Sylvester Stallone's $274 Million Action Blockbuster Is Making a Comeback on Streaming Actorsvaultpro

Following the first Rambo and Rocky movies, Sylvester Stallone made a career out of hyper-machismo movies filled with explosions, fight scenes, car chases, and all the good stuff you want from an action movie. But it’s arguably Stallone’s most macho action film that is making a comeback on streaming. The three-time Oscar-nominated actor has starred in all sorts of macho action films, from subsequent entries in the Rocky franchise (and the Creed spin-off) to various straight-to-DVD action flicks. But when Sylvester Stallone joined forces with some of the most beloved action stars around, a new franchise was born.

The Expendables is currently streaming on Starz, and it’s gaining a second wind on the streaming platform. 15 years after it was first released in theaters, the all-star action film is the ninth most popular movie on the platform this week. Directed by and starring Stallone, the film features an A-list supporting cast that includes Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, and Randy Couture. Stallone stars as Barney Ross, the leader of a group of mercenaries tasked by the CIA with assassinating a Latin American dictator and a rogue CIA agent.

When The Expendables was released in 2010, critics were divided on the movie. It holds a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from a combination of original and modern reviews. However, audiences quickly fell in love with Stallone’s new action franchise, as it holds a 64% audience score. Thankfully, the film earned enough at the box office to warrant a sequel, grossing $274 million worldwide. Two years later, Stallone and Statham returned for the sequel (aptly titled The Expendables 2). This time, they brought Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, and Arnold Schwarzenegger with them, along with the surviving members of the original movie. The Expendables 2 earned a much stronger 68%, and outgrossed the original, earning $314 million at the worldwide box office.

Is ‘The Expendables’ Franchise Over?

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The Expendables features all the great tropes of the action genre, including unnecessary explosions, great action, and lots of carnage and destruction. Unfortunately, another classic trope that the franchise followed was outstaying its welcome. The Expendables 2 may have improved upon the formula, but it was all downhill from there. The Expendables 3, released in 2014, was torn apart by critics, scoring just 32% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even audiences began losing faith in the franchise, as it holds a 48% audience rating. The film failed to outperform The Expendables 2 at the box office, grossing just $214 million worldwide, with a measly $39 million coming from North America.

Stallone returned to the franchise one more time in 2023 with Expend4bles. Unfortunately, it was the sequel that no one asked for. Despite starring Stallone, Statham, Tony Jaa, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture, the movie was hated by critics, as it holds just 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. Add to that its underwhelming box office total of $51 million worldwide, and it’s safe to say The Expendables franchise has finally expended all its energy.