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Action thriller

Rambo III (1988): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Rambo III (1988) movie poster

Rambo III is a 1988 action thriller directed by Peter MacDonald, starring Sylvester Stallone. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $189 million worldwide on a $63 million budget. Critics gave it 36 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
worldwide gross
$189M
Metascore
36
budget
$63M
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Rambo III (1988) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Peter MacDonald
Original language
English
Budget
$63M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Rambo III About?

The premise of Rambo III without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Colonel Sam Trautman travels to Thailand seeking John Rambo for a training mission in Afghanistan. When Rambo refuses to participate, Trautman disregards his concerns and goes alone, only to be captured by a ruthless Russian colonel. Subjected to brutal torture, Trautman's situation becomes desperate. Learning of his friend’s peril, Rambo undertakes a dangerous undercover operation to rescue the man who once saved him.

Rambo III Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • action hero
  • third part
  • sequel
  • horseback riding
  • missile
  • bare chested male
  • rescue
  • colonel
  • afghanistan
  • rebel
  • rescue mission
  • explosive
+38 more
  • resistance fighter
  • rocket launcher
  • machine gun
  • cold war
  • loner
  • american abroad
  • murder
  • hand grenade
  • exploding tank
  • massacre
  • hostage
  • machismo
  • thailand
  • 1980s
  • bow and arrow
  • one against many
  • knife
  • vietnam war veteran
  • exploding body
  • fistfight
  • showdown
  • shootout
  • battlefield
  • battle
  • ambush
  • martial arts
  • tough guy
  • combat
  • exploding helicopter
  • mountain
  • torture
  • tank
  • mujahideen
  • hand to hand combat
  • grenade launcher
  • cave
  • muscleman
  • buzkashi
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Cast & crew

Rambo III Cast

Sylvester Stallone stars in Rambo III. Directed by Peter MacDonald.

From the director

More from Peter MacDonald

More films directed by Peter MacDonald: The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave, Legionnaire, The NeverEnding Story III and The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Phantom Train of Doom.

Full filmography
Ratings

Rambo III Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Rambo III 36 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

Plot

Rambo III Plot Summary

What happens in Rambo III from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with Colonel Sam Trautman, portrayed by Richard Crenna, arriving in Thailand to once again recruit Vietnam veteran John J. Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, who has made a life for himself in the region since the events of First Blood Part 2. After observing Rambo’s prowess in a stick fighting match, Trautman finds him at a Buddhist temple construction site and proposes a daring mission to Afghanistan. This operation aims to supply the Afghan rebels, known as the Mujahideen, with weapons, including FIM-92 Stinger missiles, to assist them in combating Soviet forces during the Soviet-Afghan War. Although Trautman shows Rambo distressing images of civilians suffering under Soviet aggression, Rambo declines to join, prompting Trautman to venture alone.

Full summary

The whole story of Rambo III, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Rambo III Box Office & Budget

Rambo III grossed $189 million worldwide on a $63 million budget, 3.0 times what it cost. $53.7 million came from the US and Canada and $135.3 million (72%) from the rest of the world.

1988 box office

Worldwide gross

$189M

3.0× its budget

US & Canada
$53.7M
International
$135.3M
Budget
$63M
US & Canada 28% Rest of the world 72%
Videos

Rambo III Trailers & Videos

20 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 14 clips and 4 featurettes.

All 20 videos
Rambo III (1988) - Trailer HD 1080p
  • Teaser Rambo 3 - Teaser Trailer
  • Clip The Stick Fight
  • Clip Epic Final Fight Scene
  • Clip Rambo Arrives in Afghanistan
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Rambo III?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who seeks out Rambo in Thailand?

Cars

Cars in Rambo III

19 cars on screen, including the Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor and the GAZ BRDM-2.

All 19 cars
  • Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor in Rambo III Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor Main role
  • GAZ BRDM-2 in Rambo III GAZ BRDM-2 Important role
  • 1970 AIL M-325 in Rambo III 1970 AIL M-325 Minor role
  • Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor in Rambo III Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor Minor role
Details

Rambo III Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “第一滴血3” and “Rambo - krigaren 3”.

Also known as
  • 第一滴血3
  • Rambo - krigaren 3
  • Rambo 3 - Taistelija
  • Rambo 3
  • Rambo III (Ultimate Edition)
  • Rambo First Blood
  • ランボー3/怒りのアフガン:1988
  • Рэмбо 3
  • Rambo - taistelija 3
  • Ράμπο Νο 3
  • Rambo 3.
  • Рамбо 3
+11 more
  • רמבו 3
  • 람보 3
  • Рембо ІІІ
  • Рамбо III
  • ランボー3/怒りのアフガン
  • 第一滴血第三集
  • Rembo III
  • Chiến Binh Rambo III
  • แรมโบ้ 3, რემბო 3
  • Rembo 3
  • رمبو ۳

Seen Rambo III?

FAQ

Rambo III FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Rambo III, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Rambo III?

Rambo III runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Rambo III released?

Rambo III was released on May 25, 1988.

Who directed Rambo III?

Rambo III was directed by Peter MacDonald.

More films by Peter MacDonald

Who is in the cast of Rambo III?

Rambo III stars Sylvester Stallone.

How much did Rambo III make at the box office?

Rambo III grossed $189 million worldwide ($53.7 million domestic, $135.3 million international) on a budget of $63 million.

How is Rambo III rated?

Rambo III has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 36 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does Rambo III have a post-credit scene?

No. Rambo III has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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