For decades, action movie fans have debated whether Cannon Films’ 1984 hit Missing in Action, starring Chuck Norris, stole its premise from the iconic Rambo: First Blood Part II. Now, screenwriter James Bruner breaks his silence in Nick de Semlyen’s new book The Last Action Heroes, delivering a definitive rebuttal to the long-standing rip-off accusations.
Was Missing in Action a Copy of Rambo?
The timeline fueled suspicions: James Cameron drafted Rambo II in 1983, focusing on a Vietnam veteran rescuing POWs. Sylvester Stallone later rewrote it, with the film releasing in 1985. Yet Missing in Action—with Norris’ Colonel Braddock returning to Vietnam for MIAs—hit theaters first in 1984. Critics immediately cried foul, alleging Cannon Films accessed Cameron’s script. Bruner vehemently denies this:
“The thing that started all of this was the book called Mission MIA by James Pollock, an ex-Delta Force guy. A lot of people read it, including Chuck, and that’s what gave them the idea. I didn’t know anything about Cameron having a [Vietnam] project.”
Bruner emphasizes the project drew directly from Pollock’s real-life military expertise, not Hollywood leaks.
The Explosive Cultural Context Behind Both Films
Bruner highlights how the MIA/POW crisis gripped America in the early 1980s, particularly beyond coastal cities. This national trauma birthed multiple films:
- Ted Kotcheff’s Uncommon Valor (1983) featured Gene Hackman rescuing his POW son.
- Clint Eastwood funded a real-life, failed rescue mission in 1983.
“It was a very emotional thing… when we saw Missing in Action, people stood up cheering in theaters,” Bruner recalls.
This cultural urgency—not script theft—explains why studios raced similar projects into production. Both Rambo II and Missing in Action channeled public outrage over abandoned soldiers, but Bruner insists their creative origins were wholly separate.
Why the Myth Persisted
Despite Bruner’s account, parallels between the films cemented rip-off theories. Both featured:
- Muscular, traumatized veterans (Norris’ Braddock vs. Stallone’s Rambo)
- Jungle raids against Vietnamese forces
- Explosive, cathartic finales
Yet Missing in Action’s leaner runtime ($3M budget vs. Rambo II’s $25M) and earlier release made it a surprise hit, grossing $23M domestically. Bruner’s revelation reframes the debate: two films tapping national angst, not one copying the other.
Legacy of an Action Rivalry
Today, both franchises endure as ’80s action landmarks. Missing in Action spawned two sequels, while Rambo’s five-film series cemented its icon status. Bruner’s account restores Missing in Action’s legacy as an original, if coincidental, response to America’s unresolved war wounds.
Whether you revere Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kicks or Stallone’s survival grit, both films now stand as distinct cultural artifacts of a raw, patriotic moment in cinema history. Rewatch them back-to-back—and decide the verdict for yourself.
Must Know
Q: Did James Cameron accuse Missing in Action of copying Rambo?
A: No public accusations exist. Cameron’s early Rambo II script (1983) and Missing in Action’s release (1984) sparked fan theories, but neither Cameron nor Stallone formally alleged plagiarism.
Q: What was James Bruner’s inspiration for Missing in Action?
A: Bruner cites Mission MIA, a book by ex-Delta Force member James Pollock, as the primary source. Chuck Norris read it and championed the project.
Q: How did audiences react to Missing in Action in 1984?
A: Bruner notes packed theaters with standing ovations, reflecting public passion about POW/MIA issues. The film grossed $23M—triple its budget.
Q: Were other MIA-themed films released alongside Rambo and Missing in Action?
A: Yes. Ted Kotcheff’s Uncommon Valor (1983) preceded both, starring Gene Hackman on a rescue mission. The topic dominated early-’80s cinema.
Q: How did Rambo: First Blood Part II perform compared to Missing in Action?
A: Rambo II was a blockbuster, earning $300M globally. Missing in Action earned $23M domestically but spawned two sequels.
