Runaway (released in theaters on Dec. 14, 1984) set in the “near-future” of 1991, introduces a society where robots are commonplace in domestic and industrial settings, leading the police to establish a specialized “Runaway” squad for malfunctioning units. Sergeant Jack R. Ramsay (Tom Selleck), a veteran officer with a secret fear of heights, leads the unit, reluctantly mentoring his enthusiastic new partner, Officer Karen Thompson (Cynthia Rhodes).
The routine task of apprehending errant bots is shattered when Ramsay investigates the first-ever robotic homicide: a household unit programmed to kill.
His investigation uncovers a sinister plot orchestrated by the ruthless former defense scientist Dr. Charles Luther (Gene Simmons).
Luther has designed custom-made, micro-chipped circuits that bypass robot safety protocols, effectively turning any automaton into a homicidal weapon he plans to sell on the black market.
Luther’s arsenal is chillingly advanced, including heat-seeking “smart bullets” that track human body heat and deadly, acid-injecting “assassin spiders,” small, explosive robots.
Ramsay and Thompson must race to protect a key witness, Jackie Rogers (Kirstie Alley), who double-crossed Luther and possesses the circuit templates.
When Luther fails to recover the templates, he raises the stakes by kidnapping Ramsay’s young son.
The final confrontation forces Ramsay to overcome his paralyzing acrophobia atop an unfinished skyscraper, battling Luther and his army of terrifying technological nightmares.
G.W. Bailey, Stan Shaw, Chris Mulkey, Joey Cramer, and Michael Paul Chan round out the cast.
The film predicted, with uncanny accuracy, several devices that are now common, including drones (the police “floater”), video doorbells, and autonomous vehicles.
The central conflict—the weaponization of everyday, automated technology—feels more relevant today than it did forty years ago.
Selleck delivers a grounded performance as a reluctant hero, while Simmons’ cold, menacing turn as the calculating villain Luther is one of the film’s high points.
Tom Selleck in Runaway (Photo/TriStar Pictures)
Reception for Runaway
Runaway grossed $1.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing seventh at the box office. The top film of the week was Beverly Hills Cop ($11.5 million on its second weekend).
The film would gross $6.8 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Written and directed by the late Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure), Runaway was often overshadowed by the larger sci-fi landscape of 1984, including The Terminator.
However, its legacy has grown over time, primarily due to Crichton’s startling prescience regarding technology.
Runaway remains a fascinating artifact of 1980s techno-thriller filmmaking, celebrated today as an enjoyably quirky, gadget-laden cult classic that confirms Crichton’s status as a visionary preoccupied with the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement.
