First Blood

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2:19

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 (Sylvester Stallone) 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 (Brian Dennehy). 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 (Richard Crenna) 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

Times (UK)

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.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 24, 2022

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Watchable if entirely preposterous...

Rated: 3/5

Jun 23, 2022

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Michael Sragow

Rolling Stone

An ambitious, bloody, talented but pulpy mess.

Jun 21, 2022

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Director Ted Kotcheff offers some stunning visuals, making First Blood not only a pleasure to watch but a study in directing.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 8, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Ted Kotcheff’s terse action thriller is a significant American film that changed culture and politics back in 1982, and still packs an 89 minute punch today…

Rated: 5/5

Jul 1, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Pushed-to-the-edge survivalist John Rambo raised the bar significantly for action heroes.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 6, 2020

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Shaun R

His smile at the start of the film is the only smile you’re going to get from Rambo for 5 classic movies. A tragic action hero who eats things that makes a billy go puke.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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Jimi W

A classic must-watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

Full Review

Mark H

What a classic movie with a beautiful ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

Full Review

Shawn R

Solid performance by Stallone. Definitely my favorite movie of his. Absolutely riveting from start to finish, it never lets up. I got a chance to see it in the theater when it first came out and I was glued to the screen!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

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Landon J

A solid survival action on the surface, and certainly poignant for the time. The last 4-7 minutes of the movie without exception are where all the meat is at in terms of message, so take that as you will for better or worse.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

MG_Claymore C

A great action packed thrill. But a thrill with dark meaning. The most memorable part is not the gunfire and the explosion's but the poignant talk where Rambo pours himself out to is OC about the PTSD he has had to injurer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

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Ted Kotcheff

Director

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Richard Crenna

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Brian Dennehy

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First Blood: Trailer 1

2:19

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Synopsis

Vietnam veteran and drifter John J. Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) 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 (Brian Dennehy). 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 (Richard Crenna) 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: Anabasis N.V., Elcajo Productions
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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