2025 marks the celebration of one of the most iconic action films ever made, but it's weird that the Rambo sequel is way more important than the original film, right? Based on a character featured in a classic novel, the Rambo films are Sylvester Stallone's other classic franchise, a series of bloody action films that, along with Rocky and its plethora of sequels, cemented Stallone as a legendary action star.
If you're looking for some throwback action with a ton of explosions, even more violence, and perhaps just a little bit of depth and political commentary, the Rambo series is the one for you. And you're in luck, because we've got this list of how to watch the entire Rambo franchise in order, and where you can find it on streaming.
First Blood (1982)
Arguably the odd one out of the franchise, but for many, First Blood is still the best of the Rambo franchise. That's because this film, released in 1982 and co-starring the likes of Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, and David Caruso, skews closer to the original David Morrell novel than the rest of the franchise does. In this film, John Rambo isn't an invincible everyman who solves every problem with a series of larger and larger explosions. He's a broken human who is pushed to the brink and reacts in the worst way possible. First Blood is a tragedy more than it is an action film, but it is a must-watch if you want to see a different side of John Rambo.
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
With the release of 1985’s Rambo: First Blood Part II, the franchise may as well have gotten a complete reboot. Gone is a lot of Rambo's everyman mentality, but born here are a bevvy of action star tropes and plenty of fodder for parody films. For First Blood Part II, Rambo is released from a prison camp for a mission to find Vietnam POWs. What is positioned as a find and identify mission quickly becomes a rescue mission. The film is regarded as an action classic, but many downplay that the film has some interesting political and anti-government themes, particularly in Rambo's loyalty to his fellow soldiers and disgust at how they've been treated.
Rambo: The Force of Freedom (1986)
It was the ‘80s, which meant R-rated properties were, for some reason, incredibly lucrative for children's media. This was the same era where the RoboCop: The Animated Series lit up Saturday mornings, where an Aliens cartoon was developed but never produced, and action figures based on properties like The Terminator and Predator lined shelves. Rambo: The Force of Freedom followed this template, positioning John Rambo as the leader of a special operations team, the titular Force of Freedom, as they combat various evil schemes by the sinister S.A.V.A.G.E. The show only got a single season but enjoyed a healthy run in syndication and was well-regarded for the time.
Rambo III (1988)
By 1988, the perception of Hollywood action films was changing. The era of the incredibly muscular action star was beginning to fade, but Stallone brought John Rambo back for one more adventure. Rambo III sees Rambo come out of retirement when his close friend and handler Colonel Trautman is kidnapped on a mission. To save him, Rambo finds himself on an explosive adventure in Afghanistan, helping to fight back a Soviet invasion. The film is remembered incredibly poorly today and is largely hailed only for its Guinness World Record as being the most violent film ever made at the time.
Rambo (2008)
After the successful revival of his Rocky character in 2006’s Rocky Balboa, fans were excited to hear Stallone was going to repeat the formula with a new John Rambo story. Originally intended to be called John Rambo, 2008’s Rambo was met with a lot of the same hype. Unfortunately, Rambo just just didn't stick the landing the same way that Rocky did. This film sees Rambo helping to rescue a band of kidnapped aid workers in Burma, but today, it's largely remembered for its incredibly over-the-top violence in an era where films were largely toning down such action.
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
While Rocky may have gotten a heartfelt send-off through passing the torch in the Creed franchise, Rambo took a little longer to get there. Plans for a fifth Rambo film started almost immediately after the release of the 2008 revival, but it took a decade to get one started. Rambo: Last Blood sees Rambo living in isolation with an adopted family, but he must return to his old ways when his adopted niece is forced into prostitution by a cartel. Fans expecting something tonally close to Creed were probably surprised, as Last Blood was panned for its reliance on violence and tropes, as well as some stereotypical caricatures of people of color, particularly with its Mexican cartel villains.
How To Watch The 'Rambo' Franchise In Order Online
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