Running on Empty
“He'll win at any cost...”
Synopsis
Mike loves his fast cars and his hot women. When he fancies the girlfriend of the local street racing king, Fox, he gets way in over his head in racing for his girl, his money and his life. Through racing, sex, nightclubs and small road trips the film depicts what it was like to be a teenager in Australia in the 1980's.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Running On Empty (1982) - Teaser Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-07-28
Top Cast
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Terry Serio
Mike
Deborah Conway
Julie
Vangelis Mourikis
Tony
Grahame Bond
Jagger
Bob Barrett
Workman
Warren Blondell
Lee
Jon Darling
Workman
Peter Davies
Ram's Mate
Kristoffer Greaves
Starter
Paul Johnstone
Lecherous Garage Attendant
Maurice Hughes
Foreman
Penne Hackforth-Jones
Dave
Max Cullen
Rebel
Chris Haywood
Photographer
Richard Moir
Fox
Tim MacLean
Photographer's Assistant
Brian McNevin
Fox's Timer
Sno Norton-Sinclair
Starter's Mate
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 11, 1984
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Clark
- Screenplay & Story
- Barry Tomblin, John Clark
- Original Score
- Peter Crosbie
- Original Title
- Running on Empty
- Country of Origin
- Australia
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 23m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Clark
Barry Tomblin, John Clark
Peter Crosbie
David Gribble
Stuart Armstrong
Pom Oliver, David Roe
Department Leadership Roster
John Clark
Director
Barry Tomblin
Writer
David Gribble
Director of Photography
Stuart Armstrong
Editor
Greg Brown
Production Design
Pom Oliver
Producer
Peter Crosbie
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Running on Empty.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Ozploitation
Australian exploitation cinema of the 1970s to 90s.
Top 25 TV Shows Per Year (1970–2025)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Running on Empty
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Running on Empty about?
Mike loves his fast cars and his hot women. When he fancies the girlfriend of the local street racing king, Fox, he gets way in over his head in racing for his girl, his money and his life. Through racing, sex, nightclubs and small road trips the film depicts what it was like to be a teenager in Australia in the 1980's.
Who directed Running on Empty?
Running on Empty was directed by John Clark.
Who stars in Running on Empty?
The principal cast of Running on Empty includes Terry Serio, Deborah Conway, Vangelis Mourikis, Grahame Bond, Bob Barrett.
When was Running on Empty released and how long is it?
Running on Empty was released in 1982 with a total runtime of 1h 23m.
Who composed the musical score for Running on Empty?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Running on Empty was composed by Peter Crosbie.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Running on Empty?
Running on Empty holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).