The Running Man (2025) quotes

View Quote Amelia Williams: I'm sorry they did this to you!
Ben Richards: I did it to myself.
Amelia Williams: It's a sign! I'm not supposed to... [gets sucked out door, to camera ball] Stop **** filming me! Assholes!
Bobby Thompson: [Ben enters cockpit] Richards lives, ladies and gentlemen! Keep going kid! You've got this! Ben Richards, you are the man! We have command of the jet! Our best trauma surgeons are already on the tarmac, ready to patch you up as good as new. [Holds finger to commmlink] But wait. Making his Free-Vee debut with a special message. The creator of Running Man, super producer, Dan Killian!
Dan Killian: [Appears on screen of stage] Mr. Richards, we here at the network believe you embody the raw strength and salt-of-the-earth moral backbone this country stands for. And we want... No. We need to see more.
Introducing commercial voiceover: [Faked footage of Ben as a Hunter on a motorcyle aiming a gun] This summer, Ben Richards is... Hunter 6!
Dan Killian: Congratulations, Ben. [Holds up and parts both spread hands] And welcome to the network family!
Ben Richards: I already got a family. Did you kill them or not, Dan? [Screen blacks out]
Audience member: **** you Dan!
Bobby Thompson: Give it up for Dan Killian! Come on. We're live. How many times do you get to tell two billion people how you really feel? How does it feel to be a hero, Ben?
Ben Richards: Nothing I've done on this show makes me a hero. I tried to be a hero once. And they blacklisted my ass. My daughter got sick. This is the only job I could get. Seems like the whole point of Free-Vee is to make us hate each other. So they can keep stealing from us. While we fight in the mud. You want the truth. Turn it off. We are all being **** by the network. Find out who really runs it. Record. Report them. Get their names. You just met one of them. Dan Killian. You remember that face. Don't watch Free-Ve. Watch who pays for it. Turn it off.
Dan Killian: [Does slow clap] Great speech. Too bad I'm the only one who saw it. We've been on an ad break since you said nothing you did on the show made you a hero. You think it was worth it? You think your little rant makes you a martyr? We're going live again in 30. And this time you'll play your part. Because if not, we're gonna run this instead. [Plays faked clip]
Fake Ben Richards: I told you I was gonna burn this building down and everyone in it!
Ben Richards: That was fast.
Dan Killian: Work with me, Richards. Don't throw your life away. Don't make me fly that jet into the network building. They'll blow you out of the sky.
Ben Richards: Are they dead or alive, Dan?
Dan Killian: Who?
Ben Richards: My family.
Dan Killian: Who cares? If I told you they were alive, would you even believe me? We are alive in five, four, [Ben holds up three finger in countdown sync] three, two, [Ben displays middle finger] one. [Does a hand sweep] Okay, have it your way.
Fake Ben Richards: I told you I was gonna burn this building down and everyone in it! I will see you in hell and laugh in your face!
Fake Ben Richards: Ben, are you insane? There's 5,000 innocent people in this building.
Automated voice: Remote pilot engaged.
Dan Killian: Look at what you've done. You happy?
Ben Richards: I told you I was gonna **** you up.
Dan Killian: Yeah.
Automated voice: Warning. Collision alert.
Automated voice: Missile inbound. Missile inbound. [Missile implodes plane]

View Quote Amelia Williams: [After being sucked out door of Metair Flying V Luxury Jetliner in parachute with a camera ball filming ] Stop **** filming me! Assholes!

View Quote Automated voice: Welcome aboard, Mr. Richards. To the Metair Flying V Luxury Jetliner. The ultimate in private travel. With state of the art safety features. This is first class comfort taken sky high. So sit back and enjoy the most relaxing flight of your life.
Captain Holloway: Welcome aboard, Mr. Richards. I'm Captain Holloway. You'll excuse me if I don't shake your hand. That's First Officer Dunninger and Navigation Officer Donaghy to your left. [Referring to extra seat] Looks like you're missing one.
Ben Richards: Hey Captain. How many lavatories are on this rust bucket?
Captain Holloway: Four.
Ben Richards: Six. Why don't you check them all for stowaways? Anyone sneaks up on me, it's going to be a real short ride.
Captain Holloway: So where are we headed tonight?
Ben Richards: Plot a route over the richest homes from here to Canada. Fly as low as you can. Let me know when we're ten minutes from the border.
Captain Holloway: As you wish.

View Quote Ben Richards: [In Supervisor Richard's office] I'm not asking for special treatment, I'm just... begging. You said I was one of your best guys.
Supervisor Richard: Was.
Ben Richards: Look, if you can't hire me back, just ask them to take me off the blacklist.
Supervisor Richard: Say that again, and I'll kick you and your kid out on your ass. Bringing her here to guilt me.
Ben Richards: Look, I need to work. She's had a fever for the last week.
Supervisor Richard: No, no, no. That ain't on me. I'm not the jerk that spoke to a union rep about radiation exposure.
Ben Richards: One time!
Supervisor Richard: You got your daughter. Your nuts didn't fly. Take the win. Bye-bye. Sick kid in my office.
Ben Richards: You know, I didn't bring her here to guilt you. I brought her to stop myself from bouncing your face off this desk.
Supervisor Richard: And this is you...not angry? [Ben leaves Richard's office]

View Quote Ben Richards: Go ahead. Say what you gotta say.
Amelia Williams: Why? You can go crazy and kill me? No.
Ben Richards: You have one minute to speak freely.
Amelia Williams: How do you live with yourself? Hmm? You dare sit there and criticize my driving?! Tell me how to operate my own car?! I am a member of society! You disgust me! You abandoned that starving baby, that horrible wife of yours! So you can what?! Kill people for money?! And you only kill the best people! The people who protect us from... from welfs like you! And that's not a word I use!
Ben Richards: [Holds up photo of wife and daughter] That is my family. Our number finally came up for the park. Watched Kathy try ice cream for the first time. That was the best day of my life. So yeah, you're right. The show is so fake. Not the bullets. Not the death. Just the part that makes people like you think you're better than people like us.
Ben Richards: Let me ask you something. How much was that scarf?
Amelia Williams: Huh?
Ben Richards: More than the meds my daughter needed when she was dying of the flu? The flu! That is a human life hanging around your neck. You seem to be doing fine. Who can blame you? It's a nice scarf.
Amelia Williams: I'm not a bad person.
Ben Richards: No, do not start crying. I will shoot us both if you start crying. Cry when it's over. When will that be?!

View Quote Ben Richards: So how does a five year old get lung cancer?
Bradley Throckmorton: Radioactive dust. From the Rhode Island explosion.
Ben Richards: Never heard about that.
Bradley Throckmorton: Yeah, you never heard of it because the network owns the news. Just like they own that munitions factory. Just like they own the government. So why bother complying with safety regs, right? That's how June got sick.

View Quote Ben Richards: You know, my kid was sick. I sent my wife enough to get her well. Now I'm trying to win enough to get them out. She's only two. So if I do my job, she'll never even remember Slumside.
Bradley Throckmorton: Okay, Richards. I can get you past that blockade. But I'm gonna need a couple days to set it up. So hide out here in the meantime. You know, you could go to full 30 if you play smart.
Ben Richards: And what makes you such an expert?
Bradley Throckmorton: [Points and endearingly squints] Tune in and find out. [Leads Ben to media room] Welcome to the pulpit. [Inserts and plays a tape]
The Apostle: What goes on behind the scenes of the biggest Free-Vee show of all time? Welcome to The Apostle. Episode 30, Real Rules of the Running Man. If you dig, dupe, and distribute. The network has three types for every run. Type 1, Hopeless Dude.
Hopeless Dude: [In an eating establishment] Oh my God.
The Apostle: Hopeless Dude is cursed with a fatal misunderstanding of human nature. He usually lasts less than 48 hours.
Hopeless Dude: Come and get me. Dinner is served, pal. [At door] Oh, damn. [Gets shot by the Hunters]
The Running Man voicover: Pa-pow! That's a takeout!
Ben Richards: Woof.
The Running Man voicover: Oh! He is cooked!
The Apostle: Type 2, Negative Dude. Negative Dude knows he ain't got a chance in hell. He just wants to go out with a bang or two.
Negative Dude: [Socializing with four women in bed] Make life greater. Leave a **** crater.
The Apostle: Bro gets smoked by the end of week one cause he buys too much ass and not enough food with his running start. [Negative Dude is cornered by the Hunters in strip club parking lot] A slave to his appetites, he often serves himself up on a plate.
Negative Dude: Suck dicks in hell! [Detonates suicide bomb vest]
The Apostle: Final Dude. Final Dude has a fierce will to survive. Yet, he never wins. The network cheats. They can't find anyone anytime. But, if a runner's getting good ratings, let him run. 13 days.
Final Dude: And just like Papa always said, you can try, but you can't catch a ghost.
Final Dude: [Camera zooms in on Final Dude with software identification notice] Oh shit.
The Apostle: The crowd wants blood, and Final Dude becomes a victim of his own success. They might hide from destiny, but they never outrun fate. [Final Dude is finished off in a lumber mill and is ground up in wood chipper]
Final Dude: That's me, McCone! I'm the Running Man! Bi-
The Apostle: Double kill! Rest in pieces!
Evan McCone: That's game.
Ben Richards: Whew. Is that supposed to inspire me?
Bradley Throckmorton: Oh, come on, man! Don't you get it? After that escape tonight, live, prime time, you... you are... [rewinds tape to shot of Final Dude and points to Ben] Final Dude. And they're gonna squeeze every last drop of ratings out of your ass, so you got at least until Negative Dude flames out to get somewhere safe. Which gives us enough time to set you up for the biggest underdog win in game show history.
Ben Richards: So where the hell's safe?
Bradley Throckmorton: I'm working on it.

View Quote Ben Richards: [Approaches Molie working in his shop] Yo, Molie!
Molie: What?
Ben Richards: You don't see me on the hatch?
Molie: I saw you two blocks away on the infrared. What do you want?
Ben Richards: Look, I need... two I.D. cards and a gun.
Molie: Forget it. I don't do guns. Go see Mickey on 3rd.
Ben Richards: What in the hell is your problem, man?
Molie: The Running Man? What are you thinking?
Ben Richards: I don't know.
Molie: I had you pegged for smart.
Ben Richards: Look, I didn't have a choice. Kathy was sick.
Molie: Do you know how much danger you put me in coming here? Do you want to kill yourself? Fine. But leave me out of it. Okay? You got it? [Ben walks away] Goddamn it, Ben. I.D.s are 100. [Ben walks back] It's 30 each for costumes and accessories. I got a priest. I've got a combat veteran. I've got an exec. And the rush order makes it two. 200 new. All in.
Ben Richards: Okay.
Molie: Go hide out in survival. It's aisle 5. I'm going to lock the incinerator.
Ben Richards: Oh, I already did.
Molie: You don't mind if I check, do you?
Ben Richards: [Referring to vintage televisions] You sell a lot of these?
Molie: I can't keep them in stock. Those TVs don't watch you back. Come on.
Ben Richards: Is this going to work?
Molie: Absolutely. [Ben poses in disguise for I.D. photo]

View Quote Ben Richards: [Ben gets into taxi] 13th and Obama.
Taxi driver: Whoa! [Chuckles and points to rearview] Hey, Running Man! Hey! I-I-I was watching you on... [points] the Free-Vee!
Ben Richards: [Emphasizingly orders] 13th and Obama.
Taxi driver: Okay. [Driving] What's up, man? [Holds up camera] Hey! Take a pic with me!
Ben Richards: [Declinedly reacts] Hey! It's okay.
Taxi driver: What do you mean, "no, it's okay"? You gotta be nice, man, so people don't report you! Okay? Because people will do that! Not me, though, man. I'm a nice guy.
Ben Richards: No, you know what? You're right. Hey, we should pull over and pick up one of these hookers. She can take the pic, alright?
Taxi driver: [Bursts laughing] Yeah, sickest idea ever, man! Yeah! I like the way you think! [Pulls over in red light district and Ben gets out running] Yeah! You'd better run! I hope they burn your ass! You're dead meat, pal! You're dead!

View Quote Ben Richards: [Holds up in uneven leveled elevator] I got a grenade! [Throws it down hall to Evan]
Evan McCone: [Catches it with feet] Back at'cha. [Kicks it back into elevator, Ben catches it and throws it up where it detonates]

View Quote Ben Richards: [On bullhorn to Evan] Before you murder us, make up some bullshit why it had to be done. Look at all these people who know, the truth. Are you willing to kill all of them? Because I am. I'm holding on to this bullhorn with my right hand. My left hand is in my front pouch, wrapped around 12 pounds of black Irish. [Supporters get spooked] When I used to work at Network Public Utility, you get these two ton fatbergs, take less than a gram to blow those up. Twelve pounds. It'll vaporize everything in a half mile radius. [Supporters all turn running]
Evan McCone: [Into his bullhorn] Bullshit. BFE 20 is the most highly regulated industrial explosive and you haven't even set foot in a state that sells it.
Ben Richards: Guess Molie didn't tell you everything. I got my finger stuck in the detonator ring and it's on half ****. [Evan hands bullhorn to subordinate] So, I want one of those big fancy flying V airplanes. [Evan takes off sunglasses] I want two auto shoots handed to Amelia at the bottom of the ramp. If the shoots are sabotaged, if you make any sudden moves, [Evan cleans sunglasses with shirt] if you don't back those trucks up and let me on that tarmac right **** now, you won't even hear it go boom. I'll just see you in hell and let you laugh in your face. You got one minute. [Throws bullhorn on ground and closes vehicle door] Shouldn't take long. He's got a direct line to the boss. Last chance to run.
Amelia Williams: No. You made me feel like I'm the bad guy. Now I have to prove I'm not.
Ben Richards: Why don't you give a shit what I think?
Amelia Williams: You're not the one I'm trying to prove it to. So what's our plan?
Evan McCone: Let him through.
Ben Richards: I'm gonna convince them your handbag is a bomb long enough to bail out over Canada. They'll never let me win, so I'm gonna slip out the back door and wait out the clock. We just have to keep the audience entertained until that jet crosses the border.
Amelia Williams: What if they call your bluff?
Ben Richards: You make sure they know it's real. Get scared, freak out. Curse, scream. Call me the worst names possible. Just remember, everything bad, it's all good Free-Vee. Act terrified when McCone hands you the chutes.
Amelia Williams: I won't have to act.
Ben Richards: He grabs his gun, you'll know it's time to go off. [Amelia boards plane] So, you think you're the guy who stops me from seeing my daughter again?
Evan McCone: Show starts at eight. Get on the plane.
Ben Richards: Only if you take your mask off. Audience will love it.
Evan McCone: Keep dreaming.
Dan Killian: [Over commlink] Do what he says.
Evan McCone: [Holds finger to commlink] No copy.
Dan Killian: Do what he says. [He complies and Ben boards plane]

View Quote Ben Richards: [Talking Roberts in an alley over burning oil drum] Hey, brother. I need to get off to street.
Roberts: Oh, yeah?
Ben Richards: I'm lookin' for a place to rack out for the month.
Roberts: Mm-hmm.
Ben Richards: Off net, if you know what I mean.
Roberts: Oh, is that so? I'll give you a hundo new for your room and another hundo for your jacket.
Ben Richards: A deuce hundo for this rat-ass jacket in that rat-ass room?
Roberts: Fella, you need to get to Jamaica Plain, pick up your head meds.
Ben Richards: Come on.
Roberts: [Ben flashes cash] Put that shit away. What are you, trying to get us killed? [Ben lifts up boonie hat] Let me see your face. Where'd you deploy?
Ben Richards: Alaska. Ate shrapnel.
Roberts: You ain't seen combat. But I reckon it ain't stolen, Vala, if you paid me for it. [They exchange goods and payment]
Ben Richards: Thanks.

View Quote Bobby Thompson: HUNT. HIM. DOWN!
Audience: [Repeated chanting] Hunt him down!

View Quote Bobby Thompson: [Witnessing audience chanting "Richards Lives!" from backstage] Goddamn, Richards! You are indeed a tough act to follow. [Turns and walks]
Dan Killian: Where do you think you're going?
Bobby Thompson: You don't hear that? I'd say that's invaluable. Valuable audience feedback, Dan.
Dan Killian: No, no, no, no, no. You get back out there and you do your job.
Bobby Thompson: How about you do my job? [Hands microphone to Dan and walks]
Dan Killian: Hey, we've been crushing the ratings for twenty years. I own that audience. You don't think I can turn this around?
Bobby Thompson: [Turns to Dan] You're the one who wanted to make him a star, Dan. Mission accomplished. It's his show now. [Turns and two security men aims their guns at Bobby]
Dan Killian: You think he can just walk?
Bobby Thompson: [Lowers security guns with his hands] Sweeties, please. [Turns to Dan] Take another look at my contract. Page 42, paragraph 6. There's a special clause. And the smallest of clauses. The print that reads, **** YOU!
Coordinator: Ten seconds!
Bobby Thompson: Ten seconds, Dan. [Walks away between security men] Coco, come on, let's go.
Dan Killian: You know what? **** that! This is my house! I set the rules! Max the theme, drown them out! [Walks onto stage only to realize out-of-control unruliness of fire-bombing audience and Ben emerges with a gun from audience]
Ben Richards: In five, four...
Dan Killian: No.
Ben Richards: Three.
Dan Killian: No.
Ben Richards: Two, one. And action. [Ben shoots at Dan]

View Quote Bradley Throckmorton: I can get you out of Boston, but it won't be for money.
Stacey Throckmorton: Bro, this dude ain't going nowhere. Goon's got the hood surrounded. Reality.
Bradley Throckmorton: [Places hand on Stacey's shoulder] Stop.
Ma Throckmorton: Just a little pinch and everything's gonna be okay.