Expend4bles (2023) continues the high-octane action franchise with a new mission that places the aging mercenary crew in one of their most dangerous operations yet. The story begins when the Expendables are hired to stop a ruthless arms dealer, Suarto Rahmat, who is stealing detonators for nuclear warheads on behalf of the mysterious terrorist figure known as Ocelot. The team launches an assault in Libya, but things go terribly wrong. During the raid, Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) seemingly perishes in an ambush, leaving the crew shaken and leaderless.
In the aftermath, Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) becomes the central figure of the story. Although initially sidelined, he is soon thrust into the spotlight when the team faces new orders under CIA agent Marsh (Andy García). The Expendables must prevent Rahmat and his forces from triggering a global crisis by detonating a nuclear weapon. Alongside returning veterans like Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) and Toll Road (Randy Couture), the roster expands with new recruits, including Gina (Megan Fox), a capable CIA operative and Christmas’s love interest, Easy Day (50 Cent), and the martial arts master Decha (Tony Jaa).
The mission takes the crew across international waters, where betrayals and shifting loyalties complicate the operation. Christmas uncovers that Ocelot has infiltrated their ranks, manipulating events from the shadows. As explosions, close-quarters combat, and high-tech weaponry dominate the screen, the Expendables must rely on their resilience and teamwork to stop nuclear catastrophe. In the climactic battle aboard a ship carrying the warheads, truth about Ocelot’s identity is revealed, and the mercenaries once again prove that they are the last line of defense when governments fail.
While Expend4bles delivers its signature mix of over-the-top stunts and star power, it also marks Stallone’s reduced role, signaling a passing of the torch to Statham as the series’ new lead.
