First Blood
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.
What critics thought
First Blood landed with genuinely mixed notices on release — critics who responded to it saw a darker, more psychologically serious action film than its premise suggested, while detractors found its escalating implausibility hard to swallow. The ending proved the single sharpest point of disagreement: some felt it was unresolved and unsatisfying, while others considered it the film's emotional peak and the best work Stallone has ever put on screen. Audience enthusiasm has since outpaced the original critical consensus considerably.
“although almost all of First Blood is implausible, because it's Stallone on the screen, we'll buy it”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“there are no one-liners, no showy acts of bravado, just messy emotion without any catharsis... Stallone couldn't have played the scene better and neither could anyone else.”
Jack Hawkins·SlashFilm
“it seems impossible to imagine anyone other than Stallone in the part, and his capabilities as an actor should not be dismissed”
James Berardinelli·ReelViews
Parents guide
- Violence
- moderate
- Sex
- mild
- Profanity
- moderate
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- moderate
Genres
Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Ted KotcheffDirector
Sylvester StalloneJohn Rambo
Richard CrennaCol. Samuel Trautman
Brian DennehyHope Sheriff Will Teasle
Bill McKinneyState Police Capt. Dave Kern
Jack StarrettDeputy Sgt. Arthur Galt
Michael TalbottDeputy Balford
Chris MulkeyDeputy Ward
John McLiamOrval the Dog Man
Alf HumphreysDeputy Lester
David CarusoDeputy Mitch
David L. CrowleyDeputy Shingleton
Jerry GoldsmithComposerSylvester StalloneWriter
David MorrellWriter
Andrew LaszloCinematographyFirst Blood
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.
What critics thought
First Blood landed with genuinely mixed notices on release — critics who responded to it saw a darker, more psychologically serious action film than its premise suggested, while detractors found its escalating implausibility hard to swallow. The ending proved the single sharpest point of disagreement: some felt it was unresolved and unsatisfying, while others considered it the film's emotional peak and the best work Stallone has ever put on screen. Audience enthusiasm has since outpaced the original critical consensus considerably.
“although almost all of First Blood is implausible, because it's Stallone on the screen, we'll buy it”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“there are no one-liners, no showy acts of bravado, just messy emotion without any catharsis... Stallone couldn't have played the scene better and neither could anyone else.”
Jack Hawkins·SlashFilm
“it seems impossible to imagine anyone other than Stallone in the part, and his capabilities as an actor should not be dismissed”
James Berardinelli·ReelViews
Parents guide
- Violence
- moderate
- Sex
- mild
- Profanity
- moderate
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- moderate
Genres
Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Ted KotcheffDirectorSylvester StalloneJohn RamboRichard CrennaCol. Samuel TrautmanBrian DennehyHope Sheriff Will TeasleBill McKinneyState Police Capt. Dave KernJack StarrettDeputy Sgt. Arthur GaltMichael TalbottDeputy BalfordChris MulkeyDeputy WardJohn McLiamOrval the Dog ManAlf HumphreysDeputy LesterDavid CarusoDeputy MitchDavid L. CrowleyDeputy ShingletonJerry GoldsmithComposerSylvester StalloneWriterDavid MorrellWriterAndrew LaszloCinematography