The fourth installment of the Expendables franchise, Expend4bles, seems to be facing an uphill battle at the box office despite the star-studded cast.
The action-packed sequel, which had fans waiting with cautious optimism, has turned in a lackluster opening weekend, raking in just a little over $8 million at the box office. This figure is a far cry from the franchise’s glory days and reflects the waning interest in the series.
The film’s performance during its Thursday previews was particularly telling. Grossing a mere $750,000, Expend4bles is lagging well behind even its “worst” predecessor, The Expendables 3, which managed to pull in $875,000 back in 2014. And if we recall, that installment didn’t exactly set the box office on fire by the end of its run.
While the Expendables series has historically found a more receptive audience overseas, the current trajectory suggests that even international fans might be giving this one a miss. The film’s lukewarm reception is further underscored by its underwhelming 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics haven’t been kind either, with some labeling it the “worst” entry in the franchise.
The Expendables franchise, fronted by Sylvester Stallone, began as a nostalgic nod to veteran action stars. The first film, released in 2010, was a commercial success, grossing $103 million domestically and a whopping $268 million worldwide.
Its sequel, The Expendables 2, followed suit with impressive figures, grossing $85 million domestically and $314 million worldwide. However, by the time The Expendables 3 rolled around in 2014, the numbers began to dip, and the film’s leak on piracy websites didn’t help its cause.
The global performance of Expendables 4 remains to be seen, but its current standing in China is at a modest $20.8 million. With an estimated production budget of $100 million, the film’s performance is crucial for Lionsgate, especially given director Scott Waugh’s comments on a sequel. The previous installment, Expendables 3, garnered a significant portion of its earnings from international markets, accounting for 81% of its $214.7 million total.
In a surprising twist, The Nun: Chapter Two (also known as The Nun II) has outperformed Expend4bles and topped the weekend chart for the third consecutive time. The horror sequel has raked in over $8.5 million, pushing its global box office past the $200 million mark. Other films in the box office race include A Haunting in Venice, which brought in $6.3 million in its second weekend, and Equalizer 3, which hauled in $4.7 million in its fourth weekend.
The question now on everyone’s mind is: Why did Lionsgate greenlight Expendables 4 given the diminishing returns of the franchise? With its massive budget, the film’s current performance is nothing short of disastrous. Only time will tell if Expend4bles can salvage its reputation in the coming weeks or if this marks the end of an era for the action franchise.
