Summary
- Expend4bles' poor reception and low box office earnings may hinder the series' continuation.
- John Wick 4's success and satisfying ending make a 5th installment less necessary — the complete opposite problem of The Expendables.
- Other action franchises are more deserving of sequels, and The Expendables 5 just doesn't feel like a good move at this point.
The Expendables 5 has the opposite problem of another big-budget ensemble action movie franchise. Put simply, TheExpendables 4 — stylized as Expend4bles — was so poorly received that audiences might not want a fifth entry in the series at all. The fourth entry in the Sylvester Stallone-led action series used its $100 million budget to reinvent itself, but refused to commit to any actual change. Initially, the film kills off Stallone's Barney Ross, making way for Jason Statham's Lee Christmas to lead the elite mercenaries. Unfortunately, Expend4bles made an embarrassing $51.1 million at the box office.
For most action franchises, a box-office bomb of that magnitude would be a nail in the coffin, but the Jason Statham-led $840 million Expendables franchise might weather the storm. The series has always paid homage to action stars of the past, all while going in on the blockbuster feeling of '80s action flicks. Something about that formula really resonates with genre fans, which is why the original 2010 film spawned so many sequels. However, Expend4bles was so bad that it may have officially jeopardized the series — which is the exact opposite problem of another action franchise.
The Expendables 5 Has The Opposite Problem From John Wick 5
John Wick: Chapter 4 Was So Good That Another Movie Isn't Needed
John Wick: Chapter 4
R
Thriller
Crime
Action
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Following the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum, John Wick Chapter 4 will see the titular character battle against some of his most dangerous foes yet. With a bounty on his head that continues to skyrocket, John decides to take the fight to the High Table on a global scale and battles across areas like Osaka and Paris to wipe out some of the strongest players in the underworld.
- Director
- Chad Stahelski
- Release Date
- March 24, 2023
- Studio(s)
- Lionsgate
- Writers
- Shay Hatten , Michael Finch
- Cast
- Hiroyuki Sanada , Clancy Brown , Scott Adkins , Keanu Reeves , Ian McShane , Bill Skarsgard , Laurence Fishburne , Rina Sawayama , Donnie Yen , Lance Reddick , Shamier Anderson
- Runtime
- 169 minutes
- Franchise(s)
- John Wick
- prequel(s)
- John Wick , John Wick: Chapter 2 , John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
While The Expendables peaked with its sophom*ore outing, the John Wick franchise has gotten better with each new film in the series. The original John Wick (2014) was praised for its unique criminal underworld lore, outstanding performances, and impressively choreographed fight sequences. Both thrilling and stylish, John Wick marked a career comeback of sorts for star Keanu Reeves. The cult sleeper hit went on to gross $86 million and spawn three more mainline movies. The latest, John Wick: Chapter 4, is not only the most highly reviewed entry, but the most commercially successful, with a $440.1 million draw.
...The Expendables 4 was such a bomb that audiences no longer want another entry.
When compared to The Expendables, the John Wick franchise is in a completely opposite place. John Wick 4's ending was so good — so satisfying and fitting — that it's hard to really want another installment. Not to mention, the film's titular character was killed off, paving the way for spinoff films and TV shows to push the John Wick franchise forward. Story-wise, John Wick 5 isn't necessary, but the series' box office draw could prove too alluring for studio execs. On the other hand, The Expendables 4 was such a bomb that audiences no longer want another entry.
Related
Lionsgate May Have Found Its True John Wick Replacement In An Unexpected Place
The Hindi-language action film Kill is already earning rave reviews and is poised for a Western remake, setting it up as the true heir to John Wick.
1
Should The Expendables 5 Happen After The Four Movie’s Disappointment?
Other Ensemble Action Franchises Are More Interesting Than The Expendables
In some ways, The Expendables and John Wick franchises have always mirrored each other. Although John Wick is superior when measured by nearly any and every metric, the action movie series definitely represent distinct approaches to the genre. Outside these two massive franchises, however, there are other action series worthy of sequels. Even Jason Statham's Expendables replacement series or flagships like Fast & Furious feel more deserving in the wake of the flop that is Expend4bles. At this point, The Expendables 5 shouldn't happen, as superior action flicks prove that the ensemble series is running on fumes.
Expend4bles
Thriller
Action
Adventure
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
The Expendables 4 is the fourth entry in the action legacy-hero franchise, bringing together famous action-hero stars from the past and present to battle international terrorist threats. This fourth entry sees the mercenary group dragged into a catastrophic nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia, forcing them to intervene.
- Director
- Scott Waugh
- Release Date
- September 22, 2023
- Studio(s)
- Millennium Media , Campbell Grobman Films
- Distributor(s)
- Lionsgate
- Writers
- Spenser Cohen , John Joseph Connolly , Max Adams
- Cast
- Dolph Lundgren , Randy Couture , Eddie Hall , Sylvester Stallone , Levy Tran , Iko Uwais , tony jaa , Sheila Shah , Jacob Scipio , Jason Statham , Andy Garcia , Megan Fox , 50 Cent
- Runtime
- 103 Minutes
- Franchise(s)
- The Expendables
- prequel(s)
- The Expendables , The Expendables 2 , The Expendables 3
- Budget
- $100 million
- Movies
- Expendables 5
- The Expendables - Franchise
Your changes have been saved
Email Is sent
Please verify your email address.
You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.
Manage Your List
Follow
Followed
Follow with Notifications
Follow
Unfollow
