‘Expend4bles’ Continues Franchise’s Downward Spiral with Disappointing Global Box Office Debut

THE BIG PICTURE
The fourth installment of the Expendables series, titled Expend4bles, has hit a major roadblock with a lackluster reception both domestically and on the global stage. Despite boasting an ensemble of action superstars, including the indomitable Jason Statham, the film’s box office earnings have fallen significantly short of expectations, marking a downward trend for the franchise.

It appears as if the world has collectively decided that the once-beloved Expendables series has lost its charm. While it was evident over the past decade that the franchise had more appeal internationally than domestically, the recently released Expend4bles, stylized with a numeric ‘4’ in the title, is challenging that assumption, despite its diverse cast intended to captivate audiences from all corners of the globe.

The movie stumbled right out of the gate with a franchise-low opening of just $8 million at the domestic box office. It couldn’t even secure the top spot, losing out to the persistent success of “The Nun II,” which managed to rake in about $500,000 more in its third weekend. The disappointment doesn’t stop at home; Expend4bles is struggling on the global stage as well. It has garnered a mere $21 million from international territories, with a significant portion, $19 million, coming from China where it premiered a week ago. Its performance was lackluster in the U.K. and Mexico, each bringing in just under a million dollars, and it scraped by with approximately $500,000 in Italy. This adds up to a cumulative global haul of only $29 million.

For a film that reportedly carried a production cost of $100 million and marketing expenses around $20 million, this dismal financial performance is disheartening. It’s worth noting that an industry-wide strike, which is finally coming to an end after several months, might have played a role in hindering the movie’s success. The strike likely hindered the collective star power of the ensemble cast, as studios were reluctant to pay artists fair wages. Interestingly, this issue didn’t seem to affect “The Nun II” or “The Equalizer 3,” both of which have fared well in recent weeks. The franchise, once led by Sylvester Stallone who also directed the first installment, had hoped to pass the baton to Jason Statham following his massive success with “Meg 2: The Trench.”

The Franchise’s Domestic Decline

In stark contrast, the original “Expendables” film managed to pull in over $30 million in its domestic debut alone and eventually amassed $100 million domestically and over $260 million worldwide back in 2010. Just two years later, “The Expendables 2” hauled in $85 million domestically and crossed the $300 million mark globally. Even “The Expendables 3,” released in 2014 with a franchise-low domestic earnings of $39 million, still managed to exceed $200 million globally. Notably, the third installment faced the challenge of being leaked on piracy websites just before its official release.

The series began as a cheeky homage to old-school action stars and over the years, featured a who’s who of the action genre in a colorful array of supporting roles. Directed by Scott Waugh, who recently had another movie in theaters, Expend4bles also includes an impressive ensemble cast, with names like Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Megan Fox, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Iko Uwais, Tony Jaa, and Andy Garcia.

As the franchise finds itself at a critical juncture, it remains to be seen whether it can regain its former glory or if audiences have indeed decided that the joke is over for the Expendables series. Stay tuned to FilmSweep for further updates on this cinematic rollercoaster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Expend4bles Box Office Performance

More about Expend4bles Box Office Performance

• Expendables Franchise
• Box Office Mojo
• Jason Statham
• The Nun II
• The Equalizer 3
• Industry-Wide Strike Impact
• Meg 2: The Trench
• Scott Waugh
• Dolph Lundgren
• Megan Fox
• Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
• Iko Uwais
• Tony Jaa
• Andy Garcia