Netflix’s 131-Minute Action Thriller Is The 2020s’ Answer To Rambo

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Look, we all love Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo, but let’s be honest, the franchise has been coasting for a while. I just finished watching a new action thriller on Netflix – it’s 131 minutes of pure adrenaline – and I’m telling you, this is the movie that finally captures the spirit of the original Rambo for a new generation. It’s the 2020s Rambo we’ve been waiting for.

Netflix released the movie Rebel Ridge in September 2024. The film stars Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who travels to a small town to help his cousin get out of jail. He unexpectedly finds himself fighting against the town’s dishonest police department. Aaron Pierre, who will soon play John Stewart in the upcoming DC series Lanterns, is joined by a strong supporting cast including Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, and Emory Cohen.

I was so thrilled to see how quickly everyone loved Rebel Ridge! It earned a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 95% positive reviews from critics, which is amazing. Even ScreenRant gave it a great review, with one writer calling it a really smart and complex political thriller. And it wasn’t just critics – the movie actually won awards, including a Primetime Emmy and a Critics’ Choice Television Award! It’s just fantastic to see such a well-made film get the recognition it deserves.

As a big fan of action films, I’ve been hearing a lot about Rebel Ridge, and honestly, the description of “Rambo meets Reacher” is spot on. It’s a fantastic Netflix movie that really feels like the Rambo we were hoping for, especially because it handles the action so realistically and with a lot more depth. In my opinion, it’s a huge step up from most of the later Rambo films.

Netflix’s Rebel Ridge Shows Where The Rambo Movies Went Wrong

The Rambo series started in 1982 with First Blood, which was based on a novel by David Morrell. The film features Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who clashes with law enforcement in a small town. While First Blood includes plenty of action, it’s notable for its exploration of post-traumatic stress and its portrayal of Rambo as a complex, sympathetic character rather than a typical action hero.

Like the first film, Rambo: First Blood Part II shifts focus when John Rambo decides to rescue prisoners of war instead of just finding them. However, as the Rambo series went on, the stories became less about character development and more like typical action movies. This wouldn’t have been a problem if the later films hadn’t relied so heavily on over-the-top action and increasingly unbelievable storylines.

Unlike some action movies, Rebel Ridge avoids clichés. It keeps the plot and action well-balanced. The main character, Terry Richmond, is a capable fighter, but he remains grounded and doesn’t lose sight of his motivations. This is a key reason why the film works – it creates a similar intense and emotional experience as the original First Blood.

Rebel Ridge Remains One Of Netflix’s Best Original Movies

When Rebel Ridge came out, it received a lot of praise, and it remains one of Netflix’s strongest original films. The movie isn’t just full of impressive action – the story is also well-crafted, and the lead actor, Pierre, delivers a standout performance. It’s easy to see why Rebel Ridge helped launch his career, leading to roles in films like Lanterns and Star Wars: Starfighter.

It’s unclear whether the highly-rated Rebel Ridge will become a film series like Rambo. While Netflix hasn’t confirmed a sequel, and its star is working on other projects, that shouldn’t diminish how good Rebel Ridge is. In fact, it might be best enjoyed as a single, complete story, even if we don’t see the character Terry Richmond again.

A new Rambo movie, a prequel called John Rambo starring Noah Centineo as a younger Rambo, is in the works. While it remains to be seen how this new film will be received, many feel recent Rambo sequels haven’t captured the magic of the original First Blood. In contrast, Rebel Ridge is being praised as a modern successor to that classic film.

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2026-05-10 21:42