Stephen King officially approves of Netflix’sRebel Ridge. The movie tells the story of a Marine who is forced to stand against the police after his cousin’s bail money is stolen by the officers. Aaron Pierre’s Terry Richmond is left to wage a bloody war against the corrupt police department and against the very concept of civil asset forfeiture.Rebel Ridgeis inspired by true events, though it takes extreme liberty with its storytelling.

In a post on King’s personalX/Twitteraccount, the author compared the movie favorably withRambo. He still has respect for theRamboauthor, David Morrell, but he believes that the Netflix movie is deeper and far more thoughtful. He also described the movie as “one of the best” that Netflix has ever produced. He offers nothing to temper potential viewers' expectations, having only support and high praise. Check out his full quote below:

Terry Richmon lying on the ground in Rebel Ridge after being hit by a police car

REBEL RIDGE: If this is a Netflix original, it’s one of the best. A thinking man’s RAMBO. No diss to David Morrell.

What Stephen King’s Rebel Ridge Endorsement Means

Stephen King’s Praise Is A Great Sign

Stephen King is a massive supporter of all kinds of pop culture, leading to the writer regularly sharing his endorsements on social media. He previously praisedStrange Darling(2023),Malignant(2021),Evil Dead Rise(2023), andLate Night With the Devil(2023), along with numerous other movies. He primarily shares praise for horror movies, which makes sense for the author ofIt,The Shining, andPet Sematary. Still, he does occasionally turn his attention to thrillers, as Netflix’s latest movie proves.

Rebel Ridgeis already earning positive reviewsfrom professional critics, soKing may not move the needle. It currently has a 95% score on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. Still, his recommendation may bring more attention to the new release. The renowned author has a considerable presence on X/Twitter with a 7.1 million follower count. If even a small percentage of those viewers watch and enjoy the movie, the word-of-mouth promotion could be groundbreaking.

Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond in Rebel Ridge

Our Take On Stephen King’s Rebel Ridge Endorsement

King Helps To Provide Legitimacy

While King’s endorsement is significant fortheRebel Ridgecast, it is the exact phrasing that makes it so interesting.The direct comparison toRambocould be the greatest element of supportfor the movie. That franchise was so successful that it spawned five movies and brought in a combined $819 million at the box office. A comparison that seesRebel Ridgeas a more thoughtful and potentially superior version only makes it more compelling for viewers, who have not seen anotherRambomovie since 2019. King could very well provide a new rush of viewers to the Netflix movie.

Rebel Ridge Ending Explained

After walking through a slam-bang showdown between Terry Richmond and the police, Rebel Ridge’s gripping action drama finally ends on a positive note.

Rebel Ridge

Cast

Former Marine Terry Richmond travels to Shelby Springs to post bail for his cousin, only to find his savings unjustly seized by a corrupt local police force. With the help of court clerk Summer McBride, Terry uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy and vows to bring justice to the town.

Rebel Ridge 2024 Film Poster