The Expendables (2010 film)

The Expendables is a 2010 American action film directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Callaham. The first installment in The Expendables franchise, the film co-stars an ensemble cast of mostly action film actors, including Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, and Bruce Willis. The film is about a team of elite mercenaries tasked with a mission to overthrow a Latin American dictator whom they soon discover to be a mere puppet controlled by a corrupt ex-CIA agent. It pays tribute to the blockbuster action films of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Expendables was released in the United States on August 13, 2010 by Lionsgate. It received mixed reviews from critics, with some praise for the action sequences, and grossed $274 million. It was followed by three sequels: The Expendables 2 (2012), The Expendables 3 (2014), and Expend4bles (2023).