Expend4bles (2023)

The R-rating returns along with Sylvester Stallone for fourth outing of action franchise

The Expendables 4 is an action film directed by Scott Waugh for Lionsgate. It is the sequel to The Expendables 3 which was released in 2014 and serves as the fourth film of the franchise. Waugh’s previous directing credits include action-heavy titles like 2012’s Act of Valor and 2014’s Need for Speed. This film marks the first Expendables movie to not be written by lead star Sylvester Stallone who previously co-wrote and directed the first installment and co-wrote the screenplay for the previous entries. Kurt Wimmer, Max Adams and Tad Daggerhart penned the screenplay for this fourth entry. The initial two Expendables films were box office hits with the first film earning over $274 million worldwide and the second with $315 million. Their R-ratings likely contributed to their immense popularity as audiences were clearly interested in watching brutal and gory violence on screen executed by action heroes of the ‘80s and ‘90s. The third entry was given a PG-13 rating and performed the worst out of the three, ultimately earning $214.7 million. The Expendables 4 marks the return of its R rating. 

In this fourth installment of the Expendables franchise, Sylvester Stallone reprises his role as Barney Ross, leader of a team of seasoned action heroes. Alongside him are Jason Statham as the lethal knife specialist Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren as the combat expert Gunner Jensen, and Randy Couture as the demolition specialist Toll Road. The Expendables franchise is known for its stacked cast and this entry is no exception with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, Sheila Shah and Eddie Hall appearing in the film. Iko Uwais portrays the lead villain while Andy García plays a CIA agent.

Be sure to check out JustWatch's Guide on Everything You Need To Know About The Expendables 4.