Running on Empty
Seen it?1988 | 116 min | Drama, Crime
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (81% on Rotten Tomatoes), it drew serious awards attention and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Platoon or Apocalypse Now, start here.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 56 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13: peril. Probably too much for younger kids.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture. Also nominated for 2 Oscars and 4 more Golden Globes. Plus 4 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 152K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Sidney Lumet
- Christine LahtiAnnie Pope
- River PhoenixDanny Pope
- Judd HirschArthur Pope
- Jonas AbryHarry Pope
- Martha PlimptonLorna Phillips
- Ed CrowleyMr. Phillips
- L.M. Kit CarsonGus Winant
- Steven HillDonald Patterson
- Augusta DabneyAbigail Patterson
- David MarguliesDr. Jonah Reiff