Running on Empty (1988)

The eldest son of a fugitive family comes of age and wants to live a life of his own. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
Written By: Naomi Foner
Starring: Christine Lahti, Martha Plimpton, Judd Hirsch, Steven Hill, River Phoenix, Ed Crowley, Jonas Abry
Country: USA
Where to Stream
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Running on Empty belongs to 29 collections
1. The Guardian's 1000 films to see before you die (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 30 stars)
2. Netflix Instant (collaborative: moderated by somnivore - 29 stars)
3. Academy Award - Oscar - ALL Best Picture, Directing, Acting & Screenplay Nominees (collaborative - 22 stars)
4. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (collaborative: moderated by Cinephile - 19 stars)
5. Coming Of Age (collaborative - 16 stars)
6. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 13 stars)
7. Road Trip (collaborative: moderated by td888 - 12 stars)
8. Teen Angst (collaborative - 7 stars)
9. Musician / Composer (collaborative: moderated by djross - 6 stars)
10. Best by different standards (public: sesito71 - 6 stars)
11. Piano Playing (collaborative - 3 stars)
12. Dysfunctional Family (collaborative: moderated by iceblox - 2 stars)
13. Akira Kurosawa's Top 100 Films (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA - 2 stars)
14. The Lost Picture Show Podcast (collaborative: moderated by Coheed - 2 stars)
15. Best Original screenplay (collaborative: moderated by Roman_Herbom - 2 stars)
16. DtC Doubling the Canon 2022 Nominees (collaborative: moderated by lineuphere - 2 stars)
17. Not Quite Hollywood (collaborative: moderated by td888 - 1 star)
18. NBR Top 10 Films (collaborative: moderated by xacviant - 1 star)
19. Coheed's Celluloid Pit (public: Coheed - 1 star)
20. Cinetheque (public: allegreller - 1 star)
21. toucé (public: rnest - 1 star)
22. Roger Ebert's Top 10 Films of 1988 (collaborative)
23. Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA)
24. 1988: Year in Review (public: polanski28)
25. 3: High Priority (public: KasperL)
26. AA - Reserved: Far (boblere) (public: KasperL)
27. cmiles - Possibles List (public: cmiles)
28. Watchlist (public: GrimsChild)
29. Films Dunstan Owns (public: Dunstan-xxx)
Browse the full list of collections
Date | User | Rating | |
May 01, 2022 | ![]() |
twincinema | 80 75th |
This film should be called Running on Full! These actors are giving amazing performances. This made me realize why people loved River Phoenix so much.
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Jan 11, 2021 | matthagen | 55 63rd |
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A small family drama, filled with conflicted characters and emotions. Well acted and well crafted, it just lacks magic that would truly set itself above the crowd.
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Dec 09, 2018 | ![]() |
closedmouth | 70 41st |
A little too clunky and heavy-handed at times to be truly great (thank the lord there's only one classroom scene, I was very concerned during the Madonna moment), but there are some great scenes throughout and the plot is genuinely interesting from start to finish. Lumet's direction is better than some of the other trash he directed during the '80s but it's still sadly anonymous and unremarkable compared to his hey-day.
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Feb 14, 2016 | ![]() |
Boxcars | 9 89th |
Simultaneously tender and somber, 'Running on Empty' touches on many different dynamics and topics in a holistic fashion, barreling straight past potential melodrama into a sincere narrative. The film is carried by tear-wrenching performances, notably from Phoenix and Lahti.
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Aug 11, 2014 | Zipster | 85 68th |
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Running on Empty is a rarefied tender, moving drama in which a choice must be made between staying together or splitting apart and perhaps realizing a long-deferred possibility. The parents never met whatever potential they had, owing to their fugitive life. Now, are they warranted in making their son forsake his own future?
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Oct 21, 2013 | glm01 | 80 64th |
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80.000
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Jan 02, 2013 | ![]() |
caiman | 86 82nd |
I hadn't heard of this movie until I stumbled upon it by chance. Color me impressed. It veers into some cliches, but generally it's all handled with authenticity and sincerity. Some great performances helped me care about what happened to the characters. River Phoenix was a talented actor and the film world is worse off for having lost him.
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Sep 06, 2012 | DougieD | 75 43rd |
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A pretty good family drama. Competently made in every regard, but nothing really stands out to me aside from River Phoenix's acting.
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Jun 20, 2012 | braddad68 | 95 84th |
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Excellent film and probably River Phoenix's best role.
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Nov 28, 2009 | nunstrangler | 71 60th |
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Well-performed, quiet, plausible drama.
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Nov 11, 2007 | meerkat | 95 90th |
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Even the happy moments in this film made me cry, even as I laughed. Warm and difficult and amazing. Christine Lahti was amazing, I would love Judd Hirsch for this and Ordinary People alone, Martha Plimpton is incredible, and as for River Phoenix, he died much too early and when he did we lost one of the best actors of our time. Sidney Lumet is a phenomenal director. This just became one of my favorite films.
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May 21, 2007 | ![]() |
Moribunny | 73 79th |
Formidable coming of age movie, very well-made. As always, Lumet is able to bring out stunning performances from everyone in the cast - excellent actors are even more excellent when put in this director's hands.
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Average Percentile 65.72% from 385 Ratings | ![]() |