Running on Empty

Play trailer

Running on Empty

PG-13

1988

1h 56m

Drama

Crime

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Arthur Pope (Judd Hirsch) and his wife, Annie (Christine Lahti), are fugitives, perpetually on the run from federal authorities due to their antiwar activity during the 1960s. The couple moves around the country with their two sons -- young Harry (Jonas Abry) and his older teenage brother, Danny (River Phoenix). On the verge of adulthood, Danny longs to set out on his own and live a more stable life, but he knows this could mean permanent separation from his family.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Running on Empty largely skims past its political themes, but River Phoenix's performance helps anchor the story's generational conflict.

Read Critics Reviews

Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

May 25, 2021

"Running on Empty" is a brilliant movie, a gripping story that works on many levels.

Go to Full Review

Robin Givhan

Detroit Free Press

May 25, 2021

5/10

Hirsch as a '60s radical is hard to swallow. He looks and moves more like a professor of American political history than someone who made history.

Go to Full Review

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

May 25, 2021

Its essential generosity is its most laudable aspect: its sympathy for the idealism of antiwar radicals seems like the real thing.

Go to Full Review

Elizabeth Pincus

Gay Community News (Boston)

Jul 13, 2022

Running on Empty is as earnest as they come, delving with ostensible sincerity into the spirit, if not the substance, of the ’60s.

Go to Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jun 21, 2022

The ambivalent hypocrisy of [Running on Empty] would make it intolerable if not for an astute Lumet who shifts focus to turn it onto a conflict of loyalty with the eldest son. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Apr 7, 2022

3.5/4

...completely compelling and entirely rewarding...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Doug F

@frisch555 Jul 6, 2026

Well acted and thoroughly enjoyable

See more

Kirsten W

@kirght Jun 23, 2026

Great story and great acting.

See more

Joshua M

@Flameon Mar 28, 2026

Family drama with great acting. River Phoenix and Martha Plimpton steal this one.

See more

John F

@RT84127024 Jan 12, 2026

Before One Battle After Another, there was Lumet's Running on Empty. River Phoenix is a gem.

See more

David F

@dfulmer Dec 24, 2025

Kind of an eccentric film about some ex-hippy fugitives on the run with their family. Politics and family troubles mix to make for a lot of conflict.

See more

Robert W

@RT34973803 Dec 24, 2025

Accidentally posted on the wrong movie

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Sidney Lumet

Director

Christine Lahti

Annie Pope

River Phoenix

Danny Pope

Martha Plimpton

Lorna Phillips

Jonas Abry

Harry Pope

Ed Crowley

Mr. Phillips

Pelle the Conqueror

84%

89%

Pelle the Conqueror

Watchlist

Stealing Home

18%

79%

Stealing Home

Watchlist

Far North

13%

48%

Far North

Watchlist

Beaches

41%

88%

Beaches

Watchlist

Permanent Record

50%

70%

Permanent Record

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Arthur Pope (Judd Hirsch) and his wife, Annie (Christine Lahti), are fugitives, perpetually on the run from federal authorities due to their antiwar activity during the 1960s. The couple moves around the country with their two sons -- young Harry (Jonas Abry) and his older teenage brother, Danny (River Phoenix). On the verge of adulthood, Danny longs to set out on his own and live a more stable life, but he knows this could mean permanent separation from his family.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Amy Robinson, Griffin Dunne
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Lorimar Film Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 9, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings