Movie guide
Running on Empty (1988): movie guide
Running on Empty (1988) is a Drama, Crime running about 116 minutes. It holds a TMDB score of 7.4/10 from 380 votes. Notable cast includes Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, Judd Hirsch, Jonas Abry. Cinema Box covers trailers, cast, and details for discovery — not full streaming.
- Released: 1988-09-09
- Runtime: 116 min
- TMDB: 7.4/10
- Genres: Drama, Crime
Last updated: 2026-11-11 · First listed: 1988-09-09

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What is Running on Empty about?
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.
Cast highlights
Running on Empty features Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, Judd Hirsch, Jonas Abry, Martha Plimpton, Ed Crowley. Open the Cinema Box title page for the full cast list and character credits.
Key facts
Release date: 1988-09-09. Runtime: 116 minutes. TMDB score: 7.4/10 (380 votes). Genres: Drama, Crime. Original language: en. Status: Released.
Discover Running on Empty on Cinema Box
Cinema Box is a movie and TV discovery app for Android. Use it to browse Running on Empty, watch official trailers when available, save titles to your list, and plan what to watch — without hosting or streaming full films.
Frequently asked questions
- What genre is Running on Empty?
- Running on Empty is listed as Drama, Crime on TMDB.
- How long is Running on Empty?
- Running on Empty runs about 116 minutes.
- Who stars in Running on Empty?
- Cast highlights include Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, Judd Hirsch, Jonas Abry, Martha Plimpton, Ed Crowley.
- Does Cinema Box stream Running on Empty?
- No. Cinema Box is discovery-only — trailers, details, ratings, and watchlists. It does not host or stream full movies.
- Where can I track Running on Empty?








