“First Blood” (also known as Rambo: First Blood) is a 1982 American action film directed by Ted Kotcheff, co-written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Richard Crenna co-stars as Rambo’s mentor, Sam Trautman, with Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Will Teasle. This is the first film in the Rambo franchise, leading into Rambo: First Blood Part II.

The movie is based on the 1972 novel First Blood by David Morrell, which had long been considered difficult to adapt. The plot follows Rambo, a misunderstood Vietnam vet, who becomes the target of a massive manhunt after being mistreated by local law enforcement in the fictional town of Hope, Washington. Using his survival and combat skills,

Rambo fights back against the local police and government forces.

Released on October 22, 1982, First Blood received mixed reviews initially but went on to gross $156 million worldwide. It was the 13th highest-grossing domestic film of the year and 7th globally. Notably, it became the first Hollywood blockbuster to be released in China, holding the record for most tickets sold for an American film there until 2018.

Over time, First Blood has been critically reappraised for its performances, particularly those of Stallone, Dennehy, and Crenna, and for its influence on the action genre. Its success gave rise to a cultural phenomenon, spawning a franchise that includes four sequels, an animated series, comic books, novels, and video games.

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