Expendables 4 Is Setting The Wrong Kind Of Record For Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone’s newest movie, The Expendables 4, just released to theaters, and the stats are not looking good. The latest offering from Lionsgate and Millennium drew in $3.2 million in opening-day grosses, including $750,000 from preview tickets. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this is a record-breaking low for The Expendables franchise.
With an anemic opening day, Expendables 4 is on pace for the worst opening in franchise history and one of the lowest in Sylvester Stallone’s career.
Boasting an eye-watering budget of $100 million, The Expendables 4 had set its sights on a grand opening weekend, aiming for a robust $15 million to $17 million in box office earnings. However, the early returns tell a different story. With these underwhelming numbers, industry insiders now anticipate an opening weekend total of around $8 million, putting the film in the perilous position of being potentially outperformed by rival releases, such as The Nun II.
For devoted fans of the franchise, the return of iconic stars like Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham, joined by familiar faces Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture, promised a nostalgic reunion. The official synopsis of The Expendables 4 hinted at an infusion of fresh talent, with new team members bringing fresh styles and tactics into play. Megan Fox, 50 Cent, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Gracia joined the ensemble cast to inject new life into the series.
Meanwhile, movies that aren’t Expendables 4 are doing great in the box office arena.
Nearly a decade has passed since the last The Expendables film graced the silver screen. The franchise’s initial three installments, released in 2010, 2012, and 2014, collectively hauled in an astounding $800 million at the global box office. The 2014 release, the most recent before Expendables 4, opened with a respectable $15.8 million and eventually amassed a worldwide box office tally of $214 million.
The original The Expendables stormed theaters with an impressive $34.8 million during its opening, and its sequel closely followed with $28.5 million. While there is still more time for The Expendables 4 to make a comeback and still reach its $17 million goal, it’s unlike the latest film will be able to draw in the kind of crowd it needs.
Especially considering that The Expendables 4 has not fared well in the eyes of critics. Reviews of the film have criticized it for being behind a below-expectations vehicle for Jason Statham, and many believe it’s time to bid the franchise adieu. The bitter critical reception will likely play a part in the film’s disappointing box office results.
While there is still more time for Expendables 4 to make a comeback and still reach its $17 million goal, it’s unlike the latest film will be able to draw in the kind of crowd it needs.
Meanwhile, movies that aren’t The Expendables 4 are doing great in the box office arena. New Line/Warner’s The Nun II enters its third weekend with $160 million in earnings, while Disney’s A Haunting in Venice, the third installment in Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie-inspired series, is gearing up for its second weekend.
The Expendables 4 may have promised a revival of nostalgia with its iconic action heroes and infusion of fresh talent, but its lackluster premiere and unfavorable critical reception raise questions about the future of this once-mighty franchise. While it remains too early to deliver a definitive verdict on the franchise’s fate, it appears that even a star-studded lineup can stumble in the ever-evolving landscape of cinema. Fans and industry observers will be closely watching to see if this setback is merely a temporary stumble or if it signals the end of the road for the Expendables series.
