The Life of Hollywood Action Hero Sylvester Stallone

While First Blood was being filmed in Hope, British Columbia, many of the extras were reportedly local townspeople. Some had recently been left unemployed after a nearby mill closed, which made the production more than just a movie shoot for the community.

That detail gave the film an unusual real-world layer. Behind the fictional story of John Rambo being hunted through a small town, the production itself was bringing temporary work and attention to people facing uncertainty. But the movie still had one major problem ahead.