MOVIE NEWS – Worldwide theaters witnessed a huge flop for “Expend4bles.” Despite high expectations, the film’s global debut was far from promising, resulting in the most underwhelming box office weekend we’ve seen this year.

Directed by Scott Waugh, “Expend4bles” brings back familiar faces like Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham, but unfortunately, they weren’t enough to guarantee a strong opening. The critics weren’t kind either, with many pointing out a range of issues from lackluster action sequences to a predictable storyline.

Variety has now confirmed that the movie garnered roughly $8.3 million on its opening weekend, a staggering low for the franchise. When compared to other films, it barely surpassed “The Nun II”, which made $8.4 million in its third week. Shockingly, not a single movie managed to cross the $10 million threshold this weekend, further cementing this period as the most lackluster box office weekend of the year.

But what exactly led to this fall from grace for “Expend4bles”? A closer look reveals a combination of factors. A notable absence of big Hollywood names, which were a hallmark of previous movies, might be one reason. Past iterations boasted the likes of Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jet Li – all missing from this latest installment. Moreover, Stallone, a franchise staple, seems to have a reduced presence in this sequel.

Moreover, the negative reviews didn’t help. Many critics dubbed it the least impressive installment in the series, criticizing everything from the action scenes to the overall production value. At present, the film holds a dismal 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, further highlighting its struggles.

Adding to the woes, the last movie from the franchise was released almost a decade ago in 2014. This prolonged gap may have allowed fan enthusiasm to diminish. The third installment already had its challenges both critically and in box office terms. Its PG-13 rating possibly drove away core fans without drawing in a new audience. All these setbacks paint a bleak picture for “The Expendables 4” and its future theatrical run.

Source: Variety