When Rambo: Last Blood (2019) hit theaters, it was marketed as the final chapter of John Rambo’s brutal, war-scarred journey. But six years later, Rambo 6: New Blood (2025) proves that the legend hasn’t faded — it’s evolved. Directed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick series), this latest installment injects fresh energy, a new generation, and surprising emotional resonance into the franchise while still honoring its gritty, violent roots.
Set several years after the events of Last Blood, New Blood finds a reclusive John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) living quietly off the grid in northern Canada. That peace is shattered when he learns his estranged son, Matt Rambo (played by Glen Powell), a former Navy SEAL turned private security consultant, has gone missing while investigating a black ops operation in the jungles of Colombia.
Reluctantly dragged back into the fight, John teams up with a group of rogue ex-soldiers to track his son and dismantle the paramilitary cartel responsible. What follows is a bloody, bone-breaking mission through betrayal, jungle warfare, and generational conflict.
At 78, Stallone proves he’s still got the presence, gravitas, and raw physicality that made Rambo iconic. But this time, he’s not the invincible war machine of the ’80s — he’s older, slower, and haunted in a way that feels more human than myth. The script wisely leans into that vulnerability, allowing Stallone to explore Rambo’s regrets, especially as a father who never knew how to love without war.
Glen Powell, as Matt Rambo, brings surprising depth and charisma to the franchise. More tactically precise and morally conflicted than his father ever was, Matt represents the new face of warfare — one shaped by drone strikes and moral ambiguity, not jungle ambushes and survival knives. The chemistry between Stallone and Powell is tense but believable, their dynamic adding a welcome emotional layer to the carnage.
With Stahelski at the helm, New Blood trades in the grittiness of Last Blood for more fluid, expertly choreographed action sequences. Gone are the clunky traps and excessive gore of the previous film. Instead, we get surgical strikes, jungle firefights, and a climactic one-on-one machete duel that rivals anything in the series. The pacing is tight, and the action is both visually slick and emotionally charged.
The cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel (Drive, X-Men) gives the jungle a slick, foreboding atmosphere — all shadows, firelight, and sweat. Brian Tyler’s score mixes classic Rambo themes with modern percussive beats, keeping the tension high from start to finish.
Some plot elements — especially the shady military-industrial subplot — feel underdeveloped, and a few side characters (including a rogue CIA handler played by Josh Brolin) don’t get enough screen time to resonate. There are also moments where the film indulges in fan service a bit too heavily — a slow-mo shot of Rambo tying his bandana feels more obligatory than earned.
But what elevates New Blood is its refusal to just be a retread. It knows that the Rambo of 2025 can’t be the same as the one from 1982 — and that’s exactly why it works.
Rambo 6: New Blood is not just a worthy addition to the franchise — it’s a thoughtful evolution. It blends explosive action with father-son drama, nostalgia with forward momentum. While Stallone’s era may be ending, New Blood ensures that the spirit of Rambo — wounded, relentless, and still fighting — lives on.
Rating: 8.5/10
