Rambo III (1988): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Peter MacDonald
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- TriStar Pictures
- Budget
- $63M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
Rambo III Cast
Sylvester Stallone stars in Rambo III. Directed by Peter MacDonald.
- Director Peter MacDonald
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.
Rambo III Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Rambo III 36 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
-
IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 36 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$189M
3.0× its budget
- US & Canada
- $53.7M
- International
- $135.3M
- Budget
- $63M
Rambo III Trailers & Videos
20 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 14 clips and 4 featurettes.
- Teaser Rambo 3 - Teaser Trailer
- Clip The Stick Fight
- Clip Epic Final Fight Scene
- Clip Rambo Arrives in Afghanistan
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who seeks out Rambo in Thailand?
Cars in Rambo III
19 cars on screen, including the Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor and the GAZ BRDM-2.
-
Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor Main role -
GAZ BRDM-2 Important role -
1970 AIL M-325 Minor role -
Allis-Chalmers M8 High-Speed Tractor Minor role
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 Show fewer
- 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?
Movies Like Rambo III
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo and Rambo: Last Blood.
-
Rambo: First Blood Part II 1985 -
Rambo 2008 -
Rambo: Last Blood 2019 -
Braddock: Missing in Action III 1988 -
First Blood 1982 -
Missing in Action 1984 -
The Karate Kid Part III 1989 -
Thunder III 1988 -
Behind Enemy Lines III: Colombia 2009 -
Wild Blood 1983 -
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt 1989 -
The Art of War III: Retribution 2009
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.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
