Shadow Wars is a neat idea being kicked around, and I'm wondering if people know of any films like it? Running Man is the obvious one, with the chief difference being Shadow Wars is about teams fighting it out for a 5 million newyen prize, and not criminals trying to survive.

The two I can think of:

• Running Man
• Series 7: The Contenders

Death Race 2000 and its remake Death Race are this with vehicles.

Also The Condemned and an Italian Film from the 1960s called The 10th Victim.

Hm..

Mean Guns (With Ice-T and Christopher Lambert) is about 100 people in an abandoned prison where they have to find weapons and kill each other. Winner gets 10 mil. Too bad it realy isn't good.

"Gamer". . . sort of.

How about video games?

Does Battle Royale count? It's not really a gameshow, but it's a similar concept.

Mean guns is better if not taken seriously, just watch it for the bits of flashy action and it no that bad a film. I have no trouble seeing a Street Sam on medication just to keep him level:

"Lou: Valium, prozac, and ritalin. Breakfast of champions. "

How about a classic, Smash TV!

"The Most Dangerous Game" (1924 short story) directly inspired many films and television episodes about hunting humans.

Films where the game is more of a contest, rather than a direct hunt:

• La Decima Vittima (1965)
• Das Millionenspiel (1970)
• Death Race 2000 (1975)
• Rollerball (1975)
• Deathsport (1978)
• Turkey Shoot (1982)
• Warriors of the Year 2072 (1984)
• The Running Man (1986)
• The Blood of Heroes (1989)
• Mean Guns (1997)
• Futuresport (1998)
• Battle Royale (2000)
• Series 7: The Contenders (2001)
• Rollerball (2002)
• Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003)
• The Condemned (2007)
• Death Race (2008)
• Death Racers (2008)
• The Tournament (2009)
• Gamer (2009)

^{EDIT: added some I overlooked.}

See Also: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) for a good example of a modern gladiator pit.

I know it is neither a movie nor a video game, but I would point to Stephen King's original story "The Running Man." It's definitely not as cartoonish as the movie but, like Shadow Wars, the point is that this deadly contest is being transmitted across the globe for people's entertainment.

In the story you-the-viewer can win money by watching. If you see the quarry and give the Hunters info, you get money. Your info leads to the quarry being killed? You win more money. Which makes me wonder if the Neutrals in Shadow Wars are really going to be all that neutral.

You can find the story in a collection called "The Bachman Books," all originally written under that pseudonym. It also includes a story called "The Long Walk" which is also a dystopian televised competition: 100 young men are forced to walk the Eastern seaboard. Fall below 4 mph and you get a warning. Get three warnings, you get shot. The Walk continues until only one man is left.

Thank you, I'm going to have to start watching these.

Note that Battle Royale is a an outstanding example of the field. The cinematography is beautiful. It's worth taking the time to enjoy for it's own merits.

What about "Rollerball"?

There is a Battle Royale II, which is a similiar concept, but not as good as the first one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blood_of_Heroes

Who could forget everyone's favourite battle to the death for entertainment Max Max Beyond the Thunderdome
"Two men enter. One man leaves"

Then there is the newest edition to the 'Hunting Man for Sport' Predators (even though they're being hunted by a bunch of aliens sorry Predators).

What about The Condemned ? Was it any good ? I don't know if I can take any actor seriously if their first name / title is 'Stone Cold'.

You get bonus points for mentioning the best one of all.

Mesh

Beverly Hills Ninja?

Can't we just get beyond Thunderdome?

I had to look up Blood of Heroes, having never seen it. Apparently it has inspired a real-life sport... Rutger Hauer must be so proud.

Eh. Wasn't particularly impressed. The novel and manga were much better IMHO.

If I was him, I'd be proud, anyway, cos of that soliloquy in Blade Runner.

No. Because we're out of petrol.