The Rambo Trilogy: Revisiting Stallone's Bone-Crunching Saga

Here at JoBlo, we're massive fans of Sylvester Stallone, and in this special edition of Sylvester Stallone Revisited, we take a look at the first three Rambo Movies: First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Rambo III. To us, this loose trilogy ranks as perhaps Stallone's defining work as an action hero, but have your say in the comments!
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#sylvesterstallone #rambo

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

"Nothing is over... NOTHING! You just don't turn it off!" Rambo is just someone I can seriously relate to.

[@jokeroneninesevenzero]

"I didn't come here to rescue Rambo from you, I came here to rescue you from him!"

[@jooei2810]

Trautman was cast perfectly!

[@Wyndamn]

"I know, because I trained him"

[@Papaw.Rooster]

First blood is a criminally underrated classic

[@Jannes-pj4cd]

This trilogy is one of my all time favourite. I love Sly Stallone as an actor, he’s one of my heroes.

[@darkkrenaissance42]

Stallone's demeanor and voice prevents people from understanding that he is a driven, bonafide genius.... and I think Sly wants it that way

[@Omar-wq9dz]

The first is still the best Rambo movie ever made. I like the action in 2 and 3, but the movies themselves were just alright

[@captainthruster9484]

Lol is this even a conversation?

[@darkkrenaissance42]

definitely,,, especially when you consider the budget?? the people that had no respect for the project? The fact this was MADE FOR TV syndication?? One of the top 25 movies of All Time ~

[@PowuhToSeven]

​@@darkkrenaissance42everybody had said no to the main character lead. When Stallone picked it up there were about 5 rewrites.

[@vampirascoffin870]

@omar " I like the action in 2 & 3 , but the movies themselves is just alright " make up your mind dummy

[@sethmaki1333]

I gotta say, that last one is probably the greatest, and tastiest, revenge story I've ever encountered.

[@cristiandemirel1918]

In Romania, Rambo was the the most sought after movie on VCR, by far. I personally saw the movies in the trilogy at least 10-15 times each one by the time I was 10 years old. We didn't have action figures, but I made my dad carve me up a wooden replica of Rambo's knife. We played all day impersonating either Rambo or The Terminator. Thank you Mister Stallone and Mister Schwarzenegger for a wonderful childhood!

[@homelessjesse9453]

The contrast between the first movie and sequels is vastly different. First Blood was based off the same titled novel by David Morrell. And it was an introspective look into the mindset of a veteran from the Vietnam conflict. The major changes from the source material is that Rambo, in the novel just kills anyone who fights him, and the sheriff is portrayed in a much more sympathetic light. After the first movie, the sequels are mostly goofy fun. Part 3 was the most ridiculous as spoilers, from a movie released in 1988, Rambo gets in a tank and squares off against a Soviet era helicopter.

[@shaftomite007]

Thought he was the one that got in the Russian helicopter

[@gruntsffs1]

100% everything after First Blood is garbage

[@homelessjesse9453]

@@gruntsffs1 Fun garbage. But yeah. Garbage.

[@homelessjesse9453]

@@shaftomite007 That was part two I think.

[@mckayz33]

Lowkey fast n Furious vibe.

[@Captofthisship]

Rambo is my childhood hero, i was allowed to watch this as a 10 y/o. I still want to be Rambo to this day, im 40 haha. Guessing its time for my monthly dose after this video. Hmm, guessing we are going to need three screens to watch it all at once, everywhere. I dont see anyone else besides Crenna playing Trautman. My friend actually makes it a point to talk to me in Trautman's voice whenever I am drunk and not listening "Comeback to me, Johnny!!! he seems to say.

[@reddchan]

bought the rambo collection on sale a while ago, recently watched them all in reverse order of release. It was an awesome journey down memory lane that ended with first blood. Fun movies

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

I remember watching First Blood the night it debuted on HBO with my father. I was 9. Rambo I saw in the theater with my older sister and her boyfriend. As for Rambo 3...I actually rented it from the video store. I liked the trilogy, but preferred Rocky to it instead. That said, there isn't a clunker in the bunch. All five Rambo films are entertaining, to various degrees, which goes to show you just how talented Sly can be.

[@luisvaldes1568]

me too back in early 80's I was a little order 15 or 16. I saw the next two in the theater.

[@khemikora]

Rocky V is definitely a clunker in the Rocky series.

[@CaminoAir]

The 'relationship' between Trautman and Rambo in 'First Blood' is interesting. It appears that neither really trusts the other. When Rambo tells Trautman (over the radio in the mine) that he tried to find him at a military base, Trautman's reply about being moved around a lot doesn't sound convincing. Rambo's facial reaction and disengagement from their communication confirms this. Trautman seems to be wary of both Teasle and Rambo and appears to be there to try to prevent either man from escalating the situation too far.

[@evillink1]

This rings true even more because Trautman was the one who killed Rambo in the book, and there's a deleted scene in the movie with a similar ending.

[@DarkLordDiablos]

You could also say the reason Trautman goes to Hope is his way of trying to make amends for dodging Rambo at the base. Chris in this review of Rambo 3 does call him "Dr Frankenstein." which he in essence is.

[@boris1387]

First time I saw it (first blood) was on UK TV. The thing that struck me was just how amazing the score was, the overall sound track was awesome. Stallone was unforgettable in the role, especially the scenes towards the end of the film.

[@krasskswg]

A buddy of mine was in the sandbox for the first Gulf War as part of the 82nd Airborne. He said they would be out in the middle of nowhere and have a screen set up, and Rambo III was one of the movies they had available. As actual combat vets, they had some laughs over it, and called Trautman "Col. Pop 'N' Fresh" because of how he wore the beret in all three movies.

[@ArniesTech]

The way Trautman looked down in pity and maybe compassion at his unstoppable "creation" breaking down... Always brings tears to my eyes

[@johnbuckleyjnr32]

Stallones acting at the end of first blood is probably his best

[@DK-gy7ll]

While the dialogue was great, I had to use subtitles just to understand what the hell he was actually saying.

[@fartex1]

i remember watching first blood as a kid... so scared when they were out in the woods searching for john rambo... still one of my all time favorite movies.

[@TheRowlandstone73]

Jerry Goldsmith's forlorn, tense, dramatic and militaristic score for First Blood is fantastic, to the extent where it's almost a character itself in the film. I remember as a kid, the very first time a piece of music gave me considerable goosebumps and chills was the scene where Rambo crashes the truck through the police roadblock.

[@petermulder7480]

Its hard to explain to people how popular The Rambo movies where in the 80s if you weren't alive yet. And not just in America but all around the world it was a phenomenon. First Blood was the first movie that was sold internationally to different companies... ....and don't forget all the spinoff Vietnam films with the shirtless hero on the cover. That was all because of Rambo.

[@xancypillosi9497]

Well 2nd was afghan

[@RuiLuz]

Every kid I knew in the 90s wanted the Rambo knife, it's no joke.

[@petermulder7480]

@@RuiLuz true, I have one. Awsome memories.

[@veterano347]

My mother was born in south Mexico and lived in extreme poverty during her childhood. Even there Rambo was like a hero for her and her cousins. The 2nd movie was the most popular at the time according to her.

[@davidbarrerogallardo3822]

I celebrated my 40th birthday last october in Hope Bc, where the 1st movie was shoot. And coincidentally when the 40 anniversary celebrations were happening! . Timeless classic that I watched countless times with my dad and that I revisit every year. Part 2 may also be as well one of the best action movies ever made imo.

[@Rich_Man101]

Great review of the first 3 Rambo movies. You only mentioned it in passing, but Stallone actually is pretty good at comedy. The movie "Oscar" is incredibly underrated in my opinion. Me and my family absolutely love it and put it on often.

[@lamentate07]

Oscar is incredibly underrated and one of his best films to me.

[@asifkhan4822]

Did anybody notice the irony of Steven Berkoff who played the Russian lead Villain in Rambo First Blood Part 2, as he was the lead Villain in the previous year Beverly Hills Cop. A film Stallone was originally up for before he parted ways with the filmmakers, using his template in Cobra. Rambo 2 is still the highest grossing of all the films in the franchise.

[@MikeOrtego]

First Blood is one of my favorite movies. As a kid I loved 2 and 3 but I can't really get into them now. Also I'm probably in the minority but I loved "Rambo" (2008) and thought it brought the series back to its roots in the same way Ricky Balboa did for the Rocky franchise. And I know a lot of people hated Last Blood but when I don't compare it to the other films I enjoy the Hell out it!

[@JezaLoki]

Same here. 2008 Rambo is excellent. For me, it’s First Blood then Rambo 2008, then 2, 3, and Last Blood. Last blood grew on me after a second viewing and just because it’s my least favourite doesn’t mean it’s not a decent flick, it just felt a like a blend of Rambo/ Taken with a Home Alone ending. Kevin McCalister, aged ex-navy seal, takes ruthless revenge on his granddaughters murderers.

[@MikeOrtego]

@@JezaLoki Yeah Last Blood is just bad ass! You can't help but cheer when you see those assholes get what they deserve!

[@jakemaattanen]

Same here. 1st and 4th are best. Last Blood seemed to try too hard to be… rough or hard core.

[@195Bucks]

Yes I agree 1 ,4, 2, 3, and 5 I just wish wasn't made very disappointing....and not sure if I'm imagining it but I'm sure there is talks of a Rambo 6...needs to be on par with Rambo 4 otherwise don't bother!..

[@lamentate07]

Loved 4. Did not rate 5.

[@Moody801]

I can’t believe you didn’t give a nod to the best scene from III “What is this?” “Blue light.” “What does it do?” “Turns blue.”

[@drommarnas]

This is the best video of your awesome channel. I grew up with Rambo and this review makes me want to watch all movies and this video again and again. Thank you!

[@vincentsolis5149]

Kove also played a Rocky type character in the Incredible Hulk show with Bill Bixby

[@thealcohologist8624]

Over the top is a great movie. Rambo 3 is awesome. It is what I want out of a Good 80s action movie

[@darkkrenaissance42]

Also !~ Another element not discussed is that the Sheriff was part of the Korean War. Often termed the Forgotten War... Vietnam Vets were all over the news, but not his vets... There was an Already present disdain for Rambo the moment the sheriff laid eyes on that drab green soldier attire ~

[@beestingza]

As a kid of the 80's, I can tell you that Rambo made a huge impression on us. We all wanted survival knives after that movie and the rich kids would end up looking like idiots with their foot-long giant Bowie knives, lol.

[@asdf9890]

I was a kid in the 80s. Loved Rocky and my parents went out of their way to show me those movies...but when Rambo came out they wanted to shelter me from what they knew the Vietnam War did to some people. I remember being a kid and a few kids dad's were not ok, and the excuse was always just "he was in Vietnam".

[@JLOFlix]

EXCELLENT JOB! First Blood is a different style from the others, but, no less enjoyable respectively!

[@ZiplineShazam]

First Blood was an incredible, authentic character-driven film. The sequels quickly devolved into overly oiled cartoonish shells of the original.

[@lamentate07]

Rambo 3 was the beginning of the end for Sly as a major star. He was still popular after that, but the underperformance of Rambo 3 and Rocky 5, especially in the US, sealed his fate.

[@edguty3811]

I was 5 and Rambo was my idol. I had a Camo sweatsuit with Rambo first blood pt 2 on it (the picture of him with the rpg).

[@Bob-vj2mu]

I love Rambo III. It's wonderful. I learned my distrust of the Soviets from Stallone movies. Rambo kicking that guy down a cave after pulling the pin on the grenade with him being hanged then exploded is still one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

[@beestingza]

As I recall the successive movies became more and more implausible and ridiculous.

[@Bob-vj2mu]

@@beestingza they do definitely. The most recent film goes off the rails. 70 year old John Rambo is terrifying.

[@yeah.movement.losbaños.chapter]

I have my own tradition of watching First Blood every year. So far I manage to honor my word for about 10 years now.

[@GeorgeCoggins]

i also noticed rambo 3 disappeared from cable tv and even video rental stores following 9/11 for years to come.

[@just1morejonjr]

Teasel was a vet of North Korea, Vietnam vets we're getting all the attention and so he felt sidelined

[@TravisDoesKayakFishing]

First Blood has the best five minutes of acting you will ever watch.

[@John-Doe-Yo]

Huh?

[@TravisDoesKayakFishing]

@@John-Doe-Yo Let me put in terms you understand "Bro be acting and shit in the end for real"

[@jasonloveswatchingmovies7002]

I really love First Blood and Rambo 4 was so intense raw and brutal.

[@DNOstalgia]

Absolutely brilliant watch. Thank you. Rambo friggin rules ❤🎉😊

[@hemichanga8939]

I feel like in First Blood, the Christmas setting made Rambo feel lonely, and that's why he went to find his friend.

[@Tightt88]

What a trilogy!

[@GreenSabre187]

The realness the first film delivers is unmatched.

[@leespiderpod]

I remember buying a kids toy version of Rambo’s knife in the 80s, it was sharp as fuck with a compass ball on the hilt and water-proof matches inside the handle 😂

[@specialk4006]

I ran around like a maniac with that thing at 4 years old.😂

[@lifeofatwindad8700]

Watching first blood is one of few memories i have with my old man. At least the fucker set me up with a badass franchise to watch

[@wastelanddv8062]

Audie Murphy was born in Kingston, Texas. Wikki says he also lived in Farmersville, Greenville and Celeste also Texas. Not Kentucky.

[@edguty3811]

“Fuck em” is my favorite line

[@ttspencert]

It should have been on the poster 😯😂

[@Lalaxbo]

I am so happy i grew up watching the Rambo movies as a kid and as a teenager and i still love the movies to this day . Sylvester Stallone was born to play John Rambo. I enjoyed Rambo Last Blood also and it was a fitting ending of John Rambos journey . First Blood is a timeless classic and the novel is awesome also . The movies are true classics . RIP Richard Crenna who played Colonel Trautman and Brian Dennehy as Will Teasle 😢

[@chaddelk3605]

It doesn't get more '80s action than John J. Rambo.

[@jasongallagher5464]

That dude was in Hot Shots Part Deux too. Classic 👊

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

All of these movies are classics,but I prefer Rambo:First Blood Part 2. But I own and still watch them all.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

First Blood & Die Hard 2 Christmas action movies that should be recognized for their greatness!

[@Doubledeepfried]

All 3 are epic, but like the second the most (iconic/action/music)

[@shaftomite007]

Who among us, as little boys growing up in the 80's, DIDN'T have a Rambo survival knife? (although i don't think they allow 9yo's to carry foot-long serrated combat knives anymore)

[@MagdaleneDivine]

That was hilarious when that dude fell out the helicopter. I laughed and laughed when that happened. Sorry but it was hilarious

[@vincentsolis5149]

Rambo II is Django Unchained for Vietnam vets.

[@josephwatts2904]

What a trip down memory lane!

[@johnberg1348]

Thank you for this review.

[@myrnalaboy2840]

R.I.P. Richard Crenna

[@hennyverheij5969]

First Blood still to me is the best of the Rambo movies.

[@mikechevreaux7607]

First Blood And Rambo My Favs.

[@jooei2810]

Stallone hit big, twice. What a ride!

[@patrickspalding8045]

The first one is a very serious film about the horror of war and what you must endure to survive. The rest were just let’s see how many people Rambo can kill in 90 minutes

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Great films. They got lucky casting Stallone coz he pushed himself to the limit in probably every movie he has ever been in. I bought the trilogy on DVD probably 15+ years ago when we had old CRT TV’s. I recently rewatched them on my Full HD TV and they were so poorly rendered, blocky footage and moving skin on faces, had to get rid of them and watched them on an HD TV channel and they were crystal! I think when DVDs first came out they took the mickey and sometimes transferred from VHS to DVD not from a master.

[@gruntsffs1]

First Blood, though I didn’t know it until I returned from my last deployment to Iraq, is 100% the most legit film on how Vets feel!!

[@ULTRACERTIFIED]

"A good supply of Body bags"... Cold!!

[@archwodrichemond-fils6187]

First Blood is a classic and Rambo 3 is def the most fun, but First Blood Part 2 defined the character. Awesome movie

[@bobbressi5414]

Rambo jumped the shark when he speared a flying chopper with the main gun on a battle tank......suspension of disbelief can only take you so far.

[@johnnyjohn-johnson7738]

I find it funny how the Russians in both 2 and 3 have scenes where they fly conveniently low enough for Rambo to harm them from the ground, in 2 after shooting at him near a river they flew almost into it so he could emerge from underwater, jump in and hijack their chopper. And in 3 the main villain flew his Hind low enough for Rambo to charge at it with the tank (and moments earlier, Rambo and Trautman were surrounded by a Russian platoon supported by armored vehicles, and all Rambo had to do was say "fuck it", fire a grenade into them and run into an already dug trench for cover that was conveniently a few meters away).

[@MegaSheen15]

It could be said that, at the end of Rambo III, Trautman did take Rambo back to the US with him but Rambo went back to Thailand after Trautman died in 2003. (Sylvester Stallone says that Trautman died on the same day as Richard Cranna)

[@austinysla6331]

It's official First Blood is a Christmas movie.

[@luisvaldes1568]

Best scene in 2 was " Murdoch I'm coming to get you". And the look on Murdoch's face.

[@tomhahnl1927]

Everybody I knew had Rambo II on VHS, am pretty sure it was the most pirated movie of the 80's 😉

[@Bozlee22]

LOVE IT. Especially in 4K disc now 🤘🏼

[@sofakingonmynuts1438]

Appreciate the effort.

[@donavantew8278]

Awesome. Loved it

[@THEBANDIT7979]

The second Rambo film pretty much elevated the action genre. Explosive is the word. Everything after wards was inspired by Rambo 2

[@seangerant653]

rambo !!!..........all .the best !!!!!!!

[@stanleystaklight7555]

First blood is sooooo good every year must watch

[@almondrick5967]

All Rambos 1,2,3 awesome classics ,no bits no fuzz.10 Stallones out 10 Stallones.

[@JezaLoki]

Director Ted Kotcheff made the recently resurrected Australian classic Wake In Fright. Highly recommended. If you read this and watch the film please let me know what you thought.

[@techfall1142]

He said Rambo 2 went all Effin out! 😂 I was like 8 years old playing Rambo 2 on the NES. 😂 Rated R or not I saw that movie 100 times as a kid. That and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man were 2 of my faves as a kid 😅

[@davidworden4470]

Stallone would have gotten an Oscar if this film would be released in today's times

[@TheDealMaster]

First Blood is one of the best movies of all time. So, it's kind of in a different league than the other 2. Now that being said, if you are looking for sheer action, massive destruction and dead bodies flying, then parts 2 and 3 are your better options. ALL 3 are classics though, so no matter what you choose you'll be entertained. Part 2 was certainly the most popular, financially. I've always thought part 3 was underrated. The last 45 minutes is absolute chaos, lol. All in all, a great trilogy.

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Rambo only has one actual good film.

[@j.a.weishaupt1748]

How dare you

[@BishopWalters12]

wrong

[@kroon275]

Very true

[@krushingbro6620]

First blood, The Terminator and RoboCop, the holy trinity of action films from the 1980's

[@NeoConnor1]

No room for Die Hard?

[@ausbornbred7358]

Martin Kove and Stalone appeared in Death Race 2000 together (1975)

[@DelightLovesMovies]

First Blood is the best Rambo Film. Parts 2 and 3 made me laugh when I shouldn't laugh.

[@mattwells5022]

Best acting Sly ever done

[@lordofthereels6790]

A Good Will Hunting meets First Blood where Rambo has to fight while trying to save a younger talented solider from becoming as destroyed as him could've been an interesting direction for a sequel

[@mysteriousstars122]

*What a trilogy!!*

[@davidtatro7457]

Really excellent content and analysis. You taught me quite a lot about how these films were made and what went on behind the scenes. It's perhaps humorous that the older l get, and the more politically left wing and generally opposed to violence l get over the years, the more l actually appreciate the Rambo franchize. And especially First Blood, which l have come to view as almost an art film compared to the sequels. And l agree with you that Stallone is rather underrated as an actor, and he was never better as an actor than in First Blood.

[@shaftomite007]

Surprised there was no mention of the movie "Ruckus", which is basically the same movie, released several years earlier.

[@BishopWalters12]

The first 2 movies are amazing and I like the 3rd movie even if it was a step down. I love the 4th movie and I wish that would've been the end of the franchise because Rambo 5 wasn't very good. Still not bad for franchise to have 4 great or a least good movies and just one dud.

[@MichaelMartin-qe5ye]

I've never minded Sly's foray into comedy. It worked for Schwarzenegger. He probably thought he was aging out of action roles(as Expendables 4 gets ready to open), so comedy would've been a whole new type of audience. At that point in his career(before Copland), nobody was going to let him headline a drama, and he was too famous to do character actor parts. When it didn't work, he went back to doing action movies. It made sense. It just didn't happen.

[@josealmeida2842]

Coming soon to a theater near you: RAMBO KILLS EVERYONE! (Subtle Nickelodeon reference)

[@jumblesaleboo]

Benny Dobbins actually broke his back, during the motorcycle chase, when the Sheriff's cruiser jumps the train tracks...Although, the sliding of the cruiser scene was actually accidental.

[@cesarmedina7080]

Last blood got a lot of bad press but I thought it was ok. Nothing beats First Blood though. It had a more realistic feel to it than the rest of the series had. Rambo seemed like a real person in the first movie but became almost a super hero in the sequels in my opinion although I think the character seemed closer to the version of Rambo in the first movie.

[@blackamerican40]

Changing topics: I have reached to other JoBlo websites. Two things: would any of you ever do a 1978 Magic movie episode? Also, with this being a trilogy lookback: would any of you do a trilogy of the three werewolf movies of 1981. The Howling, American Werewolf In London and Wolfen?

Great movie ❤