TG The Expendabelles is Dead!

THR sat down with Jeffrey Greenstein, the new boss of Millennium Films and he confirms that The Expendabelles is dead.

THR: Millennium seems to be making a lot more films with female leads: Red Sonja, Till Death, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Is this a strategic shift for you?

JG: I don’t think it’s necessarily a shift, at least from our perspective. Maybe it’s more that the rest of the world is now thinking about other stories to tell. With The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Salma’s character was just so much fun, it made sense to build the second film around her.

We also like working with the same people, so we did Till Death with Megan and she’s in the new Expendables. It’s really just about working with talented people. But I will say something: We’d been trying to develop The Expendabelles, a female version of The Expendables, but my problem with that project was always trying to find a way to justify why we’d have a woman team. Instead of trying to explain that, why not just have women on the regular team and [they’re] badass? Instead of having to explain why a women character got there and all that, you just do what you’d do with a man: show them kicking ass.

THR: What role does Avi play as chairman?

JG: He’s still involved. He’s still got projects, like The Expendables, that he created, that still heavily have his imprint. He loves the business. We talk every day, and talk through everything. Some of the projects are more mine, some more his. He still brings things to the table. It’s a good relationship.

THR: When it comes to the really big films, — The Expendables, Red Sonja — how much has the market changed given that you no longer have the Chinese and Russian presale market?

JG: It’s a change, but the business is cyclical. I remember when Italy and Spain were huge markets, and then Italy and Spain died. Back in 2010, there was no theatrical market in China. We don’t hang our hat on any specific territory. We handle all the sales and distribution ourselves. We have our finger on the pulse, we’re constantly monitoring where these things are.

The same goes on the production side. At the moment we’ve got a situation where interest rates are rising, because of the war in Ukraine. You’ve got rising construction costs, increased energy and gasoline costs. Higher costs for paint, materials. But you’ve got to roll with the punches and figure out how to make the movie in the best way possible way. At the end of the day, I just love making movies and I’m going to continue doing so.

THR: Do these market changes mean you’ll be making different types of movies? Or even series, which is a growing market but not one Millennium has been involved in up till now.

JG: Our focus is on making the bigger films but also segueing into television with some of our IP as well. We control the brands for Hitman’s Bodyguard, Rambo, Hellboy, Expendables, et cetera. And we’re exploring how to build those brand and continue to deliver content for their core audiences and fans across all media, whether that’s location-based entertainment, or gaming, or whatever.

THR: So is there going to be an Expendables theme park in Sofia?

JG: We’re exploring all avenues and we have some plans that we’re working on. I can disclose more. But there’s a lot of fun to be had, right and delivering content in all kinds of ways to fans globally.

20 facts you might not know about 'The Expendables'

It started as a different project 

Dave Callaham has found screenwriting success in recent years, getting writing credits on films like Shang-Chi and Wonder Woman 1984. In 2005, though, he was working on a movie about mercenaries called Barrow. He had a deal with Warner Bros. and turned his script into them. After this, he rewrote Barrow a couple of times and ended up with "story by" and co-screenwriting credit.

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Callaham’s script was found by the creative force behind 'The Expendables'
When he saw Callaham's script for Barrow , Sylvester Stallone was looking to make an ensemble action movie in 2006. Sly took a liking to Barrow and said he used it as a “starting point” for The Expendables. Stallone did a lot of rewrites (he has co-writing credit) and directed and starred in the film. It was a passion project for him.

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It was a return for a former action star

Dolph Lundgren was once an action star and also Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. However, he had fallen by the wayside on the movie front. Stallone cast his former costar in The Expendables, making it Lundgren’s first theatrical movie since Johnny Mnemonic in 1995.

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One actor who was approached appeared in the sequel

In his quest to get every notable action star possible in The Expendables, Stallone went to Jean-Claude Van Damme and asked him to be in the movie. Van Damme did not like the character he was offered. Stallone was able to amend things because the Belgian actor played the main villain in The Expendables 2.

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Another actor turned town a cameo as well

Stallone also couldn’t get Steven Seagal to make a cameo appearance. The martial artist and actor (though “actor” feels a little bit like a stretch when Seagal is concerned) turned it down because he did not want to work with producer Avi Lerner.

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It took a few tries to cast one role
For the (ludicrously named) character of Hale Caesar, Stallone wanted his Demolition Man costar Wesley Snipes. This was at the peak of Snipes’ tax problems, so he had to decline. The part was rewritten for Forest Whitaker, but Whitaker had a scheduling conflict. 50 Cent was next, but he didn’t play the role either. Ultimately, Terry Crews got the part of Hale Caesar.

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Another 'Demolition Man' actor was never going to be in it
There were rumors that Stallone would get Sandra Bullock to have a cameo in The Expendables. She was also in Demotion Man at the beginning of her career. This proved to be an unfounded assertion. Bullock said she didn’t even know the movie existed when asked about it.

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Some big names were considered for one part
Stallone set his goals high to cast the role of James Munroe. He also seemed to have mob movies on his mind, given that the director reportedly considered Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Al Pacino. Ultimately, the part went to Eric Roberts, who had been in The Specialist with Stallone.

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One actor swapped cameo roles
Sly wanted Arnold Schwarzenegger for the role of Mr. Church, the man who hired the Expendables. Arnold did not take the role but instead had another cameo. Schwarzenegger swapped into the role of mercenary Trench Mauser.

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Another actor turned down Mr. Church before the role was cast
When Schwarzenegger opted for a different cameo, Stallone went to Kurt Russell to play Mr. Church. Alas, his Tango & Cash costar was not interested. In the end, it was Bruce Willis who ended up with the uncredited cameo as Mr. Church.

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It was the first film for three restaurateurs
Sure, Schwarzenegger and Willis only have cameos, but this movie was still notable. Those two and Stallone were all investors in Planet Hollywood and were the faces of the celebrity-indebted restaurant franchise early on. Despite being business partners, The Expendables was the first movie all three Planet Hollywood investors were in together.

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Stallone got some casting help
Much of The Expendables was shot in Brazil, and Stallone needed some locals to play soldiers. The director turned to MMA fighters Anderson Silva, Rogerio Nogueira, and Antonio Nogueira. Stallone figured that they might know some guys who could play convincing soldiers. Silva and the Nogueiras indeed helped and got cameos themselves.

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Mickey Rourke was not around much
When The Expendables was filming, Rourke was also playing the villain in Iron Man 2. Rourke had to fly in and was only available for 48 hours to film The Expendables. However, the actor wanted to do it because when Rourke was on a real downswing in his career, Stallone had gotten him cast in Get Carter.

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Stallone was put through the wringer

While filming The Expendables, Stallone suffered a broken tooth, an ankle injury, and a fractured bone in his neck. He also had to deal with bronchitis and shingles. The actor could blame the director for putting him through so much, but, well, he was the director.

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Two songs written for the film didn’t make the cut
Stallone went to Sully Erna, the frontman of Godsmack, to get him to write a song for the film. Erna plays an unfinished song called “Sinners Prayer” for Stallone, who liked it and wanted it for the movie. Then, Stallone cut the scene he was going to use it for from the film, and the song was removed from both the movie and soundtrack. The band Shinedown was also asked to record a new song for the film, which they did. While it was used in one of the trailers, it did not make the film or soundtrack.

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It was a big hit
Fans of ‘80s and ‘90s action films likely came out in droves to see The Expendables. The movie debuted with $34.8 million at the domestic box office, making it the No. 1 film of the weekend. It would repeat that feat in its second week. All in all, The Expendables made $103.1 million domestically and $274.5 million worldwide.

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A director’s cut was released on TV
Over Memorial Day weekend in 2011, the network Epix premiered the director’s cut of The Expendables. This version featured 11 more minutes of footage. Notably, it brought back the Shinedown song and “Sinners Prayer,” which played over the opening credits.

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There have been two sequels
The Expendables 2 — featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme! — hit theaters in 2012. It’s the best-reviewed film in the series and also made $315 million worldwide. However, they may have flown too close to the sun. The Expendables 3 was released in 2014, got bad reviews, and only made $39 million domestically, though the international box office rescued it from being a disaster. It made $214.7 million worldwide.

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Two spinoffs were nixed
In 2012, after the success of The Expendables 2, a distaff take on the serious was announced. The film was given the interminable working title of “The ExpendaBelles.” It never came to fruition, though. A TV series based on the films was announced, but it fell by the wayside. In 2021, talk of the TV show picked back up, but nothing has happened yet.

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A fourth film is on the way
After the relative failure of The Expendables 3, the franchise laid fallow for a bit. Nothing stays dead in Hollywood, though. The Expendables 4 is scheduled to be released in September 2023. 50 Cent is in the cast this time.

EX4 gets release date!

It's official! According to DiscussingFilm THE EXPENDABLES 4 will be released in theaters on September 22, 2023. That's right! So almost another year before our favourite mercenaries will be back in action! That's two years after filming and nine years after THE EXPENDABLES 3 hit the cinemas!

So let's start counting the days! 374 as of now...

Sly says he's done with THE EXPENDABLES!

It seems as if THE EXPENDABLES 4 really is Sylvester Stallone's swan song as Barney Ross in the EX franchise. On the StalloneZone fan forum he referred to both RAMBO and THE EXPENDABLES when asked (by me actually) if there was a chance of a sixth Rambo film:

"I HAVE ZERO OWNERSHIP PARTICIPATION IN BOTH RAMBO AND EXPENDABLES WHICH IS FINE... LET THEM CARRY ON WE HAVE NEW THINGS TO EXPLORE , FOLKS"

"sorry time to say good bye since ex1 I have had 9 operations and though i will never be painfree i am proud to have helped gotten the action genre going and time to pass the deal..."

So there you have it by the man himself. IF there'll be an EX5 it will be without our favourite mercenary Barney Ross! So let's enjoy his last rodeo in the upcoming EX4. And what a ride it was since 2010!

Thank you, Sly!

Preparing for EX4

In the weeks ahead before watching a highly anticipated movie at the cinema an old tradition of mine is watching the other films of the series (if it's a sequel) and some thematically similar movies at home.

Before another theatrical ROCKY or CREED it would be the first eight ROCKYs/CREEDs and some other boxing movies like GLADIATOR (1992) with Cuba Gooding Jr., James Marshall and Brian Dennehy, or TYSON (1995) with Michael Jai White.

Another RAMBO comes out? The stack of films I watch before are all the other RAMBOs of course, the MISSING IN ACTION trilogy with action icon Chuck Norris, and RED SCORPION (1989) with Dolph Lundgren.

Now we're waiting for the arrival of THE EXPENDABLES 4. So I thought I'd present you the films I'll watch and would recommend before seeing EX4 on the big screen. Maybe there's a film that you haven't got on your list yet.

1. THE WILD GEESE (1977)

I start with a classic. THE WILD GEESE are THE EXPENDABLES of the 70s. Or are THE EXPENDABLES the WILD GEESE of the 2010s? Either way it's a great movie with an awesome cast including Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris and Hardy Krüger. The story revolves around a group of highly decorated ex-soldiers who team up for an undercover mission in Africa. Great action, fantastic production design, beautifully shot in Africa. A must-see!

2. CODENAME: WILDGEESE (1984)

Not an official sequel to the classic mentioned above (that would be the underwhelming WILD GEESE 2 from 1985) but a European production about a group of mercenaries doing... mercenary stuff.  It's more of a B-movie but it is a lot of fun with cool locations and a pretty good cast including Lewis Collins (from the classic TV series THE PROFESSIONALS), Donald Pleasance, Ernest Borgnine and Klaus Kinski as the crazy villain. 

3. COBRA MISSION (1986)

Here we have another group of ex-soldiers teaming up for some covert mission that goes wrong. What do they do? Shooting their way out of the jungle! And to be honest, that's all I need. It's a pretty good movie with a fairly bleak ending. Definitely worth a watch!

4. MEN OF WAR (1994)

One of Dolph Lundgren's best films this highly overlooked gem offers Dolph Lundgren at his best. Great action, high production values, and a team of mercenaries whose different moral values lead them to... Watch it! Highly recommended!

5. THE DELTA FORCE (1986)

This classic from Cannon Films is 80s action at its best with Chuck at the height of his success. The first half of the movie is a pretty serious thriller about the highjacking of TWA flight 847 by terrorists in 1985. The second half is action, action, and... action!

6. DELTA FORCE 2 (1990)

The sequel to THE DELTA FORCE is less a film involving a team than a Chuck Norris extravaganza. But hey, why do you need a team if you have one Chuck Norris! And Billy Drago is the perfect villain for this! I like it even more than the first!

7. TEARS OF THE SUN (2003)

One of Bruce Willis' best movies tells the story of a US Navy SEAL team trying to rescue an American doctor (played by Monica Bellucci) before the approaching rebels reach her hospital in the jungle. Dramatic, emotional, gripping, intense action. This film has it all! 

Am I missing a movie? Or two? Or three? Of course! 

7./8./9. THE EXPENDABLES Trilogy (2010/2012/2014)

The highlight will be watching EX1, EX2 and EX3. EX2 is my personal favourite but I love 'em all. All for different reasons. 

So fire up those DVD and Blu-ray players, grab a bag of crisps, a cold beer and prepare for our favourite mercenaries blowing things up for the (maybe) final time!

Lundgren Talks EX4 Story: Nuclear War USA Vs. Russia

 

Sly Posts Old EX4 Video With Statham

Sly has posted an old video from the set of The Expendables 4 with Statham, saying that he's "leaving" the set to his co-star.

Sly teases Expendables 4 co-star Statham about "leaving," saying that the actor will be on his own. Statham feigns sadness, saying, "It's going to be a very lonely set, now he's leaving us. It's called a mutiny. It's called abandonment." Stallone replies, saying that Statham is "more than capable there, captain," implying that he's leaving the actor in charge of the group as he makes his exit. Check out the full exchange below:

First EX4 teaser poster!

At CinemaCon the first teaser poster for EX4 was unveiled!

EX4 VFX By Nu Boyana Portugal

Nothing major...Nu Boyana Portugal was looking for VFX compositors to finish off EX4 just a couple of months ago. That tells us that the visual effects are done in Portugal by the studio and not long ago the movie was in post production and it probably still is. A release in August as it's been the tradition of the franchise is very unlikely at this point. We are more and more looking at a late release in the year if everything goes well or maybe even in January 2023 where smaller budget action movies are usually slotted in and perform rather well.

Screenshots by Queen Velveteen

Apparently Queen Velveteen is also in EX4 and posted these on her IG. Says that “Expendables 4 was one of her fav shoots so far and it’s coming to our screens later on in the year!”

EX4 Coming Later This Year

Nicole Andrews posted a couple of her photos taken on set of EX4. She claims that EX4 is “ Coming out late this year.”

The Hot Expendable: Levy Tran

Lundgren Says Budget Twice As Big

PopCulture.com recently spoke to Dolph Lundgren who revealed a few extra details about EX4. His statement about the budget is a bit questionable given the quality of some of the set photos we’ve seen so far but he was closer to it so it could be true. Here’s what he had to say:

Lundgren: Well, it's definitely bigger. I mean, the budget is probably at least twice what the last one was, I think. It's a special franchise, because a lot of these action franchises today are based on superheroes, and they're for young viewers. So there's no blood. Nobody gets killed. People get banished to another universe.

But Expendables is old school. Unfortunately, people get blown up, and shot, and there's real fights and real stunts. So I think with that type of approach, plus the fact we've got... You know, Megan Fox is in it, 50 Cent is in it. Him and I actually have a lot of scenes together. Andy Garcia. There's some new blood, and I think there's a certain excitement to it, testosterone-driven excitement that, hopefully, people will want to see.

It is special because you have all of these different personalities on set. Usually, in a big movie, you may have three or four leads. Even in Aquaman, you got four, maybe, main characters, but here you have half a dozen, or almost 10. In some of them, there's been 10 people. ... Anywhere you turn, there's somebody famous. So it's exciting, as an actor. That's what makes a franchise special. For me, I'm friends with Jason and Stallone, and I got to know, like I said, 50, and those other people, and they're all good people. You know, it's like an old-school movie, where you do a lot of your own stunts, and you fire full blanks on set. There's not that much CGI in that picture.

The Evolution - Reboot

Expendables 4 Taking So Long To Happen Can Make It Even Better

The Expendables 4 is taking a long time to happen, arriving close to a decade after the last entry in the series, but this has the potential to make it even better. Following years of false starts and development hell, The Expendables 4 finally entered production in 2021. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture are set to return, while The Expendables 4 will also add 50 Cent, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, and Iko Uwais to its roster. A release date hasn't been set yet, but depending on the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the general release calendar, The Expendables 4 could hit theaters later in 2022.

The Expendables franchise began with the 2010 original, which sold itself as the gathering of action heroes audiences had long been waiting for. The success of The Expendables led to its 2012 sequel The Expendables 2, which was an even bigger box office hit and widely regarded as the best of the franchise. Unfortunately, The Expendables 3 was unable to replicate the same level of success. This led to The Expendables taking a long break with rumors of a fourth installment swirling but never bearing fruit until The Expendables 4 finally got rolling.

While it's been eight years since The Expendables' last mission, the long gap since The Expendables 3 could be a blessing in disguise. Big franchises sometimes lose energy to such an extent that closing the book might seem like the wisest course of action. In other cases, it might simply be best to let the dust settle for a while after an underperformance to make a comeback possible. Here's why The Expendables 4 could prove to be an example of the latter.

The Franchise Needed A Break After The Expendables 3

After the success of the first two Expendables movies, The Expendables 3 was a significant downturn. Commercially, The Expendables 3 pulled in $214.7 million, the lowest-grossing of the three to date with just $39.3 million from North America. The film's misguided PG-13 rating has been pointed to as the main culprit for the failings of The Expendables 3. While that's certainly a factor after the first two R-rated installments, the movie's overall reception did the series no favors either.

The Expendables 3 is generally regarded as the weakest movie in the franchise with an ensemble that had grown much too large. The film's failure understandably slowed all progress on continuing the franchise, but this ended up being for the best. After such a steep drop, giving it a break for a few years while taking the time to consider what the best revival strategy could be was the best way for it to return. The long gap also allowed The Expendables 4 to give itself a new hook.

The Expendables 4 Can Be A Legacy Sequel Now

As The Expendables 4 entered production, there was much speculation that the movie would be Stallone's last in the series. This was partially fueled by the rumored title The Expendables: A Christmas Story, referencing Jason Statham's character Lee Christmas. Stallone eventually confirmed that The Expendables 4 is Barney Ross' last ride, also stating that he's "ready to pass the baton to Jason." By passing the reins from Barney Ross to Lee Christmas, The Expendables 4 is now much more than simply the belated fourth chapter of the series.

Had The Expendables 4 simply been made as the next movie in the series, it would have a much steeper hill to climb after the failure of The Expendables 3. The series' decline needed to incentivize audiences to return, and the newly reinstated R-rating of The Expendables 4 is a good start on that front. Being marketed as a torch-passing legacy sequel gives The Expendables 4 a whole new gimmick. With the film marking the fourth appearance of Barney Ross, he's become one of Sylvester Stallone's most enduring characters. The idea of Barney finally retiring alongside the general nostalgic component of The Expendables makes The Expendables 4 a unique entry in the series. However, aside from Lee succeeding him, a few of the new members of the cast are some of its biggest drawing points.

Tony Jaa & Iko Uwais Have Upped The Anticipation For The Expendables 4

The entire basis of The Expendables has always been bringing together an action star ensemble every time. By enlisting Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais, The Expendables 4 has already driven anticipation to new levels. Not only are both incredible martial artists, each has headlined some of the best action movies ever made. Jaa broke out with Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong, while Uwais led The Raid movies and other Indonesia action hits like Headshot. Both have also since achieved mainstream popularity in the West, as well.

After his rise as a martial artist in Thailand, Tony Jaa made the transition to Hollywood with action movies like Skin Trade, Furious 7, and Jiu Jitsu. Uwais also established a Western presence with Beyond Skyline and the Netflix series Wu Assassins, and both were also key players in the action ensemble Triple Threat. With Jaa and Uwais both known and acclaimed action stars around the world, their presence in The Expendables 4 makes the movie a much bigger deal. Furthermore, as the villain of the sequel, Uwais also adds a whole new element to the series in likely being its most hands-on antagonist. Set photos show Jason Statham in a confrontation with Uwais' character, corroborating the notion of the kind of Expendables 4 villain Iko Uwais will be. With the possibility of Jaa and Uwais also facing off in The Expendables 4, audiences have a lot to draw them back to the franchise after its long hibernation.

The irony of the long wait for the return of The Expendables is that it's arguably put the franchise back in the very position it began with. Namely, that's riding a wave of nostalgia for action movie glory days. The Expendables 4 has a lot going for it with the legacy element of Stallone handing the series off to Statham and the boarding of Jaa and Uwais. Even with these assets, The Expendables 4 might've still faced quite a challenge in re-energizing the series if it had come just two or three years after The Expendables 3. With several years worth of breathing room on its side, The Expendables 4 can far more vigorously capitalizeon what it brings to the franchise.

BY BRAD CURRAN

Couture on Set

A photo of Couture on set with the movie’s stunt coordinator Rok Cvetkov.

Statham on Set

A photo of Statham on set taken by a stunt performer when shooting in Greece.

John Wick 4 vs. Expendables 4: Which Upcoming Action Movie Will Be Better?

John Wick 4 and The Expendables 4 are poised to be two of the biggest entries into the action genre in the near future. But which one will be better?

The upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4 and The Expendables 4 are poised to be two of the biggest entries into the action movie genre arriving in the near future. The fourth installments of both franchises are packed with icons from popular action and martial arts films. With the two on the horizon, it’s worth wondering which theatrical action flick will top the other – both critically and commercially.

Considering that there hasn’t been an Expendables movie since 2014, some believed that Sylvester Stallone’s action ensemble franchise died with the third film’s failure. Though there was talk of a fourth film for quite a while, it took years before official plans began to take shape. Confirmed for a 2022 release, The Expendables 4 will reunite Barney Ross’ elite squad of trained killers. In addition to a returning cast that boasts Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Jason Statham, The Expendables 4 has some interesting new additions, such as 50 Cent, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, and Megan Fox.

In contrast to The Expendables, the John Wick franchise hasn’t slowed down. Having only kicked off in 2014, the series of revenge thrillers starring Keanu Reeves is already on its fourth chapter and is continuing to pick up steam. Previously set for a 2022 release, John Wick 4 was delayed to 2023. But while 2022 won’t ultimately feature an exciting box office battle between the two action giants, there’s still a debate to be had over which movie will be a bigger hit for the genre. Here’s how John Wick Chapter 4 and The Expendables 4 compare to each other, and which one has a better chance of surpassing the other. 

John Wick 4 & Expendables 4 Are Two Of The Biggest Upcoming Action Movies

The casts that have been assembled for their respective fourth installments show that they’re two of the most important upcoming action movies. In the case of The Expendables 4, stars as big as Stallone and Statham obviously need no introduction. Their presence alone is a boon to the movie’s potential. The movie doesn’t appear to be bringing back Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, or Terry Crews, but having mainstays like Lundgren and Couture around should help ensure that it carries over its fanbase from the first three movies. Uwais and Jaa may not have the same level of name recognition, but being fan-favorite martial arts stars could widen its audience. 50 Cent can contribute in that regard as well.

The Expendables of course still has a reputation as the franchise with the most action icons, but the John Wick movies are demonstrating a capability to compete in the area of star power. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum delighted martial arts fans by featuring Mark Dacascos and Scott Adkins in major roles. And thanks to appearances from Lawrence Fishburne and Halle Berry, John Wick 3 was able to please mainstream audiences at the same time. With Donnie Yen appearing in John Wick: Chapter 4, the franchise is in a position to repeat (and potentially expand on) the success of that formula. After starring in the Ip Man movies, Yen is one of the most popular actors of the current generation of kung fu movies. In fact, he’s emerged as a successor of sorts to Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who dominated the Hong Kong action movie scene in the 1990s and 2000s. Adding to that, recent roles in movies like Mulan and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story have allowed the actor to earn even greater stardom over the last few years. Yen’s inclusion, combined with the popularity of the first three movies (not to mention Keanu Reeves himself), is assured to bring a great deal of international attention to John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2023.  

John Wick 4 vs Expendables 4: Which Action Movie Will Be Better?

In terms of critic reviews and the reactions of general audiences, John Wick has certainly been a step up from The Expendables. Looking at where both franchises are now, there’s a sense that John Wick: Chapter 4 holds an advantage over The Expendables 4 when it comes to which one will be better quality-wise. Parabellum didn’t go over quite as well as the first two movies, but the franchise has consistently delivered solid stories packed with interesting characters, thrilling action sequences, and a style that has yet to go stale with audiences. The sheer number of John Wick clones that studios have been making signifies just how well its formula works. And the notion that the franchise has been consistent is a great sign for its future. All things considered, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the favorite to win in this respect. That being said, The Expendables 4 has an opportunity to really turn some heads. The last Expendables movie disappointed on several levels, but if the latest film fixes what went wrong before it could turn into a fun, explosive ride driven by some of the best names in the genre. It’s possible that by focusing on a smaller cast of actors (ala John Wick), The Expendables 4 can create some truly memorable moments for Stallone’s Ross and the rest of its characters.

John Wick 4 vs Expendables 4 Box Office: Which Will Make More Money?

The better movie won’t necessarily be the most profitable of the two. Which of the two will perform the best at the global box office? To properly analyze how the situation will play out, it’s important to take note of how both franchises have fared financially. As a whole, The Expendables series has earned a much bigger profit. Encompassing all three movies, The Expendables has a net gross of $804 million, whereas John Wick has brought in only $587 million. However, there are indications that the gap between them may narrow significantly once their fourth chapters have been released.

The interest in Stallone’s ensemble franchise seemingly tapered off with Expendables 3, which only grossed a meager $214 million. John Wick, on the other hand, has been heading in the opposite direction. Its third movie vastly outperformed both of its predecessors. So far, the box office value of the John Wick franchise has grown tremendously since the first film hit theaters in 2014. If John Wick: Chapter 4 continues the trend (which feels like a very strong possibility at this point), it should come out ahead of The Expendables 4. Based on what happened with The Expendables 3, a complete turnaround will be needed for The Expendables 4 to beat John Wick: Chapter 4 at the box office.

By Nicholas Raymond