Over 25 years have passed since First Blood wrapped filming in Hope, British Columbia, Canada - but residents, local crew and Rambo enthusiasts agree it doesn't feel like a quarter century has passed. Back in 1981, British Columbia’s film industry was in its infancy when the Ministry of Tourism’s Film Promotion Office, helmed by Dianne Neufeld and Justis Greene, received a call from a production company interested in shooting First Blood, a $15 million action movie in B.C.
After scouting several different locations in BC, the producers found the exact look they had been searching for in the small town of Hope. Soon after, a crew of approximately 100 people (many of whom still work in the BC Film industry) began to transform the town of Hope into the birthplace of John Rambo. The Sheriff’s Office was constructed on the lawn of Hope’s District Hall, a gun shop and gas station were built and American flags, mailboxes, and US Army billboards were placed on downtown streets.
During the filming, the cast and crew had to deal with bitter cold, the theft of over 50 firearms needed for the movie, Stallone’s injuries and the escape of a wild boar on its way to set. Despite these challenges, First Blood, which was released on Friday October 22, 1982 was a major box office success, earning a record breaking $14.8 million in the first 12 days of its release.
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