Rambo: Last Blood

Rambo: Last Blood

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2019
Founder	Sylvester Stallone (lead actor and co-writer)
Headquarters	United States
Key people	Sylvester Stallone, Adrian Grünberg, Brian Tyler
Products	Action film
Number of employees	N/A

Rambo: Last Blood—also referred to as Rambo V or Rambo V: Last Blood—is a 2019 American action film centered on vigilante justice, featuring Sylvester Stallone reprising his role as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran. Directed by Adrian Grünberg, this installment marks the fifth entry in the Rambo franchise and serves as a direct sequel to Rambo (2008). The storyline follows Rambo’s journey into Mexico to save his adopted niece from a human trafficking cartel. The supporting ensemble includes Paz Vega, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Adriana Barraza, among others.

Plans for a fifth Rambo film had been sporadic since 2008, with several iterations abandoned before the project was officially greenlit in May 2018 under Grünberg’s direction. Principal photography occurred between October and December 2018 across locations in Bulgaria and Spain, with additional scenes filmed in May 2019. Composer Brian Tyler returned to provide the film’s score.

Premiering on September 20, 2019, Rambo: Last Blood garnered predominantly negative critiques. While Stallone’s performance and the action sequences received some commendation, the screenplay, explicit violence, and accusations of xenophobic depictions of Mexico drew significant criticism. Financially, the film earned $91.5 million globally against a $50 million production budget and an estimated $30 million spent on marketing.

Plot

Set eleven years after the Burmese conflict, John Rambo resides on his deceased father’s horse ranch located in Bowie, Arizona, where he co-manages operations with Maria Beltran and her granddaughter Gabriela. Upon discovering that Gabriela’s estranged father Manuel is in Mexico, Gabriela secretly travels there but falls victim to abduction and drugging by a Mexican cartel. Determined to find her, Rambo ventures into Mexico, interrogating Manuel and Gizelle regarding Gabriela’s location. He soon confronts cartel figures Hugo and Victor Martinez, who threaten Gabriela due to Rambo’s interference.

Carmen Delgado, an independent journalist investigating the Martinez brothers for her sister’s death, assists Rambo after he suffers a beating at the hands of the cartel. Despite Rambo’s efforts to rescue her, Gabriela succumbs to an overdose while being held captive and trafficked sexually. Devastated and enraged by her death, Rambo fortifies his ranch with traps before returning to Mexico with Carmen’s assistance to face Victor. After eliminating Victor and his men, Rambo engages in a brutal fight with Hugo, ultimately prevailing.

The narrative concludes with Rambo weakened but resolute in continuing his fight and honoring those he has lost. The closing credits display flashbacks of his past battles as he rides into the sunset.

Development and writing

In February 2008, Sylvester Stallone indicated that producing a fifth film hinged on the success of its predecessor, describing it as "quite different." By March that year, he was midway through writing Rambo V, intending to steer away from another war-themed story and considering Bulgaria as a filming location substituting for Arizona. In February 2009, Stallone confirmed ongoing progress but was undecided about setting the story domestically or internationally.

By August 2009, Millennium Films approved the project with Stallone attached as writer, director, and lead actor. The initial storyline featured Rambo combating human traffickers near the U.S.–Mexico border. In September of that year, the project was titled Rambo V: The Savage Hunt, loosely inspired by James Byron Huggins’ novel Hunter, focusing on Rambo leading a special forces team against a genetically engineered adversary. However, by November 2009, the plot reverted to rescuing a kidnapped girl near the Mexican border.

In May 2010, Stallone expressed that he felt finished with the character, concerned that another Rambo installment might be misunderstood. Although Millennium Films promoted Rambo V at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, Stallone distanced himself from marketing efforts and suggested the studio might proceed without his involvement.

In 2011, screenwriter Sean Hood was brought on board to develop a new script entitled Rambo: Last Stand, described as a small-town thriller reminiscent of First Blood. The project was postponed while Stallone completed work on The Expendables 2. By 2013, Entertainment One and Nu Image announced plans for a Rambo television series featuring Stallone. In June 2014, Stallone resumed writing Rambo V, likening its tone to No Country for Old Men. The film was officially named Rambo: Last Blood in September 2014 with Stallone slated to direct.

During 2015, Stallone collaborated with original creator David Morrell on rewriting the story toward a more "soulful journey." Nevertheless, producers favored focusing on human trafficking themes and shelved their version. Stallone also expressed interest in developing a prequel exploring Rambo’s Vietnam War trauma. By January 2016, Stallone confirmed that production on Rambo V would not proceed at that time.

Pre-production

In May 2018, the project was reintroduced under the title Rambo V, with principal filming planned to commence in September. The storyline focuses on Rambo facing off against a Mexican drug cartel following the kidnapping of a family member. Stallone confirmed both the release timeline and his role as co-writer alongside Matthew Cirulnick, although he initially hesitated about taking on directing duties. By August 2018, Adrian Grünberg had been named as the director.

Casting continued into late 2018, starting with Adriana Barraza’s addition in September, followed by Paz Vega, Yvette Monreal, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Óscar Jaenada, and Joaquín Cosío joining in October. In May 2019, Louis Mandylor, Sheila Shah, Dimitri Vegas, and Genie Kim (Yenah Han) were incorporated into the cast without prior public announcement.

Filming

Principal photography kicked off on October 2, 2018, in Bulgaria. Originally, filming was set to begin on September 1, 2018, and had been previously scheduled for October 27, 2014, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Adriana Barraza completed her scenes in Tenerife (Canary Islands). The main photography phase concluded on December 4, 2018, with additional shooting taking place in late May 2019.

Music

Brian Tyler, who composed the scores for Stallone’s Rambo and the Expendables trilogy, returned to create the soundtrack for Rambo: Last Blood. Tyler explained that his approach involved crafting emotionally resonant themes that capture Rambo’s deep longing for family, justice, and retribution. The musical score incorporates rich strings, brass instruments, percussion, piano melodies, and trumpet duets that evoke feelings of loss, remorse, hopefulness, and vengeance.

Marketing

Millennium Films showcased the project at Cannes in May 2018 to stimulate interest and secure sales. As the release neared, Stallone shared behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the set via Instagram. Early in 2019, he posted images highlighting Rambo’s adopted family, his combat background, and Gabriela’s journey to Mexico. By March, a photo circulated showing Rambo bloodied and aiming his iconic bow.

In May 2019 at Cannes, Stallone unveiled exclusive stills during a special screening held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on May 24. The initial trailer premiered there as well; a teaser trailer followed on May 30 that drew comparisons to films like Logan and Unforgiven. This teaser featured a remixed rendition of "Old Town Road." On August 1, Stallone revealed the official theatrical poster on Instagram; a second trailer was released on August 20. To celebrate the new installment’s launch in September 2019, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema organized a marathon screening of all five Rambo movies. According to Deadline Hollywood reports, expenses for prints and advertising remained below $30 million.

Theatrical

Rambo: Last Blood debuted in U.S. theaters on September 20, 2019. Dadi secured distribution rights for China along with an eight-figure co-financing agreement. On July 30, 2019, the MPAA assigned an R rating to the film; meanwhile, the British Board of Film Classification rated it suitable for audiences aged 18 and over. The Japanese premiere occurred on June 26, 2020 through Gaga Corporation.

International version

Lionsgate distributed two distinct theatrical versions of Rambo: Last Blood tailored to different regions. The cut shown in the US, UK, and Canada has a runtime of 89 minutes, whereas the editions released in Australia, Mexico, Sweden, Brazil, Finland, Germany, and Japan extend to 101 minutes. This extended version features additional deleted footage and an alternate opening sequence lasting approximately ten minutes:

The film opens with Rambo saving hikers caught in a flood. After discovering one girl alive amid several casualties, he experiences PTSD triggered by the traumatic incident. This introduction provides a more profound emotional foundation before shifting focus to Rambo’s life on his ranch.

This alternate introduction is omitted from prints released in select North American territories and the United Kingdom.

Home media

Rambo: Last Blood became available for digital purchase on December 3, 2019. Subsequently, Lionsgate Home Entertainment issued it on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD formats on December 17, 2019. Best Buy featured an exclusive steelbook edition of the 4K UHD release. The movie dominated Redbox’s rental and On Demand charts for multiple weeks. An international extended edition titled Rambo: Last Blood Extended Cut was launched on Amazon Prime Video in May 2020. In the United States and Canada, domestic video sales reached $26.6 million, with DVDs accounting for $10 million and Blu-rays generating $16.6 million.

Box office

Worldwide, Rambo: Last Blood earned $44.8 million across the U.S. and Canadian markets and $46.7 million internationally, culminating in a global total of $91.5 million against its $50 million production cost.

Opening in competition with Ad Astra and Downton Abbey, the film was forecasted to generate between $23 and $25 million from 3,618 theaters during its debut weekend. It collected $7.17 million on Friday—$1.3 million of which came from Thursday previews—ultimately debuting with $19 million and ranking third at the box office; this marked the franchise’s second-highest opening weekend. The second weekend brought in $8.6 million, followed by a third weekend gross of $3.6 million, placing sixth and eighth respectively.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds an approval rating of 26%, based on numerous reviews with an average score reflecting mixed reception. The critical consensus suggests that like its predecessors, Rambo: Last Blood prioritizes graphic violence over the depth of its protagonist’s once-compelling narrative. Audience polling by CinemaScore assigned it a "B" grade, while PostTrak reported a 3.5 out of 5 star rating along with a 56% "definite recommend" rate.

Reviews of Rambo’s character portrayal were divided. Kenneth Turan from the Los Angeles Times awarded it 3 out of 4 stars, commending its "introspective exploration" of Rambo’s vulnerability alongside his violent tendencies. Conversely, Peter Debruge of Variety criticized the character’s inconsistent depiction as both a traumatized veteran and an idealized soldier figure. IGN’s Witney Seibold gave it a 4.5/10 score, lamenting Rambo’s transformation into an "invincible human machine gun," yet acknowledged Stallone’s heartfelt performance.

The screenplay by Stallone and Matthew Cirulnick received largely negative feedback. Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter described it as "perfunctory and clichéd," though he credited Stallone for maintaining franchise continuity. Katie Walsh of the Chicago Tribune rated it 1 out of 4 stars, criticizing the writing as lazy and overly reliant on provocative imagery instead of complex characters. William Bibbiani at Bloody Disgusting gave it 1.5 out of 5 stars, labeling the storyline simplistic even within the context of Rambo. IndieWire’s Eric Kohn assigned a D+ grade, noting Stallone’s co-writing brought some empathy but ultimately went too far in portraying Rambo as morally superior. Many reviewers compared the plot to Taken, while James Berardinelli characterized it as a variation on Death Wish with nods to First Blood.

The film’s intense violence drew significant criticism for its extreme gore reminiscent of slasher movies. Berardinelli highlighted the elevated body count and graphic deaths, rating it 1 out of 4 stars. Debruge described the carnage as "horrific and gut-wrenching," yet tailored to thrill genre enthusiasts. Vince Mancini from Uproxx called it genuinely terrifying but recommended it to fans seeking hyper-violent revenge narratives. In contrast, Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post praised some violent sequences as among the year’s best while finding other aspects superfluous. Duncan Bowles at Den of Geek gave it 3 out of 5 stars, noting that viewers craving brutal action would be satisfied.

Controversy arose over the depiction of Mexico as rife with crime and stereotypical portrayals of Mexicans and Latinos as criminals, leading to accusations of xenophobia and pandering to Trump supporters. Critics such as Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian condemned its crude violence paired with Trumpian fantasies, awarding only 1 out of 5 stars. Seibold deemed these stereotypes offensive and irresponsible within today’s cultural climate; Kohn observed that the white savior theme was poorly received amid heightened social awareness. Mexican critic Gerardo Valero criticized Spain standing in for Mexico along with inauthentic accents, calling the film dumb and borderline offensive. Nevertheless, Bowles defended the villains’ stereotypical traits as necessary for delivering satisfying retribution without excessive gore.

David Morrell—the creator behind Rambo and author of First Blood—publicly disowned Last Blood, labeling it "a mess" and expressing embarrassment over his involvement. He recounted feeling "degraded and dehumanized" after watching it, criticizing its soulless nature, low-budget sets, awkward direction, and reliance on exploitation grindhouse elements reminiscent of ultra-violent films from the 1970s. Morrell also noted that because the film assumes viewers know Rambo’s history well, audiences under forty might find unexplained sequences such as those involving tunnels confusing.

Analysis

Darren Mooney from The Escapist remarked that Rambo has embraced tactics similar to those of the Viet Cong by constructing an extensive network of tunnels beneath his family farm. Zak Wojnar of Screen Rant pointed out that while Rambo's underground passages are significantly larger and cleaner than the Củ Chi tunnels, the visual resemblance is striking. These tunnels function as a physical manifestation of his past traumas and inner turmoil. Wojnar further emphasized that in the movie's climax, Rambo tactically employs these so-called "PTSD Tunnels," utilizing guerrilla warfare methods akin to those once used against him—surfacing unexpectedly to attack before vanishing underground again.

Accolades

Honors and nominations for Rambo: Last Blood

Award	Date	Category	Recipient(s)	Outcome
National Film & TV Awards	December 3, 2019	Best Actor	Sylvester Stallone	Template:Nom
		Best Supporting Actress	Yvette Monreal	Template:Won
		Best Feature Film		Template:Nom
		Best Director	Adrian Grünberg	Template:Nom
		Best Action Movie		Template:Won
Golden Raspberry Awards	March 16, 2020	Worst Picture	Avi Lerner, Kevin King Templeton, Yariv Lerner & Les Weldon	Template:Nom
		Worst Director	Adrian Grünberg	Template:Nom
		Worst Actor	Sylvester Stallone	Template:Nom
		Worst Supporting Actress	Fenessa Pineda	Template:Nom
		Worst Screen Combo	Sylvester Stallone & his impotent rage	Template:Nom
		Worst Screenplay	Matthew Cirulnick & Sylvester Stallone	Template:Nom
		Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel		Template:Won
		Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property		Template:Won
Shorty Awards	May 3, 2020	Best in Entertainment	Rambo: Last Blood Home Entertainment Social Campaign	Template:Nom

Future

At Cannes 2019, Stallone indicated he would reprise the role of Rambo if the fifth installment performed well commercially. Conversely, director Grünberg described Rambo: Last Blood as a conclusion that "closes the circle," expressing his hope to end the franchise with this film. In September 2019, Stallone disclosed intentions to develop a prequel focusing on Rambo’s early life before his Vietnam War service, portraying him as a popular and athletic young man whose wartime experiences profoundly altered him.

Additionally, Stallone showed interest in creating a sixth chapter where Rambo finds sanctuary on an Indian reservation, aligning with his Native American roots. By June 2020, he expanded on this idea, envisioning Rambo returning to the reservation where he was raised. However, in September 2023, Stallone cast skepticism on the prospect of a sixth movie, humorously suggesting that Rambo might instead be battling arthritis.

In May 2025, Millennium Media announced plans to produce a prequel titled John Rambo, with Jalmari Helander attached as director. The casting decision regarding who will replace Stallone has yet to be revealed.