Summary
The Expendables 5has the opposite problem of another big-budget ensemble action movie franchise. Put simply,TheExpendables 4— stylized asExpend4bles— 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,Expend4blesmade 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 theJason Statham-led $840 millionExpendablesfranchisemight 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,Expend4bleswas so bad that it may have officially jeopardized the series— which is the exact opposite problem of another action franchise.
John Wick: Chapter 4 Was So Good That Another Movie Isn’t Needed
John Wick: Chapter 4
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.
WhileThe Expendablespeaked with its sophomore outing, theJohn Wickfranchisehas gotten better with each new film in the series. The originalJohn Wick(2014) was praised for its unique criminal underworld lore, outstanding performances, and impressively choreographed fight sequences. Both thrilling and stylish,John Wickmarked 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 4was such a bomb that audiences no longer want another entry.
When compared toThe Expendables, theJohn Wickfranchise is in a completely opposite place.John Wick 4’s endingwas 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 theJohn Wickfranchise forward. Story-wise,John Wick 5isn’t necessary, but the series' box office draw could prove too alluringfor studio execs. On the other hand,The Expendables 4was such a bomb that audiences no longer want another entry.
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.
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 ExpendablesandJohn Wickfranchises have always mirrored each other. AlthoughJohn Wickis 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. EvenJason Statham’sExpendablesreplacement seriesor flagships likeFast & Furiousfeel more deserving in the wake of the flop that isExpend4bles. At this point,The Expendables 5shouldn’t happen, as superior action flicks prove that the ensemble series is running on fumes.
Expend4bles
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.
