Why did the creator of Rambo feel dehumanized by the final film in the series?

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Rambo: Last Blood arrived in 2019, it was intended as a definitive conclusion to a legendary action franchise. Instead, it sparked intense backlash from critics and even the character's original creator, who felt the film lacked soul and reduced a complex icon to a generic, unkillable machine.

Released in September 2019, Rambo: Last Blood follows John Rambo as he travels to Mexico to rescue his adopted niece from a cartel. Directed by Adrian Grünberg and starring Sylvester Stallone, the film was a departure from the series' roots, leaning heavily into extreme, slasher-style gore and a plot that many reviewers found derivative of exploitation cinema. While the film grossed $91.5 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget, it was met with widespread critical derision for its script and its portrayal of Mexico.

The film's reception was particularly harsh regarding its cultural depictions. Critics accused the movie of xenophobia, arguing that it relied on dated, offensive stereotypes of Mexican criminals to fuel its narrative. David Morrell, who wrote the original First Blood novel, publicly disavowed the film, stating he felt degraded and dehumanized after watching it. He criticized the direction as awkward and the production design as cheap, noting that the character of Rambo felt interchangeable with any generic action hero.

Beyond the controversy, the film is notable for its structural oddities. It features an elaborate system of tunnels under Rambo's Arizona ranch, which some critics compared to the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong. These tunnels serve as both a physical trap for his enemies and a psychological space for his PTSD. While Stallone initially expressed interest in a sixth film or a prequel exploring Rambo's life before Vietnam, he later joked in 2023 that the character's only remaining battle would be against arthritis.

The film also exists in two distinct versions: an 89-minute cut for North American and UK audiences, and a 101-minute extended cut released internationally. The latter includes a 10-minute alternate opening that provides more context for Rambo's internal struggles, yet even these additions could not salvage the film's reputation among those who felt it betrayed the original character's poignant, anti-war origins.

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