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First Blood
1982 93 min United States of America, Netherlands Antilles R 18+
★7.7
Action, Adventure, Thriller, War
Director: Ted Kotcheff
📖 Based on the novel
«First Blood»
byDavid Morrell
Trailers
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EN
EN
Description
When former Green Beret John Rambo is harassed by local law enforcement and arrested for vagrancy, he is forced to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$47.21M
Worldwide:
$125.21M
Starring
Sylvester Stallone
Actor
Brian Dennehy
Actor
Richard Crenna
Actor
Awards
1 win & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
First Blood is widely regarded as a seminal entry in the action genre that functions primarily as a grounded social drama about post-Vietnam War trauma. While some viewers view it as a simple action spectacle, the consensus highlights its enduring emotional power, rooted in a nuanced performance by Sylvester Stallone.
| Acting | Stallone’s portrayal of John Rambo effectively balances visceral physicality with a deeply moving, vulnerable depiction of a traumatized veteran. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds by shifting the focus from mindless violence to a poignant exploration of social alienation and the neglect of veterans. | |
| Score | Jerry Goldsmith’s score is frequently cited as a crucial element that elevates the film’s atmospheric tension and emotional weight. | |
| Ending | While most find the ending a powerful, necessary emotional catharsis, a minority of viewers feel the conclusion is underwhelming or unpredictable. | |
| Theme | Debate persists regarding the film's genre identity: some critics praise its status as a sophisticated character study, while others perceive it as a somewhat simplistic or naive action narrative. |