’s answer? He’s faster every day.
Ben says he is getting better every day. He’s improving.
That’s what we need to do. We need to get better every day. Small, little improvements will make huge differences as they add up.
8. Understand the real rules:
Bradley takes Ben to a hidden room. There, he has a television and a wall lined with previous Running Man shows.
He takes out a tape. Puts it into the VCR. Hits play.
Then he tells Ben he has to know the real rules of Running Man. Bradley’s explanation of the game show helps Ben understand what he needs to do to win.
There are the rules of leadership within your organization. Then there are the real rules.
The rules that happen behind the scenes. The power plays and struggles.
Learn the real rules to win the game of leadership.
9. Ben Richards:
You can be kind and strong at the same time.
Ben wasn’t sure if he was going to survive. So what did he do? He recorded a video for his daughter. It was a heart-touching moment.
One of the things he tells Cathy is that she can be both kind and strong at the same time. These traits don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Let me tell you that you can be kind and strong at the same time. You don’t have to forgo kindness to be strong.
Make sure you don’t lose your kindness, your tenderness to the rigors of leadership. Hold onto your strength and kindness.
10. Sometimes, the fuse has to be lit:
Ben is on a plane with the Hunters. They’re looking to kill him, but Killian has told them to stand down. Killian now wants Ben to take out the Hunters.
Ben doesn’t want to. He just wants to be done. He wants to be home with his family.
Then Killian lights the fuse. He tells Ben that the Hunters have killed his family.
BOOM!
Ben explodes. He goes on a rampage, killing the Hunters.
The fuse has been lit.
To get the job done, you have to light the fuse. What is the fuse in your organization?
You have to know your people. You have to know what’s important to them.
Don’t lie. Don’t manipulate.
But light the fuse by motivating them through what’s important to them. It could be more days off, remote work, or a raise.
When you find out what is important to your people, you can light the fuse.
