During the depth of the ‘80s action craze, one man faced impossible odds to wage his personal war against all that stood in his way. John Rambo, the tortured Vietnam War veteran turned relentless fighting machine, first graced the big screen in 1982 with First Blood. Directed by Ted Kotcheff, the visceral thriller about retribution and redemption saw Rambo being pushed to his violent limits after being hunted by small-town cops, and him fighting against the system that had failed him.
The concept clearly captured audiences’ attention and ignited a zeitgeist of revenge action movies as one loner or outcast seeks justice by using brute force. Following Rambo’s success, for over a decade, Hollywood tried to cash in on the character’s overall vibe and created more troubled renegades battling corruption. Some were blatant rip-offs, others put a modern spin on the formula. But they allowed some degree of influence to the original.
In this list, we take a look at 9 of the best Rambo spin-offs, both official and unofficial. They capture Rambo’s rage and refusal to back down from the perspective of new protagonists stuck in new scenarios. From low-budget knock-offs to big-budget hits, these movies prove that an action movie featuring one very angry man on the path of revenge always provides satisfaction on the big screen.
9 Steele Justice (1987)
In Steele Justice, Martin Kove plays John Steele, a Vietnam vet struggling to adjust to civilian life. He finds himself drawn back into action when his best friend, Lee, is murdered by drug dealers. Steele is determined to get to the bottom of the chase, and his investigation leads him to General Kwan, a former comrade turned powerful drug lord. Now, Steele seeks revenge for Lee’s death and strives for justice.
A Veteran Who Will Stop At Nothing
Written and directed by Robert Boris, Steele Justice stands out for its gritty portrayal of a veteran-hero-turned-unforgiving-vigilante, a trope we’re all too familiar with. Echoing the spirit of Rambo, the movie also features Kove as a relentless Steele, who mirrors the iconic character’s quest for justice and his battle against crime and corruption. The movie received mixed reviews, but critics made note of the unintentionally humorous tone and how it elevated the intense combat scenes.
8 Deadly Prey (1987)
Director David A. Prior’s brother, Ted Prior, leads this movie as Mike Danton, a Vietnam War veteran who is kidnapped by a group of mercenaries working under the ruthless Colonel Hogan. He’s taken to a remote forest and is used as bait in a deadly training exercise. However, Danton eventually decides to fight back, and using his combat and survival skills, he turns the tables on his captors.
Action at its Worst
Like all action thrillers, Deadly Prey also culminates in a brutal and bloody showdown. But what comes before that is just as exciting. The movie is a quintessential Rambo spin-off with a plot that centers around a lone warrior fighting against impossible and overwhelming odds. Prior plays Danton brilliantly; his resourcefulness and action skills are reminiscent of John Rambo. Filmed on a low budget and ripe with over-the-top action, Deadly Prey has somewhat of a cult following.
7 Thunder Warrior (1983)
Thunder Warrior is an Italian-language action thriller with a premise dangerously close to First Blood. It follows the story of Thunder, a Native American who returns to his hometown to find that an ancestral burial ground is being destroyed by a construction company. When his attempts to stop them are met with violence, Thunder takes matters into his own hands and does everything in his power to honor his people.
Native American Rambo on a Rampage
Written and directed by Fabrizio De Angelis, Thunder Warrior has nothing unique about it save for the theme of cultural pride and a nod to one’s heritage. It only reuses the Rambo formula about a warrior fighting corrupt workers and the entire sheriff department. Mark Gregory is an intense lead and the movie’s action sequences, set against the backdrop of the American Southwest, add a distinct flavor to the genre.
6 Missing in Action (1984)
The first in a series of movies centered around the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, Missing in Action follows Colonel James Braddock, a Vietnam War veteran haunted by his experiences as a prisoner of war. Despite having escaped the situation himself, Braddock believes that American soldiers are still held captive in Vietnam, and with the help of an old friend, he returns to the country to rescue them. But first, he must confront General Tran and his brutal forces.
Chris Norris Takes on Vietnam
Directed by Joseph Zito and starring Chuck Norris, Missing in Action is not only a rip-off of Rambo but also a movie that profits from its success by premiering just months before the Rambo sequel made it to the theaters. Its storyline mirrors Rambo’s fight for justice and redemption, with Norris bringing gravitas to the aged Braddock, a man driven by duty and honor. The movie eventually found a place in the pantheon of ’80s flicks for its explosive action and Norris’ performance.
5 Sniper (1993)
An entertaining wild ride, Sniper follows a seasoned Marine sniper named Master Gunnery Sergeant Tom Beckett. He is paired with an inexperienced shooter, Richard Miller, for a high-stakes mission in the Panamanian jungle – to find and eliminate a rebel leader and a drug lord. The two men navigate the treacherous terrain, but tensions rise between them, eventually leading to a game of precision and nerves.
Two Snipers Locking in a Duel
Director Luis Llosa infuses incredible sniper tension into this suspenseful cat-and-mouse game in order to stand out. This, Sniper also achieves by focusing more on the psychological and physical demands of being a sharpshooter. The movie stars Tom Berenger and Billy Zane, whose performances highlight a mentor-student dynamic but is also filled with a gripping sense of unease. While not as explosive as you’d expect it to be, Sniper was successful enough to spawn nine sequels.
4 Commando (1985)
In Commando, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays John Matrix, a retired Special Forces Colonel, who is living a quiet life after having retreated from action. But when his daughter, Jenny, is kidnapped by mercenaries, his retirement is stabbed with a cold knife because her abductors demand that Matrix carry out an assassination. He embarks on a relentless mission to take down anyone who stands in his way to rescue Jenny.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s One-Man Army
Commando puts to test its protagonist’s combat skills and determination in an exhilarating fashion, allowing Schwarzenegger to flex his chops as the over-the-top but likable Matrix. The movie is gleefully violent and highly quotable. It also epitomizes the rip-off genre with its perfect combination of humor and action. The pace and the inventive fight sequences, inducing Matrix’s creative use of weapons, will remind you of Rambo the most. Overall, Commando is the prototypical ‘80s thriller.
3 The Stabilizer (1986)
Set against the backdrop of Thailand, The Stabilizer is another whirlwind of an action movie filled with car chases and gunfights. It centers around Peter Goldson, also known as “The Stabilizer,” an FBI agent on the path of revenge. His mission? To take down Gred Rainmaker, the notorious drug smuggler who killed Goldson’s pregnant fiancée with his spiked shoes. Goldson teams up with Christina, the daughter of a professor, and tries to take down the Rainmaker for good.
Explosive Revenge Thriller
Arizal was one of Indonesia’s most prolific B-movie directors, and he’s known to have made movies that are inspired by Hollywood’s action-revenge clichés and Jackie Chan-like fight sequences. Considering this, The Stabilizer is a wild juxtaposition of everything that makes the action thriller genre so exciting. Peter O’Brian stars as the vengeful Goldson, whose single-minded and ridiculous assault of all that comes his way is like Rambo’s own vendetta-driven missions. Though not a hit, the movie is worth watching for the campy elements and energetic pace.
2 Shooter (2007)
Shooter takes the lone-warrior narrative and gives it a modern twist. We follow Bob Lee Swagger, a retired Marine sniper, who is pulled back into the field to protect the President of the United States from an assassination attempt. After reluctantly agreeing, Swagger is double-crossed and framed for murder, which forces him to go on the run. At the same time, Swagger uses his expert survival skills to uncover the corrupt network of mercenaries and clear his name.
A Bonafide Rambo Spin-Off
More exhilarating than almost all the movies on the list, Shooter plays out like a complex cat-and-mouse game where a high-speed manhunt followed by shocking plot twists is what drives the narrative forward. As usual, Mark Wahlberg is in his finest form, bringing cool authenticity to Stephen Hunter’s iconic shooter. Director Antoine Fuqua crafts gorgeous sniper sequences and occasionally blows your mind with the conspiracies that make the movie more intelligent.
1 Rebel Ridge (2024)
Terry Richmond is a former Marine who arrives in the corrupt town of Shelby Springs to bail out his cousin, only to have the bail money seized by the police. Desperate to set things straight, he registers a complaint with Chief Sandy Burne. However, as he delves deeper into the town’s corruption, he discovers a web of deceit that’s affecting the lives of many. With the help of Summer, a court assistant, Terry exposes the truth and brings justice.
An Excellent Addition to the Genre
Jeremy Saulnier’s latest Netflix thriller offers a contemporary spin on Rambo’s small-town-siege formula through its examination of corrupt officials and systematic oppression. Pulling no punches, Saulnier embraces the genre’s freewheeling vibe and allows Aaron Pierre to deliver a powerfully intense performance as Richmond. Critics have praised the movie’s taut pacing and exploration of societal themes, and viewers have praised its dark sense of humor and fascinating direction.
