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- What Is ‘The Expendables 3‘ About?
- ‘The Expendables 3’ Crushed the Global Box Office But Was Killed by Critics
- ‘The Expendables 3’ Holds Up Better in 2024
As a die-hard action movie enthusiast who’s been around the block more times than I care to remember, let me tell you about my experience with “The Expendables 3”. Back in 2014, when this film was first released, I must admit, it didn’t quite hit the spot. The whole ‘Sequelitis’ thing had me feeling a bit jaded and the movie seemed like just another cash grab. But, as they say, time is a great healer, and boy, has this film grown on me!
Fans of Jason Statham who criticized The Expendables 3 a decade ago should consider revisiting the movie in 2024. Released on August 15, 2014, The Expendables 3 offers an over-the-top action spectacle that fully embraces its purpose and audience, taking the franchise’s cartoonish style to new heights. Although it’s not a masterpiece, the passage of time has given fans ample opportunity to move past the “Sequelitis” that eventually led to the series’ demise after the fourth installment in 2023, allowing them to appreciate it for its entertaining value.
Critics heavily criticized the movie “The Expendables 3,” earning it a Metascore of 35. Despite receiving poor reviews a decade ago, the film managed to rake in over $200 million worldwide. Unfortunately, it fell short in North America, only earning back about half its budget, with gross earnings of $39.3 million against an estimated budget of $80 million (according to The Numbers). As “The Expendables 3” turns 10, reevaluating the film seems reasonable.
What Is ‘The Expendables 3’ About?
In a different phrasing: Patrick Hughes was the one responsible for directing “The Expendables 3”, which is the third installment in the well-known action series featuring numerous stars from the ’80s and ’90s. Alongside legendary action figures like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Harrison Ford, and others, Jason Statham assumes the lead role as Lee Christmas, a skilled knife-wielder and former Special Air Service (SAS) member who acts as The Expendables’ second-in-command following Barney Ross (Stallone).
In the third installment of the franchise, Barney embarks on a revenge mission against Conrad Stonebanks, the founder of the Expendables. Stonebanks seeks to eliminate the entire team, creating a tense and action-packed scenario. To strengthen his forces, Barney acknowledges his advancing age and impending mortality, gathering a new group of martial artists, mercenaries, demolition experts, and others to take down Stonebanks and his associates. This fresh crew includes John Smilee (Kellan Lutz), a U.S. Marine, Luna (Ronda Rousey), a bouncer, and Thorn (Glen Powell in an early career role), who is a hacker.
This film takes The Expendables on an action-packed journey from Las Vegas to Romania, where they ruthlessly attack Stonebanks’ minions in a thrilling series of fiery battle sequences that are effortless to appreciate. While it might have been overkill in 2014 for the third installment within four years, watching it in 2024 offers plenty of enjoyment.
‘The Expendables 3’ Crushed the Global Box Office But Was Killed by Critics
On August 15, 2014, The Expendables 3 debuted as a summer blockbuster. However, it earned more revenue overseas than in its home country. With an estimated production cost of around $80 million, the movie generated only $39.3 million domestically according to The New York Times. One possible explanation for the disappointing box office sales was that the film leaked online three weeks prior to its release in theaters. Another theory suggested that the PG-13 rating aimed at drawing a younger audience may have had an adverse effect, as it apparently deterred the Hard-R action movie enthusiasts who had supported the first two films and were satisfied with their content.
Nonetheless, The Expendables 3 performed exceptionally well internationally, notably in China where it debuted as the top movie at the box office during its opening week, earning over $33 million (as reported by The Numbers). People who watched the film found amusement in its essence: a high-octane action spectacle brimming with clever one-liners from legendary ’80s and ’90s film stars.
The film, The Expendables 3, wasn’t considered humorous by critics initially, but audiences found it an entertaining crowd-pleaser instead. With a respectable IMDb score of 6.1 and an A- grade on CinemaScore, it seems the movie is more enjoyable than the early criticisms might suggest. Although it doesn’t break new ground in action movies, opinions have softened over time, and in 2024, it’s not as negatively viewed as it once was.
‘The Expendables 3’ Holds Up Better in 2024
Despite receiving negative feedback from critics and audiences in 2014, the film The Expendables 3 has gained value over time. One reason it is more appealing now compared to 2024 is its position within the franchise timeline. Specifically, when The Expendables 3 was released, viewers were growing weary of a third aging movie that followed another in a short period. This fatigue with repetition, known as “Sequelitis,” turned both hardcore and casual fans off, making the film seem outdated and unnecessary at the time. However, with the passage of time and fresh perspective, The Expendables 3 is now more enjoyable to watch.
2014 saw The Expendables 3 as Mel Gibson’s sole film appearance, a year during which the franchise had outlived its popularity and was associated with negative perceptions due to Gibson’s past actions. However, since then, he has regained some of his reputation in Hollywood by directing Hacksaw Ridge and three other projects, and has also revitalized his acting career with approximately 20 movies following The Expendables 3.
Furthermore, the presence of Glen Powell as the character Thorn in the film significantly boosts its appeal to fans of the rising action star. While Powell may not have been as well-known then as he is now with films like “Twisters”, “Hit Man”, “Top Gun: Maverick”, and “Anyone But You”, his role in “The Expendables 3” provides a glimpse into his natural charm and captivating presence before he became famous. In 2024, viewing the interaction between Powell and Statham is more gratifying due to our increased familiarity with Powell’s talents, which were less recognized by viewers in 2014 when the film was first released.
For fans of Statham, Lee Christmas proves to be an ideal gift this holiday season, as he shares exceptional chemistry with Wesley Snipes, who portrays Doc. In the film, their relationship provides some of the most captivating moments. As a link between the seasoned and new members of The Expendables team, Lee Christmas demonstrates his prowess in physically challenging Stonebanks’ henchmen.
Regarding the Expendables team, Lee Christmas stands out as the toughest member whether he’s blasting a room full of villains with powerful weapons or engaging in close-combat against adversaries. In the past, The Expendables 3 might have seemed unnecessary or unwanted in 2014. However, with time allowing the film to mature and shed its initial criticisms, The Expendables 3 is no longer expendable in 2024. Given this, any fan of Jason Statham should reconsider their viewpoint.
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2024-12-14 19:32