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The Expendables

R Released Aug 13, 2010 1h 43m Action Adventure Mystery & Thriller List
42% Tomatometer 211 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Mercenary leader Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and his loyal men take on what they think is a routine assignment: a covert operation to invade the South American country of Vilena and overthrow its dictator. But, when they learn that the job will be a suicide mission, they must choose redemption or the destruction of their brotherhood.
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Critics Consensus

It makes good on the old-school action it promises, but given all the talent on display, The Expendables should hit harder.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online The Expendables is more than just your average action movie; it is the action movie of the year uniting the grittiness and soul of the old genre with the special effects and coolness of the new genre. See it. Rated: A Sep 11, 2017 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: B Feb 18, 2012 Full Review Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor The rest of the mayhem is simply ultraviolent, nonstop, and numbing. Better jokes might have helped. Rated: C- Jan 3, 2011 Full Review Bill Newcott Movies For The Rest Of Us Delivers precisely what it promises: which is to say the cinematic equivalent of a rocket fuel-laden tanker truck plowing into the mixing room of a nitroglycerine factory. Rated: 3/4 Oct 16, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The Truth In Advertising award for 2010 went to The Expendables, which employs (however unintentionally) its own title to push the fact that this is a disposable action film. Rated: 2/4 Sep 27, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Audiences expecting what the hype has promised will be sorely disappointed by the humdrum reality of what Stallone has put together. Rated: 1.5 Aug 9, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Michael P Entertaining and funny. Although, the expendables dont EXPand enough of storytelling. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Anthony F One of those movies you can just enjoy without really thinking too hard. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/22/24 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time! I enjoyed the rapport that these men have with one another throughout the movie. The sarcasm and innuendos, even during the most heart stopping, edge of your seat moments are hysterical, sometimes even heart warming. Knowing there are now 3 more following this movie (as of 2024), excites me to no end! I look forward to even more! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review Matthew D Legendary action stars have to carry this lackluster action spectacle with a bad script. Director Sylvester Stallone’s action ensemble thriller The Expendables (2010) is entirely underwhelming. For how many great action actors star here, charismatic personalities have to make up for Stallone’s dull direction, choppy editing, ugly digital cinematography, bad writing, and dull lighting. Stallone delivers some fun characters that are underwritten and a few cool fights and shootouts. However, big explosions are not enough to make a proper action movie. Writers Dave Callaham and Sylvester Stallone give each guy a few moments of heart, but underdeveloped their arcs and came up with a generic rescue mission as a pretense for action scenes. I really wish they gave Jet Li more to act as well as some cooler martial arts combat since he’s so talented. Every guy just looks so old and tired that The Expendables feels only mildly entertaining. Sylvester Stallone tries to be commanding as the mercenary group leader Barney Ross. Stallone has heart and grit, but lacks the warmth and liveliness of his best work. Jason Statham is a riot as knife wielding smartmouth Lee Christmas. Statham’s martial arts choreography feels believable and intense. Jet Li is funny and cool as their friend Yin Yang, who wants more money and delivers killer martial arts displays. I just wanted Jet Li to have a bigger role and character since I’d say he’s the best actor in the cast and easily the greatest fighter. Dolph Lundgren is funny as the crazy mercenary Gunner Jensen. Eric Roberts is menacing as the evil and greedy ex-CIA agent James Munroe. Randy Couture is amusing as the therapy seeking action hero Toll Road. Steve Austin is generic henchman Paine like David Zayas’ forgettable villain General Garza. Giselle Itié is pretty and sympathetic as the general’s daughter Sandra, who bravely remains defiant. Charisma Carpenter remains gorgeous and compelling as Statham’s girlfriend Lacy. I wish she had a larger role too because she’s a wonderful actress on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Terry Crews is funny as the muscular Hale Caesar with his loud bolt gun. Mickey Rourke is gritty and raw as the tattoo artist and motorcycle chop shop owner Tool. His monologue about losing his soul feels sincere and gripping. Bruce Willis gets a cute cameo as CIA contact Mr. Church, who hires Stallone and company. Arnold Schwarzenegger is funny in his quick cameo as Trench Mauser with witty quips to taunt Stallone. Editors Ken Blackwell and Paul Harb’s cuts feel hacked together for incoherent and hard to follow action sequences. Cinematographer Jeffrey L. Kimball’s ugly digital look and shaky camera work is awful. I cannot believe how cheap The Expendables looks. Lighting from Michael Ambrose and Dan Delgado is too dark and not very cinematic. The dozen or so camera operators providing shaky camera footage is very annoying. The sets look cheap, the practical effects are solid, but the CGI looks like a PS2 cutscene. The stunt fights and car chases are excellent and easily the action highlights. Composer Brian Tyler’s score is alright, but totally generic action slop music. In the end, The Expendables is just a cheap bit of action entertainment to let audiences see their old favorite action stars one more time. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review matthias s "The Expendables" is a nostalgic gathering of iconic action stars, and watching them interact is a treat for fans of the genre. The action is undeniably over-the-top and provides a certain mindless entertainment. However, the film is weighed down by a plot that’s paper-thin, barely holding together the barrage of explosions and gunfire. While the cheesy one-liners and predictable plot points might appeal to some, they left me feeling more fatigued than thrilled. I appreciated the occasional comedic moments that lightened the tension, but they weren’t enough to lift the film above its generic formula. I enjoyed "The Expendables" more when it first came out, but with time, its flaws have become more glaring. If you’re into mindless action, this might be a masterpiece, but it’s simply not for me. Two stars. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review Rob M The best out of all of them. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Expendables

The Expendables: Official Clip - Toll Road vs. Paine The Expendables: Official Clip - Toll Road vs. Paine 1:46 The Expendables: Official Clip - Saving Sandra The Expendables: Official Clip - Saving Sandra 1:45 The Expendables: Official Clip - Knife Throwing Poetry The Expendables: Official Clip - Knife Throwing Poetry 1:36 The Expendables: Official Clip - Omya Kaboom The Expendables: Official Clip - Omya Kaboom 0:55 The Expendables: Official Clip - Yin vs. Gunner The Expendables: Official Clip - Yin vs. Gunner 1:43 The Expendables: Official Clip - Beating an Army The Expendables: Official Clip - Beating an Army 2:38 The Expendables: Official Clip - Blowing Up the Dock The Expendables: Official Clip - Blowing Up the Dock 2:06 The Expendables: Official Clip - Basketball Brawl The Expendables: Official Clip - Basketball Brawl 1:32 The Expendables: Official Clip - Old Friends The Expendables: Official Clip - Old Friends 2:17 The Expendables: Official Clip - Greedy Pirates The Expendables: Official Clip - Greedy Pirates 3:02 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Mercenary leader Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and his loyal men take on what they think is a routine assignment: a covert operation to invade the South American country of Vilena and overthrow its dictator. But, when they learn that the job will be a suicide mission, they must choose redemption or the destruction of their brotherhood.
Director
Sylvester Stallone
Producer
Avi Lerner, John Thompson, Kevin King Templeton
Screenwriter
Sylvester Stallone, David Callaham
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Nu Image, Lions Gate Films, Millennium Films
Rating
R (Some Language|Bloody Violence Throughout|Strong Action Violence)
Genre
Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 13, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$103.0M
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, DTS
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