The Expendables franchise just hit a record, but not the kind it would’ve hoped for. Expend4bles blew up, but not in the cool way – the latest installment in the action-packed series has officially become the black sheep of the family, scoring the lowest Rotten Tomatoes rating in the franchise’s history.
Released in theaters worldwide yesterday, Expend4bles managed to scrape together a meager 16% rating from 79 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. To put that in perspective, its predecessor, Expendables 3, garnered a 31% rating, while the first and second films in the series fared better, with ratings of 41% and 67%, respectively – though clearly, none of these are Oscar bait.
Like all films in the franchise, Expend4bles boasts a star-studded cast, with regulars like Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture. Newcomers Megan Fox and rapper 50 Cent also joined the action-packed ensemble.
The plot? Stallone’s Barney Ross is back, leading his team on another world-saving mission, this time against a mercenary after nuclear warheads. Sounds like a typical day in the Expendables universe, right? Critics, however, weren’t impressed. Check out this round-up of Expend4bles reviews:
- RogerEbert – 1/4
- IndieWire – C
- The Guardian – 2/5
- IGN – 3/10
- Punch Drunk Critics – 2/5
- Empire Magazine – 2/5
- Slash Film – 3/10
Despite the franchise’s dwindling critical acclaim, action fans have always had a soft spot for the Expendables series. The blend of nostalgia, action, and humor has made it a guilty pleasure for many. Yet, with Expend4bles setting this new low, we can’t help but wonder if it’s time for these action heroes to put on safeties permanently.
In a twist that is frankly more surprising than the film’s plot, Stallone has hinted that this might be his last rodeo with the Expendables. In a video recorded on set in 2021, Stallone stated, “It’s time to be moving on. This will be my last day.” He expressed his desire to pass the baton to Jason Statham, but with ratings like these, will there even be a baton to pass?
Every cinephile knows that franchises come and go. Some age like fine wine, while others, like milk. Expend4bles might have missed the mark this time, but who knows? Maybe the next installment (if it ever happens) will remind fans why they fell in love with the old-but-gold action stars in the first place. Until then, let’s hope our heroes find a more fitting farewell.
