The Running Man (1987) & The Hunger Games (2012): Deadly Game Shows | EP09

In this episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we explore one of the most enduring dystopian ideas in science fiction: society turning violence into entertainment.

Joining us for the discussion is Rob Watts, as we look at two films that imagine worlds where authoritarian systems maintain control through brutal televised competitions.

Because here on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we explore the history of science-fiction cinema one subgenre at a time.

LISTEN BELOW:

What We Discuss In This Episode

In this episode we talk about:

• Deadly game shows as dystopian spectacle

• Media manipulation and propaganda in sci-fi

• How authoritarian systems maintain control through entertainment

• Class inequality and rebellion in dystopian storytelling

• The influence of earlier dystopian films on modern blockbusters

The Running Man (1987) – Television as Control

The Running Man imagines a future United States that has become a totalitarian police state, where the government maintains control through propaganda and violent television entertainment.

The most popular show in the country is The Running Man, a brutal game show in which convicted criminals attempt to survive while being hunted by professional killers known as “stalkers.”

The story follows Ben Richards, a police officer framed for a massacre and forced to compete on the show. As Richards survives each round, he becomes an unlikely symbol of resistance against the regime and its manipulative media machine.

Although the film is packed with action and spectacle, it also acts as a satirical critique of media manipulation and the way entertainment can distract the public from authoritarian power.

The Hunger Games (2012) – Survival as Political Spectacle

While The Running Man uses satire and action, The Hunger Games presents a darker and more emotional vision of dystopian spectacle.

Set in the future nation of Panem, the Capitol maintains control over the surrounding districts by forcing children to compete in the annual Hunger Games, a televised battle to the death broadcast across the entire nation.

The story follows Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take her sister’s place in the games and gradually becomes a symbol of resistance against the oppressive regime.

Like The Running Man, the spectacle of the games serves a political purpose: to remind the population that the government has absolute power.

Entertainment, Violence and Power

Although separated by decades, these films explore similar dystopian ideas.

In both stories:

• the population is kept distracted by violent spectacle

• media organisations manipulate public perception

• contestants become symbols of rebellion against the system.

These narratives reveal how dystopian science fiction often critiques the relationship between media, entertainment and political control.

Stories about deadly competitions have since become one of the most recognisable dystopian tropes, influencing everything from Battle Royale to modern shows like Squid Game.

Continuing Our Journey Through Dystopia

This episode forms part of our Journey Through Dystopia series.

Across the series we explore how science-fiction cinema imagines societies shaped by authoritarian control, technological power and social inequality.

From early dystopian classics to modern blockbuster franchises, these films reveal how science fiction reflects humanity’s fears about the future.

Start Your Journey Through Sci-Fi

Journey Through Sci-Fi is a podcast exploring the strange, visionary and world-changing history of science-fiction cinema.

Each series focuses on a different sci-fi theme — from space exploration and artificial intelligence to time travel, virtual reality, cyberpunk and dystopian futures.

Join us as we explore the films and ideas that shaped science fiction.