First Blood

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First Blood

R

1982

1h 35m

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Vietnam veteran and drifter John J. Rambo wanders into a small Washington town in search of an old friend, but is met with intolerance and brutality by the local sheriff, Will Teasle. When Teasle and his deputies restrain and shave Rambo, he flashes back to his time as a prisoner of war and unleashes his fury on the officers. He narrowly escapes the manhunt, but it will take his former commander to save the hunters from the hunted.

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Critics Consensus

Much darker and more sensitive than the sequels it spawned, First Blood is a thrilling survival adventure that takes full advantage of Sylvester Stallone's acting skills.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Jun 24, 2022

4/5

Stallone brought intense physicality, obviously, but also hangdog vulnerability to a character who takes revenge on a cruel, unfeeling establishment and utters some of the most iconic lines in shoot’em’up history.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jun 23, 2022

3/5

Watchable if entirely preposterous...

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Michael Sragow

Rolling Stone

Jun 21, 2022

An ambitious, bloody, talented but pulpy mess.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 17, 2026

3/4

The first and best of the franchise.

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

Mar 31, 2026

I didn’t expect to be moved by Rambo’s story but I was.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 14, 2026

Considerably less thoughtful than, say, "Coming Home" on a similar subject, "First Blood" so revels In sadism that Its high-minded pretenses are quickly washed away in blood; first, last and always.

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Mark B

@Thelaser555 2 days ago

Never watched First Blood the first time around when I would have been just 24 years old. So now, 44 years on, what better than to watch it. Stallone is pure theatre as he breaths fire and brimstone into every second of his electrifying performance. It was only two years before the release of First Blood that PTSD had been officially recognized and formally diagnosed. Clearly John Rambo had it in spades, judging by the terrible flashbacks he still suffered from his Vietnam war days. Like he shouted out when he was being chased early in the film in some rocky gorge..."I didn't do anything! I didn't do anything!" The sheriff didn't like 'drifters' you see, and didn't want the likes of Mr Rambo cluttering up his small town. That's when when it all went pear shaped and Stallone went ape-sh*t, basically. Gripping from start to finish with a brilliant performance from Stallone. And thankfully, we were spared any daft romantic diversion in any part of it.

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John R

@JJRambo Sep 28, 2026

Best Movie Ever made. I have seen in atleast .... 250 times

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Dylan R

@Dylanlovesmovies Sep 26, 2026

Great movie. Love the emotional depth. Fantastic performance by Sylester Salone.Felt ending was a bit cheap.Great soundtrack and music. They did not really tell you why the sheriff hates rambo so much. Apart from my two complaints this movie was great.Just not a masterpiece like people say it is in my option

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Forrest M

@RT32281296 Sep 21, 2026

"First Blood" is the first film of the Rambo franchise. It tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran John Rambo, who is suffering from post traumatic disorder and takes upon a small town the traumas he has experienced from the war. It was a start of a new genre of violent action movies which was new during its time. But it was just basically a melodrama and an overdone film to preach anti-war sentiments.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 10, 2026

First Blood = a *4.5* star Movie

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Freddy V

@RT18427309 Sep 5, 2026

What can I say? It's Rambo!

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Ted Kotcheff

Director

Sylvester Stallone

Rambo

Richard Crenna

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Brian Dennehy

Teasle

David Caruso

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Jack Starrett

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Synopsis

Vietnam veteran and drifter John J. Rambo wanders into a small Washington town in search of an old friend, but is met with intolerance and brutality by the local sheriff, Will Teasle. When Teasle and his deputies restrain and shave Rambo, he flashes back to his time as a prisoner of war and unleashes his fury on the officers. He narrowly escapes the manhunt, but it will take his former commander to save the hunters from the hunted.

Director: Ted Kotcheff
Producer: Buzz Feitshans, Herb Nanas
Screenwriter: Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim, Sylvester Stallone, David Morrell
Production Co: Elcajo Productions, Anabasis N.V.
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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