Stephen King’s novel The Running Man is set in 2025.
Published in 1982 under King’s Richard Bachman pseudonym, The Running Man presents a dystopian future in which poverty, censorship, and state-controlled entertainment dominate American life. The central televised contest forces contestants to evade pursuit while the audience watches and rewards the authorities for capturing them.
The protagonist, Ben Richards, enters the contest because he needs money for his sick daughter. The story’s future setting was several decades ahead of the novel’s publication, allowing King to exaggerate contemporary concerns about mass media, economic inequality, and authoritarian control.
The 1987 film adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger changes many elements of the novel, including the protagonist’s characterization and the story’s tone. That difference can lead readers to remember a different setting or premise. The book’s stated year is 2025.