Action Film Evolution

Released on May 22, 1985, this sequel grossed an estimated $150 million domestically to become the second highest-grossing film in the US that year.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) serves as the second installment in the Rambo film series, starring Sylvester Stallone as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Directed by George P. Cosmatos from a story by Kevin Jarre and a screenplay by James Cameron and Stallone, the film is inspired by the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue. Released on May 22, 1985, by Tri-Star Pictures, it became a major global blockbuster with an estimated domestic box office gross of $150 million. It ranked as the second highest-grossing film at the domestic box office and the third highest worldwide in 1985. Despite earning mixed reviews from critics who felt Rambo's compelling nature was lost for a more typical action hero portrayal, it has become one of the most recognized installments, inspiring countless rip-offs, parodies, video games, and imitations.

Quick Facts

Franchise debut year: 1982
Lead actor: Sylvester Stallone

Lore & Background

Three years after the incident in Hope, Washington, former U.S. Army Green Beret John Rambo is imprisoned at a penal labor facility until Colonel Sam Trautman offers him a deal: a solo infiltration mission to confirm reports of POWs in Vietnam in exchange for a presidential pardon. Rambo meets helicopter pilot Michael Ericson, his partner Lifer, and bureaucrat Marshall Roger Murdock in Thailand. He is strictly ordered to document the camp but not to engage or rescue anyone. During insertion, Rambo's parachute catches, forcing him to jettison gear and rely only on knives and a bow and arrow. He confirms POWs exist and frees one, Banks, against orders. When river pirates betray them, Rambo kills the pirates and disables a gunboat with an RPG. At the extraction point, Trautman attempts a rescue, but Murdock aborts it, leaving Rambo and Banks to be captured by the Vietnamese.

Reader's Guide

The production of this sequel began when Carolco Pictures sold foreign rights in 1983, initially targeting a December 1984 release before moving it to August 1, 1985. Screenwriter Kevin Jarre wrote the initial story treatment while living on dog food, proposing Rambo search for POWs in Southeast Asia. James Cameron was hired to write the first draft of the screenplay, titled First Blood II: The Mission, concurrently working on The Terminator and Aliens. Cameron noted his script was more violent and a "very broad, stylized adventure" compared to the small-town setting of the first film. Stallone later took over scriptwriting duties for the final draft, adding political nuances like Trautman's right-wing stance versus Murdock's cynicism. Producers wanted John Travolta as Rambo's sidekick, but Stallone vetoed it; Lee Marvin was offered the role of Murdock but declined, leading to Charles Napier casting. Before filming, Stallone underwent torturous training to build his musculature.

Did You Know?

The film was nominated for Best Sound Effects Editing at the 58th Academy Awards.
Rambo: First Blood Part II won four Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, out of seven nominations.
In his original draft, James Cameron had Rambo partnered with a tech-y sidekick and delayed action for nearly 30–40 pages.
The movie was ranked number 23 on Entertainment Weekly's 2009 list of "The Best Rock-'em, Sock-'em Movies of the Past 25 Years."