Running on Empty

"They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his."

1988 1h 56m EN

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 371

DramaRomanceCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The Popes are a family who haven't been able to use their real identity for years. In the late sixties, the parents set a weapons lab afire in an effort to hinder the government's Vietnam war campaign. Ever since then, the Popes have been on the run with the authorities never far behind. Their survival is threatened when their eldest son falls in love with a girl, and announces his wish to live his life on his own terms.

“They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his.”

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Cast

Christine Lahti
Annie Pope
River Phoenix
Danny Pope
Judd Hirsch
Arthur Pope
Jonas Abry
Harry Pope
Martha Plimpton
Lorna Phillips
Ed Crowley
Mr. Phillips
L.M. Kit Carson
Gus Winant
Steven Hill
Donald Patterson

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sidney Lumet
Writers: Naomi Foner
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sidney Lumet, shot by Gerry Fisher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Tony Mottola. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Andrew Mondshein shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Christine Lahti and River Phoenix and Judd Hirsch carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0096018 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sidney Lumet directs. Gerry Fisher behind the camera. Tony Mottola scores. Andrew Mondshein cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

138 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Sidney Lumet, shot by Gerry Fisher. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Tony Mottola. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Andrew Mondshein shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Christine Lahti and River Phoenix and Judd Hirsch carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his.".
7IMDB entry: tt0096018 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Gerry Fisher
Original score: Tony Mottola
Editing: Andrew Mondshein
Production design: Philip Rosenberg
Costume design: Anna Hill Johnstone
Makeup / hair: Toy Van Lierop
Sound: Tom Fleischman
Runtime: 116 min · 1h 56m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $2,835,116
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Running on Empty (1988)

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Sidney Lumet

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Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

badelf2024-05-12
★ 7/10
It's a little bit long for the sole issue that the script deals with. Other than that, very well played by all the leads, and Stanley Lumet did a decent job with the limited material.

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