Runaway is a 1984 American science fiction action film written and directed by Michael Crichton, starring Tom Selleck, Gene Simmons, Cynthia Rhodes and Kirstie Alley.

Jack R. Ramsay, a veteran officer, joined the "runaway" squad after an incident in which his fear of heights allowed a criminal to escape and kill a family.

After years on the job, he and his new partner Karen Thompson find themselves handling the first robotic homicide.

Ramsay cannot learn anything from uncooperative informants who end up dead but eventually discovers that the perpetrator is Dr. Charles Luther.

Seeing the profit potential, he killed his fellow researchers and tried to sell the technology on the black market.

When they create a ruse to transfer Jackie to safety, Luther attacks the police convoy with robotic smart bombs.

Ramsay is forced to overcome his acrophobia by locating a reset switch underneath to restart the elevator back down, whilst encountering and defeating 3 robot spiders.

Screaming, Luther reaches up to grab Ramsay, but falls back, dead, while the spiders self-destruct.

"[2] The film marked the first feature acting role for rock star Gene Simmons (he had been in Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park).

He turned down a TV series which wanted to exploit his KISS fame as well as parts in Flashdance and Doctor Detroit because he "wasn't interested in musicals or comedy.

With a multi-million dollar budget, big-name actors and a world-famous author as both writer and director, Runaway was planned as 1984's major science fiction draw.

However, it was overshadowed by James Cameron's blockbuster The Terminator, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and 2010: The Year We Make Contact, and the film was a box office disappointment.

Janet Maslin of The New York Times said, "Mr. Crichton has a much better feel for the gadgets than its human players.

"[7] Kevin Thomas of The Los Angeles Times called it "assured, thoroughly cinematic filmmaking, its flourish of ingenious gadgetry not overwhelming its human dimension.

[10] Neil Gaiman reviewed Runaway for Imagine magazine, and stated that "The race to outwit the cybernetic psycho is gripping stuff, mostly, with a terrifying showdown atop an unfinished skyscraper; and as the hero cop with no head for heights, Selleck is fine.