Book Of Notable World Records In 1990, Named Rambo 3 The Most Violent Film Ever Made
It’s interesting to trace the evolution of John Rambo from 1982’s First Blood to its sequel, Rambo: First Blood Part II. The former was a grounded survival thriller, portraying Rambo as a Vietnam veteran suffering from severe PTSD who only kills one character in self-defense. The sequel turned Rambo into a one-man army, waging war against Vietnamese and Russian forces while rescuing POWs. First Blood Part II saw a dramatic increase in both action scenes and body count.
Rambo III saw the titular hero go on a rescue mission in Afghanistan to save his friend Colonel Trautman from Soviet forces. The sequel had expensive sets and impressive action, but suffered from a thin story and a general lack of suspense or imagination. Rambo III held the crown for the most expensive film ever made with an estimated production budget of $63 million, earning it a well-deserved Guinness World Record in 1990. The reference book of famous world records named Rambo III the most violent film
ever made, with no fewer than 108 character deaths, 70 explosions, and 221 acts of violence.
As expected, much of the action in Rambo III consists of gunshots or explosions, but the titular hero also uses knives, arrows, and even his bare hands to dispatch his enemies.
Perhaps the most brutal death in Rambo III — which almost starred Marlon Brando — is that of Randy Raney’s Sergeant Kourov, who has his neck broken after falling into a cave, where his body then explodes when Rambo pulls the pin on a grenade.
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What Happened To Trautman After Rambo 3 (& His Cut Role In Rambo 4)
The amount of violence in Rambo III caused the UK BBFC to cut over a minute from the theatrical version, before removing three minutes from the original VHS release. Key edits include punches during the opening stick fight, a shot of a child playing with Rambo’s knife, and a softening of Kourov’s aforementioned death. Rambo III’s place in the Guinness Book of World Records was fitting at the time, though compared to how graphic and gory 2008’s Rambo was, it seems oddly mild now.