The Most Dangerous Game: A Tale of Man as Prey in Film and Television

Richard Connell’s 1924 short story The Most Dangerous Game is a cornerstone of suspense and adventure literature, celebrated for its inventive premise and psychological depth. This story of a man being hunted for sport by a wealthy madman has captivated readers and served as a template for countless films and television shows, it’s a tale that is a blend of survival, moral ambiguity, and primal conflict which has been proven to be timeless, inspiring works across multiple genres for decades.

The first and most direct adaptation of the story was with 1932’s The Most Dangerous Game, a film directed by Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack. It starred Joel McCrea as the hunted and Leslie Banks as the sadistic General Zaroff and stayed fairly faithful to Connell’s narrative, creating an intense atmosphere through its shadowy cinematography and suspenseful pacing. Notably, the film was shot on the same sets as 1993’s King Kong, further enhancing its eerie and exotic aesthetic. This adaptation set a high standard for subsequent reimaginings and cemented the story’s place in popular culture.

While direct adaptations are compelling, many works take the core idea of hunting humans for sport and then innovate upon it. For example, 1987’s The Running Man which adapted Stephen King’s novella about a dystopian reality show where contestants are hunted for entertainment. Even video games, such as 2003’s Manhunt owe a creative debt to Connell’s work, incorporating the hunt-for-survival dynamic into an interactive medium. Below you will find a collection of my reviews that run the gamut of film and television adaptations that utilized this well-loved premise, simply click on the posters or links below to go on your own hunt for the most dangerous game.

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

A psychotic big game hunter deliberately strands a luxury yacht on a remote island, where he begins to hunt its passengers for sport.

The Game of Death (1945)

A remake of Richard Connell’s famous short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” about a madman who hunts human prey on his personal island habitat.

The Wild Wild West: The Night of the Sudden Death (1965)

Jim West and Artemis Gordon must stop a big-game hunter’s plan to use counterfeit money to buy an African Game Preserve.

Get Smart: Island of the Damned (1966)

Max and 99 head off to the Caribbean to bring down a notorious KAOS agent, but he has other things in mind, like hunting them as “The Most Dangerous Game.”

Lost in Space: Hunter’s Moon (1967)

After killing a hostile alien, Professor Robinson comes across a “hunter” and he must replace his dead prey and become the hunted in this intergalactic game.

Gilligan’s Island: The Hunter (1967)

A big-game hunter arrives on the island. Upon learning there is nothing on the island to hunt, he chooses instead to hunt one of the castaways–and he chooses Gilligan.

I Spy: The Name of the Game (1968)

Ordered by their superiors to check security on a general forced into retirement before the visit of a VIP, Kelly and Scott are thrown into a game where they’re the game being hunted.

The Suckers (1972)

A psychotic big-game hunter lures members of a modelling agency, along with another big-game hunter” to his private preserve for his own version of The Most Dangerous Game.

Bonanza: The Hunter (1973)

Little Joe finds himself being hunted by an insane army tracker, who has recently escaped from prison, in this Western version of “The Most Dangerous Game.”

Gunsmoke: Matt Dillon Must Die (1974)

Since the mob killing of his wife years ago, old man Wakefield has gone on murderous rampages with his sons. Now the Wakefields are trying to run down and kill Matt in the freezing mountains.

The Beast Must Die (1974)

This film features an unique take on “The Most Dangerous Game” where a millionaire and Big Game Hunter invites a group of guests to his mansion because he believes one of them is a werewolf.

Fantasy Island (1977)

In the pilot episode, one of the “fantasies” Hugh O’Brien and Victoria Principal find themselves being hunted across Mr. Roarke’s lovely island paradise.

Charlie’s Angels: Angel Hunt (1979)

The Angels are lured to a deserted island by an old enemy of Charlie’s, who plans to hunt them down and kill them to avenge himself on their boss.

The Incredible Hulk: The Snare (1979)

Banner is invited to a millionaire’s private island on the assumption that they will be playing chess, unfortunately, this millionaire has a more dangerous game in mind.

Turkey Shoot (1982)

In a dystopian future where deviants are held in “re-education” camps, a freedom fighter and an innocent prisoner try to survive their decadent oppressors’ game of kill or be killed.

Hart to Hart: Hunted Harts (1983)

After losing his bid to Hart Industries over purchasing a large company, businessman and big game hunter Winston Davenport lures The Harts to South America in retaliation with hopes to kill Jonathan and make Jennifer his prize.

The Running Man (1987)

In a dystopian America, a falsely convicted policeman gets his shot at freedom when he must forcibly participate in a TV game show where convicts, runners, must battle killers for their freedom.

Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987)

In a distant galaxy, two slaves escape a prison transport and crash-land on a strange planet, where they meet a psychopath who plans to hunt them for sport.

Hart Target (1993)

A woman hires a drifter as her guide through New Orleans in search of her missing father. In the process, they discover a deadly game of cat and mouse behind his disappearance.

Surviving the Game (1994)

A homeless man is hired as a survival guide for a group of wealthy businessmen on a hunting trip in the mountains, unaware that they are killers who hunt humans for sport, and that he is their new prey.

The Most Dangerous Game (2022)

A father and son are shipwrecked on a remote island where they are caught up in a trophy hunt held by its mysterious owner, a merciless man who uses the land as an elite hunting preserve for stalking the most dangerous game of all…man.

Looking at all those adaptations it’s clear that the lasting impact of “The Most Dangerous Game” lies in its primal simplicity and its ability to adapt to different eras and genres. Its exploration of human nature—our capacity for cruelty, the instinct for survival, and the thin veneer of civilization—remains as relevant today as it was a century ago. The premise thrives on its universality, allowing storytellers to mould it into horror, science fiction, satire, and even comedy. In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed this little trek across one of the most used premises in film and television, and thanks for joining me.