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Easter eggs
Hidden details in every movie and series: 15 in total. Tap a poster to see its eggs. Titles you haven't marked as seen stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction trivia
- ReferenceThe book ends differently
In David Morrell's 1972 novel, Rambo dies at the end. In the film he survives, breaks down in tears and is arrested.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe name comes from an apple
Morrell said he picked the name Rambo for the sound of force in Rambo apples, which he came across in Pennsylvania.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesKirk Douglas was Trautman
Kirk Douglas was cast as Colonel Trautman and left the set within the first weeks. Richard Crenna took over the role.
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- CameoJames Cameron on the script
James Cameron wrote the first draft while prepping The Terminator and Aliens. Stallone rewrote it, and both get the screenplay credit.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesTravolta was left out
The producers wanted John Travolta as Rambo's sidekick on the mission. Stallone vetoed it, and Rambo went in alone.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesMexico stands in for Vietnam
Shooting ran from June to August 1984 in the Mexican state of Guerrero and in Thailand. The score is by Jerry Goldsmith.
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- Behind the scenesDirector fired in Israel
Stallone fired director Russell Mulcahy (of Highlander) in Israel. Peter MacDonald, who had run second unit on the previous film, took over and made his directing debut.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe priciest film of its day
Variety put the budget at 63 million dollars, the highest ever at that point. The people who made the film disputed the number.
source ↗ - ReferenceA name from real life
The character Masoud is named after Ahmad Shah Massoud, the mujahideen commander who fought the Soviets. The film ends with a dedication to the gallant people of Afghanistan.
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- Behind the scenesRambo in the director's chair
Stallone directed and co-wrote the film. He said the idea was to make a movie with Rambo's own personality.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesFake blood is cheap
With a small budget, Stallone decided the way to stand out was explicit violence. His line: fake blood is cheap.
source ↗ - CameoRight by the real border
Shooting was in Thailand, with 450 Thai crew members. Near Myanmar, Stallone and the crew narrowly avoided gunfire from soldiers. The villain is played by Maung Maung Khin, a former Karen fighter.
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- SetupThe idea dates from the fourth film
Rescuing a kidnapped girl in Mexico was already a Stallone idea for the 2008 film. He liked it but felt it lacked the essence of Rambo, and shelved it.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe fifth film that never was
In 2009 the fifth film was called Rambo V: The Savage Hunt, based on James Byron Huggins's novel Hunter: Rambo hunting a lab-made creature. The project was dropped.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesShot in Bulgaria
Principal photography began in October 2018 in Bulgaria and wrapped in December. Adriana Barraza shot her scenes in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. The score is by Brian Tyler.
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