Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
First, most popular Rambo movie is bloody and violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
First Blood (Rambo)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 56 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is an intense action film filled with violence, emotional moments, and some strong language, making it more suitable for mature audiences. While it features significant action sequences and a compelling story about a troubled veteran, parental discretion is advised due to its graphic nature and profanity.
- intense action
- emotional moments
- strong language
- parental discretion
- mature audiences
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
FIRST BLOOD introduced John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone), a cross between G.I. Joe and Tarzan, and an icon of American film in the 1980s. We see him first as a shaggy-haired drifter trying to visit an old platoon comrade in rural Washington state -- where he learns that the man, his last surviving friend, has died of Agent Orange-related cancer. The downcast Rambo is subsequently sighted by bullying local cops, and is harassed and arrested for vagrancy. When the small-town lawmen brutalize him in the town jail, flashbacks to Rambo's wartime torture by Viet Cong push the well-trained Green Beret back into full combat mode and instincts. Escaping into the wilderness, he fights back using guerilla weapons and tactics. Ultimately, he makes one-man war on the entire town with captured National Guard firepower.
Is It Any Good?
This '80s classic is a crude but often effective actioner. Even if its worthwhile themes about the country's treatment of its soldiers kind of get lost in the fiery mayhem and the now-classic pose of the Rocky leading man brandishing enormous rifles and bandoliers.
The problem-plagued production shot alternate endings, one in which Rambo died, another in which he didn't. Audience reaction to First Blood made the filmmakers take the softer option -- and made the producers very wealthy when the film and its sequels became a hit. At least Rambo got to deliver a powerful climactic monologue (the only time he speaks at length) that puts into words the vet's feelings of anger and betrayal. And that reminds us that Stallone could be a fine actor, when not caricaturing himself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between the military and the civilian mindsets in First Blood, and how Rambo was educated by the Army: "When in doubt, kill."
You can also discuss the shabby treatment of American Vietnam veterans compared to that of other war vets, and how Hollywood's portrayals of those veterans -- as either psychos or super commandos -- contributed to the problem.
Families can also talk about whether the amount of violence in the movie is fitting, given its subject matter. Are there times when violence needs to be graphic to get a filmmaker's point across? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 22, 1982
- On DVD or streaming : November 23, 2004
- Cast : Brian Dennehy , David Caruso , Richard Crenna , Sylvester Stallone
- Director : Ted Kotcheff
- Studio : Artisan Entertainment
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 10, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate