Tag: the-expendables

  • Best Jason Statham Movies of All Time Ranked

    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    Like Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis before him, Jason Statham has become one of the best and most consistent action stars working today.

    Statham began his career in the late 90s working with director Guy Ritchie on ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels‘ and ‘Snatch‘, but quickly went on to star in such action films as ‘The Transporter‘ and ‘Crank‘, before joining Stallone in ‘The Expendables‘ series, and then collaborating with Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson on the ‘Fast & Furious 6 ‘, which eventually led to ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw‘.

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    Since then, he has appeared in such popular action movies as ‘The Meg‘, ‘Wrath of Man‘, ‘A Working Man‘ and the box office hit ‘The Beekeeper‘.

    Stathan’s latest action outing, ‘Shelter‘, opens in theaters on January 30th.

    In honor of his new film, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Jason Statham’s career, including his latest.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Filmmaker David Ayer Talks ‘A Working Man’ and Directing Jason Statham


    20. ‘Parker‘ (2013)

    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham in 'Parker'. Photo: FilmDistrict.
    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham in ‘Parker’. Photo: FilmDistrict.

    A thief (Statham) with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman (Jennifer Lopez) on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew’s latest heist.

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    19. ‘Death Race‘ (2008)

    Terminal Island, New York: 2020. Overcrowding in the US penal system has reached a breaking point. Prisons have been turned over to a monolithic Weyland Corporation, which sees jails full of thugs as an opportunity for televised sport. Adrenalized inmates, a global audience hungry for violence and a spectacular, enclosed arena come together to form the ‘Death Race’, the biggest, most brutal event.

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    18. ‘Spy‘ (2015)

    A desk-bound CIA analyst (Melissa McCarthy) volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.

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    17. ‘A Working Man‘ (2025)

    Levon Cade (Statham) left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss’s daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.

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    16. ‘Crank‘ (2006)

    Chev Chelios (Statham), a hit man wanting to go straight, lets his latest target slip away. Then he awakes the next morning to a phone call that informs him he has been poisoned and has only an hour to live unless he keeps adrenaline coursing through his body while he searches for an antidote.

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    15. ‘Shelter‘ (2026)

    Jason Statham in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    Mason (Statham) lives in recluse at a remote setting by the sea. When he chooses to rescue a young girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) from drowning in a terrible storm, he unwittingly sets off a chain reaction that soon brings violence his way, forcing him to confront choices from his past.

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    14. ‘The Expendables‘ (2010)

    Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) leads a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas (Statham), a martial arts expert Yin Yang (Jet Li), heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), demolitionist Toll Road (Randy Couture), and a loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) to assassinate the dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee visit the remote locale to scout out their opposition and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city.

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    13. ‘The Fate of the Furious‘ (2017)

    When a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) seduces Dom (Vin Diesel) into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.

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    12. ‘The Meg‘ (2018)

    A deep sea submersible pilot (Statham) revisits his past fears in the Mariana Trench, and accidentally unleashes the seventy foot ancestor of the Great White Shark believed to be extinct.

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    11. ‘Mechanic: Resurrection‘ (2016)

    Arthur Bishop (Statham) thought he had put his murderous past behind him when his most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life (Jessica Alba). Now he is forced to travel the globe to complete three impossible assassinations, and do what he does best, make them look like accidents.

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    10. ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels‘ (1999)

    (L to R) Nick Moran, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher and Jason Flemyng in 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'. Photo: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.
    (L to R) Nick Moran, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher and Jason Flemyng in ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’. Photo: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.

    A card shark (Nick Moran) and his unwillingly-enlisted friends need to make a lot of cash quick after losing a sketchy poker match. To do this they decide to pull a heist on a small-time gang who happen to be operating out of the flat next door.

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    9. ‘The Transporter‘ (2002)

    Former Special Forces officer Frank Martin (Statham) will deliver anything to anyone for the right price, and his no-questions-asked policy puts him in high demand. But when he realizes his latest cargo is alive, it sets in motion a dangerous chain of events. The bound and gagged Lai is being smuggled to France by a shady American businessman, and Frank works to save her as his own illegal activities are uncovered by a French detective.

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    8. ‘Furious 7‘ (2015)

    Deckard Shaw (Statham) seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family for his comatose brother.

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    7. ‘The Italian Job‘ (2003)

    Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn’t plan on was being double-crossed. Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker (Charlize Theron), Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles.

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    6. ‘Wrath of Man‘ (2021)

    A cold and mysterious new security guard (Statham) for a Los Angeles cash truck company surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman’s ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.

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    5.’Homefront‘ (2013)

    Jason Statham in 'Homefront'. Photo: Open Road Films.
    Jason Statham in ‘Homefront’. Photo: Open Road Films.

    Phil Broker (Statham), a retired DEA agent, leads a quiet life with his daughter Maddy, until a school bullying incident draws them into a conflict with Morgan “Gator” Bodine (James Franco), a local crime boss.

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    4. ‘The Expendables 2‘ (2012)

    Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.

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    3. ‘Snatch‘ (2001)

    Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookies, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewellers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.

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    2. ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw‘ (2019)

    Ever since US Diplomatic Security Service Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham) first faced off, they just have traded smack talk and body blows. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton’s ruthless actions threaten the future of humanity, they join forces to defeat him.

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    1. ‘The Beekeeper‘ (2024)

    Jason Statham stars as Clay in director David Ayer's 'The Beekeeper.' An Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Jason Statham stars as Clay in director David Ayer’s ‘The Beekeeper.’ An Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    In The Beekeeper, one man’s (Statham) brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers”.

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  • Where To Watch The Adrenaline-Fueled ‘Expen4bles’

    Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in ‘Expend4bles.’ Copyright: EX4 Productions, Inc. 2022.

    Action stars Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone return for ‘Expend4bles’, and they’ve brought the team along for the ride. The film promises to be bigger and more explosive than before, return to its R-rating, and introduce a cast of new characters to the franchise.

    Where Can I Watch ‘Expend4bles’?

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    ‘Expend4bles’ was released domestically on September 22, 2023. Prior to the movie’s release, standee posters for the film were revealed at CinemaCon in 2022, where attendees were treated to an exclusive viewing of the teaser trailer during Lionsgate’s presentation.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Expend4bles’ Movie Showtimes

    Currently, the movie can be found showing in some theaters, but it has already made its way to VOD. Available to rent for $19.99 or purchase for $24.99 on mainstream services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Pay, YouTube, Vudu, and Microsoft.

    Where to Watch: ‘Expend4bles’ Online

    For those waiting on a home release, the movie will be released on UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD on December 26, just barely missing the holidays. ‘Expend4bles’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes.

    Buy ‘Expend4bles’ on Amazon

    When Will ‘Expend4bles’ Be Available To Stream?

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Lionsgate, the studio behind the action franchise, recently signed a deal with Peacock and Roku to stream the films once it is finished with its theatrical run. However, there are no confirmed dates announced for when ‘Expend4bles’ will stream on Peacock or Roku.

    Viewers can also look to Starz once the movie is available for streaming.

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    The Newcomers

    Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in 'The Expendables 4.'
    (L to R) Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Almost 10 years since the third ‘Expendables,’ the fourth installment is Stallon’s final bow in the franchise as he passes the torch on to Jason Statham. As Barney’s past catches up with him, it is up to Christmas and new team members to carry out the team’s mission. Fox and Statham share the screen with witty banter and have nice chemistry, further exploring the character of Christmas.

    Joining the cast are Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Easy Day, Megan Fox as Gina, Tony Jaa as Decha, Iko Uwais as the film’s villain Suarto Rahmat, Andy Garcia as Marsh, Levy Tran as Lash, and Jacob Scipio as Galan.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Expend4bles’ 

    Bloodier Than Before

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'Expend4bles.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘Expend4bles.’

    The first two films in the franchise were rated R for its gore and violence, which, given its premise and action scenes, made sense. However, the third film, ‘The Expendables 3,’ got a PG-13 rating in order to capture a wider audience. This meant the film was essentially bloodless. Fans of the series were unhappy with the PG-13 rating and spoke out via social media for future films to return to its R rating.

    In the official red band trailer for ‘Expend4bles’, it opens with the title card, “We heard you loud and clear,” followed by fans’ comments asking for more blood and violence and to reinstate its R-rating. The video goes on to show endless action, accompanied by plenty of blood and gore, to satisfy the fans.

    In an interview with Mandatory, Sylvester Stallone says he believes the PG-13 rating was a miscalculation.

    “Absolutely unequivocally yes. I believe it was a horrible miscalculation on everyone’s part in trying to reach a wider audience, but in doing such, diminish the violence that the audience expects. I’m quite certain it won’t happen again.”

    Watch the official red band trailer for ‘Expend4bles’ below:

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    The official synopsis for ‘Expend4bles’ is below:

    “A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in Expend4bles. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.”

    Who Is In The Cast of ‘Expend4bles’?

    Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Levy Tran, Jacob Scipio in 'The Expendables 4.'
    (L to R) Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Levy Tran, Jacob Scipio in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    The film sees the return of Sylvester Stallone (‘Samaritan‘) as Barney Ross, Jason Statham (‘Fast X’) as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lungren (‘Aquaman‘) as Gunner Jensen, and Randy Couture as (‘Phoenix‘) Toll Road. Joining the action franchise are Megan Fox (‘Jonah Hex‘) as Gina, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (‘Den of Thieves‘) as Easy Day, Tony Jaa (‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’) as Decha, Iko Uwais (‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’) as Suarto Rahmat, Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III‘) as Marsh, Levy Tran (‘Secret Headquarters‘) as Lash, and Jacob Scipio (‘Bad Boys for Life‘) as Galan.

    'The Expendables 4' is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.
    ‘The Expendables 4’ is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Expend4bles’:

    To watch our exclusive interviews with the director and producers of ‘Expend4bles,’ please click on the video player below.

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  • Jason Statham Starring in ‘Levon’s Trade’

    Jason Statham as Jonas in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and CMC Pictures’ sci-fi action thriller “Meg 2: The Trench,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Jason Statham as Jonas in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and CMC Pictures’ sci-fi action thriller “Meg 2: The Trench,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Preview

    • Jason Statham will reunite with ‘The Beekeeper’ director David Ayer.
    • Statham plays a former black ops soldier trying to forge a new life.
    • Sylvester Stallone wrote the script for the movie.

    Action tough nut Jason Statham and outspoken director David Ayer clearly got along making their upcoming action thriller ‘The Beekeeper’. According to Deadline, they’re already looking to team up again for a new film.

    And though it sounds like the new project, ‘Levon’s Trade’, will share some distinct sensibilities (both feature the story of a man who left a life of violence behind for a quieter existence, only to be drawn back into taking out bad guys), Ayer will surely find some way for the new movie to be different.

    What’s the story of ‘Levon’s Trade’?

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    The movie will chart how Levon Cade (Statham) left his past behind him to go ‘straight’ and work in construction. He wants to live a simple life and be a good father to his daughter.

    But when his boss’s teenage daughter Jenny vanishes, he’s called upon to re-employ the skills that made him a legendary figure in the shadowy world of black ops. His hunt for the missing college student takes him deep into the heart of a sinister criminal conspiracy creating a chain reaction that will threaten his new way of life.

    ‘Levon’s Trade’ has its origins in a book by Chuck Dixon.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Expend4bles’

    Who wrote the ‘Levon’s Trade’ script?

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    ‘Levon’s Trade’ has an even more famous name behind its script –– and it marks the other reunion for Statham. Sylvester Stallone, who guided and starred in ‘The Expendables’ franchise (which Statham now mostly leads) adapted the script from Dixon’s book.

    It’s a title in which Stallone has showed interest before; the book is the first of eleven in the popular Levon Cade thriller series. Stallone’s Balboa Productions previously developed the project as a TV series.

    Stallone has quite a history of screenwriting –– he was nominated for an Oscar for 1976’s ‘Rocky’ and most recently scripted ‘Rambo: Last Blood’.

    Producer Bill Block, whose company BlockFilm is backing the new movie, had this to say about it:

    “I am thrilled to be reuniting with some of my most talented and longstanding partners on ‘Levon’s Trade’. I first worked with David Ayer on ‘Fury’ and it was immediately clear that he is a director at the very top of his game. Jason and I have worked together on a number of films, and most recently the three of us collaborated on ‘The Beekeeper’. ‘Levon’s Trade’ is going to be another spectacular action movie and I’m confident we’ve assembled the dream team to bring the first novel in this celebrated series to the big screen.”

    When will ‘Levon’s Trade’ be in theaters?

    Given the fact that ‘Levon’s Trade’ hasn’t even started shooting yet (it’s aiming for a March start in London next year) and has its rights on sale at the AFM market this week, the movie does not yet have a release date.

    ‘The Beekeeper’, meanwhile, will be out on January 12th.

    Director David Ayer on the set of Netflix's 'Bright.'
    Director David Ayer on the set of Netflix’s ‘Bright.’ Photo: Matt Kennedy.

    Other David Ayer Movies:

    Buy David Ayer Movies on Amazon

     

  • Best Sylvester Stallone Movies

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Sylvester Stallone is an actor, writer, director, producer, movie star, living legend and Hollywood icon.

    Stallone first made a name for himself by writing and starring in 1976’s Oscar-winning ‘Rocky,” which shot him to super fame and he was cemented as a movie star after appearing in ‘First Blood‘ as John Rambo. Both films have spawned numerous sequels and spinoffs, including ‘Creed,’ for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

    Over the past 40 years Stallone has become one of Hollywood’s most reliable movie stars and has gone on to appear in such popular films as ‘Cobra,’ ‘Tango & Cash,’ ‘Cliffhanger,’ ‘Demolition Man,’ ‘Cop Land,’ and ‘The Expendables‘ franchise, the forth of which, ‘Expend4bles‘ opens in theaters on September 22nd.

    In honor of Stallone’s new movie, which he has said will be his last appearance in the series, Moviefone is counting down the 35 best movies of Sylvester Stallone’s career, including his latest.

    Let’s begin!


    35. ‘Rambo: Last Blood‘ (2019)

    Sylvester Stallone in 'Rambo: Last Blood.'
    Sylvester Stallone in ‘Rambo: Last Blood.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

    After fighting his demons for decades, John Rambo (Stallone) now lives in peace on his family ranch in Arizona, but his rest is interrupted when Gabriela (Yvette Monreal), the granddaughter of his housekeeper María (Adriana Barraza), disappears after crossing the border into Mexico to meet her biological father. Rambo, who has become a true father figure for Gabriela over the years, undertakes a desperate and dangerous journey to find her.

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    34. ‘Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over‘ (2003)

    Carmen’s (Alexa Vega) caught in a virtual reality game designed by the Kids’ new nemesis, the Toymaker (Stallone). It’s up to Juni (Daryl Sabara) to save his sister, and ultimately the world.

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    33. ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ (1985)

    John Rambo (Stallone) is released from prison by the government for a top-secret covert mission to the last place on Earth he’d want to return – the jungles of Vietnam.

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    32. ‘Bullet to the Head‘ (2013)

    After watching their respective partners die, a cop (Sung Kang) and a hitman (Stallone) form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy.

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    31. ‘Rambo‘ (2008)

    When governments fail to act on behalf of captive missionaries, ex-Green Beret John James Rambo (Stallone) sets aside his peaceful existence along the Salween River in a war-torn region of Thailand to take action. Although he’s still haunted by violent memories of his time as a U.S. soldier during the Vietnam War, Rambo can hardly turn his back on the aid workers who so desperately need his help.

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    30. ‘Samaritan‘ (2022)

    Javon "Wanna" Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in 'Samaritan,' directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Javon “Wanna” Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Thirteen-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon “Wanna” Walton) suspects that his mysterious and reclusive neighbor Mr. Smith (Stallone) is actually a legend hiding in plain sight. Twenty years ago, Granite City’s super-powered vigilante, Samaritan, was reported dead after a fiery warehouse battle with his rival, Nemesis. Most believe Samaritan perished in the fire, but some in the city, like Sam, have hope that he is still alive. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbor out of hiding to save the city from ruin.

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    29. ‘Grudge Match‘ (2013)

    A pair of aging boxing rivals (Stallone and Robert De Niro) are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout — 30 years after their last match.

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    28. ‘Rocky Balboa‘ (2006)

    His Wife (Talia Shire) is dead and his Son (Milo Ventimiglia) hates him but this old man still has fight in him! When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa (Stallone), reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver) retaliates by challenging Rocky to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who’s faster, stronger, and thirty years his junior.

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    27. ‘The Expendables‘ (2010)

    Barney Ross (Stallone) leads a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), a martial arts expert Yin Yang (Jet Li), heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), demolitionist Toll Road (Randy Couture), and a loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) to assassinate the dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee visit the remote locale to scout out their opposition and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city.

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    26. ‘The Specialist‘ (1994)

    May Munro (Sharon Stone) is a woman obsessed with getting revenge on the people who murdered her parents when she was still a girl. She hires Ray Quick (Stallone), a retired explosives expert to kill her parent’s killers. When Ned Trent (James Woods), embittered ex-partner of Quick’s is assigned to protect one of Quick’s potential victims, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.

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    25. ‘Creed II‘ (2018)

    Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in 'Creed II.'
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’

    Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight against an opponent with ties to his family’s past, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is up against the challenge of his life.

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    24. ‘Rambo III‘ (1988)

    Combat has taken its toll on Rambo (Stallone), but he’s finally begun to find inner peace in a monastery. When Rambo’s friend and mentor Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna) asks for his help on a top secret mission to Afghanistan, Rambo declines but must reconsider when Trautman is captured.

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    23. ‘The Expendables 3‘ (2014)

    Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Jason Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables — but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.

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    22. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3‘ (2023)

    Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

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    21. ‘Assassins‘ (1995)

    Assassin Robert Rath (Stallone) arrives at a funeral to kill a prominent mobster, only to witness a rival hired gun (Antonio Banderas) complete the job for him — with grisly results. Horrified by the murder of innocent bystanders, Rath decides to take one last job and then return to civilian life. But finding his way out of the world of contract killing grows ever more dangerous as Rath falls for his female target (Julianne Moore) and becomes a marked man himself.

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    20. ‘Expend4bles‘ (2023)

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'Expend4bles.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘Expend4bles.’

    Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Statham, Lundgren, Couture, and Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

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    19. ‘Escape Plan‘ (2013)

    Ray Breslin (Stallone) is the world’s foremost authority on structural security. After analyzing every high security prison and learning a vast array of survival skills so he can design escape-proof prisons, his skills are put to the test. He’s framed and incarcerated in a master prison he designed himself. He needs to escape and find the person (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who put him behind bars.

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    18. ‘Get Carter‘ (2000)

    Jack Carter (Stallone), a mob enforcer living in Las Vegas, travels back to his hometown of Seattle for his brother’s funeral. During this visit, Carter realizes that the death of his brother was not accidental, but a murder. With this knowledge, Carter sets out to kill all those responsible.

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    17. ‘The Lords of Flatbush‘ (1974)

    Set in 1958, the coming of age story follows four lower middle-class Brooklyn teenagers (Stallone, Henry Winkler, Perry King and Paul Mace) known as The Lords of Flatbush. The Lords chase girls, steal cars, shoot pool, get into street fights, and hang out at a local malt shop.

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    16. ‘Nighthawks‘ (1981)

    An international terrorist has New York in a grip of panic and it’s up to Det. Sgt. Deke DaSilva (Stallone) to take him down.

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    15. ‘The Suicide Squad‘ (2021)

    Sylvester Stallone voices King Shark in 'The Suicide Squad.'
    Sylvester Stallone voices King Shark in ‘The Suicide Squad.’ Photo: Warner Bros./DC Comics.

    Welcome to Belle Reve, the prison where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out, even join the super-secret Task Force X. Today’s assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), King Shark (Stallone), and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).

    Now arm them heavily and drop them on the enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) on the ground to make them behave, and Amanda Waller’s (Viola Davis) government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement.

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    14. ‘Escape to Victory‘ (1981)

    A group of POWs (Stallone, Michael Caine and Pelé) in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.

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    13. ‘Cobra‘ (1986)

    A tough-on-crime street cop (Stallone) must protect the only surviving witness to a strange murderous cult with far reaching plans.

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    12. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘ (2017)

    The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage.

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    11. ‘Rocky III‘ (1982)

    Now the world champion, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is living in luxury and only fighting opponents who pose no threat to him in the ring, until Clubber Lang (Mr. T) challenges him to a bout. After taking a pounding from Lang, the humbled champ turns to former bitter rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) for a rematch with Lang.

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    10. ‘Cliffhanger‘ (1993)

    Sylvester Stallone in 'Cliffhanger.'
    Sylvester Stallone in ‘Cliffhanger.’

    A year after losing his friend in a tragic 4,000-foot fall, former ranger Gabe Walker (Stallone) and his partner, Hal (Michael Rooker), are called to return to the same peak to rescue a group of stranded climbers, only to learn the climbers are actually thieving hijackers who are looking for boxes full of money.

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    9. ‘Demolition Man‘ (1993)

    Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes), a violent criminal cryogenically frozen in 1996, escapes during a parole hearing in 2032 in the utopia of San Angeles. Police are incapable of dealing with his violent ways and turn to his captor (Stallone), who had also been cryogenically frozen after being wrongfully accused of killing 30 innocent people while apprehending Phoenix.

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    8. ‘Rocky II‘ (1979)

    After Rocky (Stallone) goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian (Talia Shire) but can’t put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the “Master of Disaster” and the “Italian Stallion” are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.

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    7. ‘Tango & Cash‘ (1989)

    Ray Tango (Stallone) and Gabriel Cash (Kurt Russell) are narcotics detectives who, while both being extremely successful, can’t stand each other. Crime Lord Yves Perret (Jack Palance), furious at the loss of income that Tango and Cash have caused him, frames the two for murder. Caught with the murder weapon on the scene of the crime, the two have no alibi. Thrown into prison with most of the criminals they helped convict, it appears that they are going to have to trust each other if they are to clear their names and catch the evil Perret.

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    6. ‘The Expendables 2‘ (2012)

    Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men (Liam Hemsworth) is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.

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    5. ‘Rocky IV‘ (1985)

    Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in 1985's 'Rocky IV.'
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in 1985’s ‘Rocky IV.’

    Rocky Balboa proudly holds the world heavyweight boxing championship, but a new challenger has stepped forward: Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a six-foot-four, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union.

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    4. ‘First Blood‘ (1982)

    When former Green Beret John Rambo (Stallone) is harassed by local law enforcement and arrested for vagrancy, the Vietnam vet snaps, runs for the hills and rat-a-tat-tats his way into the action-movie hall of fame. Hounded by a relentless sheriff (Brian Dennehy), Rambo employs heavy-handed guerilla tactics to shake the cops off his tail.

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    3. ‘Creed‘ (2015)

    The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa (Stallone) serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).

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    2. ‘Cop Land‘ (1997)

    Freddy Heflin (Stallone) is the sheriff of a place everyone calls “Cop Land” — a small and seemingly peaceful town populated by the big city police officers he’s long admired. Yet something ugly is taking place behind the town’s peaceful facade. And when Freddy uncovers a massive, deadly conspiracy among these local residents, he is forced to take action and make a dangerous choice between protecting his idols and upholding the law.

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    1. ‘Rocky‘ (1976)

    Sylvester Stallone in 1977's 'Rocky.'
    Sylvester Stallone in 1977’s ‘Rocky.’ Photo: United Artists.

    When world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) wants to give an unknown fighter a shot at the title as a publicity stunt, his handlers choose palooka Rocky Balboa (Stallone), an uneducated collector for a Philadelphia loan shark. Rocky teams up with trainer Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) to make the most of this once in a lifetime break.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Expend4bles’

    Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in 'The Expendables 4.'
    (L to R) Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Opening in theaters on September 22nd is ‘Expend4bles,’ which is the fourth movie in ‘The Expendables’ series and was directed by Scott Waugh (‘Act of Valor,’ ‘Need for Speed’).

    What is the plot of ‘Expend4bles’?

    Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables, led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. When The Expendables are assigned a mission to stop a terrorist organization from smuggling nuclear warheads that will ignite a conflict between Russia and the U.S., new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

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    Who stars in ‘Expend4bles’?

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    Initial Thoughts

    ‘Expend4bles’ is a step up from the last film in the franchise and wisely takes the series back to its roots focusing on Barney Ross and Lee Christmas’s friendship. New recruits Megan Fox and 50 Cent infuse fresh blood into the franchise while director Scott Waugh creates some incredible action sequences including a motorcycle chase on a cargo ship.

    Story and Direction

    Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    2010’s original ‘The Expendables’ promised to bring legendary action stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Dolph Lundgren together with modern action stars like Jason Statham, Jet Li and Terry Crews in hopes that they would eventually take over the franchise. But as the sequels began to come out, adding more and more classic action stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, and Wesley Snipes, the idea of Stallone passing the series to Statham started to disappear. It was clear that this was Stallone’s franchise and he has no plans to retire.

    However, that has all changed for ‘Expend4bles,’ which finally see’s Stallone’s Barney Ross passing the baton to Statham’s Lee Christmas, who is joined by some returning members as well as some new faces. When an unknown villain from Barney’s past resurfaces and hires terrorist Suarto Rahmat (Uwais) to start a war between Russia and the U.S., CIA agent Marsh (Garcia) hires The Expendables to stop him. But when Barney goes missing and Christmas refuses to follow orders, Marsh replaces him as team leader with Gina (Fox), who is also Christmas’ girlfriend, and she leads the rest of the team on mission to bring down Rahmat. But when they are captured, it is up to Christmas, with the help of Barney’s old friend Decha (Jaa), to rescue his team and bring the mysterious villain, who is behind the scenes pulling the strings, to justice.

    While Stallone still has a major presence in the film, it was wise for the franchise to let his character step aside for Christmas and a new cast of characters to take the lead, which has breathed fresh life into the dying franchise. The tone of the film is off at times, still holding on to the over-the-top masculinity and silly humor of the past movies, but the new characters and explosive action are enough to overcome it.

    Director Scott Waugh, best known for his action-driven work on ‘Act of Valor,’ was a good choice to direct the fourth installment, as it feels more like the beginning of a new franchise than the end of an old one. Waugh allows the actors, especially Statham, to do what they do best, and complements their over-the-top characters with excellent action sequences including a fantastic motorcycle chase on a cargo ship.

    Related Article: Director Scott Waugh Talks ‘Expend4bles’ and the New and Returning Cast

    Jason Statham’s Movie

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Make no mistakes, this is Jason Statham’s movie. The actor, who has played second banana to Stallone since the beginning of the franchise is finally given his moment to shine and carries the movie well. We get a chance to know Christmas a little better in this film, exploring his deep connection to Barney, and his new relationship with Gina. Statham has fun banter with Stallone, as well as a nice chemistry with Fox, and in the second act is given a ‘Die Hard’ like plot that works well with his character and the overall story of the film.

    The New Recruits

    Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in ‘Expend4bles.’ Copyright: EX4 Productions, Inc. 2022.

    The film introduces four new Expendables members, and each one really has a chance to shine. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson plays Easy Day, and he fits in well with Lundgren and Couture’s returning characters and is a solid addition to the ensemble. Actress Levy Tran also makes an impression as Lash. Her character forms a deep connection with Toll Road and she has some fun scenes with Randy Couture. Another standout is Jacob Scipio who plays Galan, the son of Galgo, Antonio Banderas’ character from ‘The Expendables 3.’ It’s a nice bridge to the previous film, and Scipio is delightful doing his best Banderas impression.

    But of all the new cast members, it’s really Megan Fox that steals the show, as the actress commands the screen as Gina. It seems like Fox was born to be an action star, and I don’t know why she doesn’t star in every action movie, she’s that good! She completely holds her own in scenes with Stallone, and especially Statham, and is as fun to watch in the action sequences as any of her co-stars.

    While the series has featured female Expendable members in the past like Ronda Rousey’s Luna, Gina is a fully formed character, and is as respected as a member of the team as any of the other male counterparts. In fact, the movie sets up that she is such a badass, she is the natural choice to lead the team when Barney and Christmas are unable. Kudos to the filmmakers for creating such a strong female character and casting an actress who can handle the action as well as Fox does.

    Returning Favorites

    Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    While his role is limited, it’s always great seeing Sylvester Stallone on screen. He clearly has an understanding of who this character is, and again, has some fun scenes with Statham. But I was also impressed at how all the characters were given something to do and room to grow, while no one was left behind.

    Dolph Lundgren’s Gunner, who had been the most unpredictable member of the team in past installments, is now a loyal teammate and the unofficial philosopher of the group. Randy Couture has always been the most forgettable member of the Expendables, Toll Road, but in this movie has more time to explore his character’s humor and a new friendship with Tran’s Lash.

    The Villains and Other Misfires

    Tony Jaa in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Tony Jaa in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Actor Iko Uwais plays the main antagonist Suarto Rahmat and is very good in his action sequences, but he’s not as strong a villain as Jean-Claude Van Damme or Mel Gibson in past installments. Those villains had personal connections to Barney and his team, and without that emotional connection, Uwais’ performance feels empty. There is an attempt made to connect the “mystery big bad” to Barney’s past, it’s a reveal I won’t spoil but it’s pretty obvious from the beginning who the mystery villain is and it won’t come as a surprise to the audience the way it was intended.

    The movie also fails the most when it is trying to shoehorn in humor, which usually does not work and falls flat. A few fun one liners are expected in any good action movie, but there are entire scenes dedicated to comedy, that just don’t feel needed for this type of movie.

    Final Thoughts

    ‘Expend4bles’ feels like a fresher installment of the franchise than the last one, and is a good start to a new series, if that is the direction they choose to go in. Director Scott Waugh brings a terrific action sensibility and creates some mind-bowing sequences. Stallone tees up the film well for Statham, who does a good job taking the reins, and new additions like Fox, Jackson, Scipio and Tran prove that there is still life left in this aging franchise.

    ‘Expend4bles’ receives 7.5 stars out of 10.

    'The Expendables 4' is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.
    ‘The Expendables 4’ is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.

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  • ‘Expend4bles’ Interview: Director Scott Waugh

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    Expend4bles,’ which is the fourth film in ‘The Expendables’ franchise and was directed by Scott Waugh (‘Act of Valor,’ ‘Need for Speed’), opens in theaters on September 22nd.

    What is the plot of ‘Expend4bles’?

    Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables, led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. When The Expendables are assigned a mission to stop a terrorist organization from smuggling nuclear warheads that will ignite a conflict between Russia and the U.S., new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

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    Who stars in ‘Expend4bles’?

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Scott Waugh about his work on ‘Expend4bles,’ the challenges of joining a franchise already in progress, if Sylvester Stallone is really passing the series over to Jason Statham, Lee Christmas going all ‘Die Hard’, shooting a motorcycle chase on a cargo ship, why he enjoyed working with Megan Fox, and how ‘The Expendables 3’s Antonio Banderas almost returned for the new movie.

    Levy Tran and director Scott Waugh on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Levy Tran and director Scott Waugh on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Waugh and producers Kevin King-Templeton and Les Weldon.

    Moviefone: To begin with, as a filmmaker, can you talk about the challenges of joining a movie series already in progress and coming in to direct the fourth installment of a popular franchise like ‘The Expendables’?

    Scott Waugh: Well, I think the challenge is you never want to deviate from the brand. The fans love ‘The Expendables.’ They love the tone of ‘Expendables.’ It’s a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I always say it’s an escapism type of movie. You leave our dark world we live in and pay money to go somewhere else and have some fun. That’s ‘Expendables’. So for me, what I really was focused on the whole time was how do I bring something fresh and fun, but throwback to the original movie? So we were extremely hyper-focused on going back to the original movie and maintaining that core cast and the fun of it, tonally getting back on message, getting back to rated R, and getting back to the fun violence. But then I wanted to elevate the action and the fights, and take it to a new level. That’s when we brought in the Hong Kong fight team that I worked with on ‘Hidden Strike’ and really just tried to elevate all of that.

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    MF: The movie introduces the idea of Barney Ross handing over the team to Lee Christmas, and in a way, Sylvester Stallone handing the franchise over to Jason Statham. Can you talk about that theme in the movie and was Stallone cool with the idea of taking a back seat to Statham and the rest of the crew?

    SW: I think the idea that Stallone’s passing this to Statham is exciting. Stallone still amazes me, his physical capability at his age. It’s still unbelievable to me. I’m 53 and busted up, and somehow he is in his late seventies and can still do it. But I think for Sly, he’s in a place in his life where time is super important to him. Being on the full run of an ‘Expendables’ movie takes up a lot of his time and I fully respect that. Jason’s my age and really is still excited about continually working a lot. So it was a natural pass. Now, I’ll say, I definitely don’t think Sly is out of the brand. I think Sly will always be a part of it. He’s the starter of ‘The Expendables’ and the original director. So I think it’s new blood with the old.

    Related Article: ‘Expend4bles’ Red Band Trailer

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    MF: The second act of the film sees Lee Christmas taking on a group of bad guys by himself and it seemed a little ‘Die Hard’ inspired. Can you talk about that sequence and was that what you were going for?

    SW: So look, the story itself is a revenge and redemption story, and it does come around the character of Lee Christmas. So I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a Christmas story, but it definitely leans on his character because of what his character’s going through. But there is this wonderful moment in the end of act two that I really feel like, does the franchise have the boldness to do what you think they might do? I don’t want to give away the plot, but we do something that will really make your eye drop. I’m not going to give it away, but I’ll just say this, it stays on message with the brand.

    Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    MF: There is an incredible action sequence involving a high speed motorcycle chase that takes place on a cargo ship. Can you talk about choreographing and shooting that scene?

    SW: I come from motocross. I was super excited about trying to bring something fresh to the ship because I’m like, “What can we do on the ship because it’s a ship?” I’m like, “What about a motorcycle chase on the ship?” That’s how we designed this whole thing. Then the exciting part was I go, “Man, we got to do something super cool. We need to bring in somebody like Robbie Maddison and do some badass X Games jumps and get that quintessential moment in the movie.” Luckily, we were able to get Robbie to come in and do the big jump for us. I think it’s just one of those moments that hopefully makes you smile because it’s so crazy, so cool, and so Christmas.

    Megan Fox as Gina in 'Expend4bles.'
    Megan Fox as Gina in ‘Expend4bles.’

    MF: While there have been female Expendable members in past movies, Megan Fox’s Gina is different because she is also a team leader and receives the same level of respect as Ross and Christmas. Can you talk about the importance of creating a female character who is really on the same level as the strongest Expendable members?

    SW: Look, I think it was definitely a part of the script when I came in with Megan’s character, Gina, and I really enjoyed the fact that there was a female character that was on equal ground and was badass. It’s incredible working with somebody like Megan because she doesn’t give herself enough credit. I was working with her. I’m like, “You’re so physically talented,” and I think she’s a wonderful actress and she fits in so well with the rest of the guys because she can hold her own weight. She doesn’t take any shit from any of the guys, and I just love that. That’s why I think she just fits in with those type of big personalities.

    Jacob Scipio as Galan in 'Expend4bles.'
    Jacob Scipio as Galan in ‘Expend4bles.’

    MF: Finally, actor Jacob Scipio plays Galan, the son of Antonio Banderas character, Galgo from ‘The Expendables 3.’ But I understand that originally Banderas was set to return but you just couldn’t work out his shooting schedule, is that correct?

    SW: That’s exactly it. When I read it, I was expecting Antonio was coming in. Then when they said, “We can’t make it work out with Antonio’s schedule,” I was like, “But the character’s so great and he’s so important throughout all those moments.” So I thought about it. I came back to the producers and I said, “What if we make it his son? Galgo was his father. Galan is the new character and Galan could be just like his dad with the same personality.” So that’s when we came up with that character and then we casted Jacob and he did a great job.

    Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

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  • ‘The Best Man’ Interview: Dolph Lundgren

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    The new action movie ‘The Best Man,’ which opens in theaters, On Demand and digital April 21st, was written and directed by Shane Dax Taylor (‘Bloodworth’).

    What is the plot of ‘The Best Man?’

    In ‘The Best Man,’ when a team of ruthless mercenaries violently seize control of a remote resort hotel looking for revenge, former Special Ops soldiers Bradley (Brendan Fehr) and Anders (Dolph Lundgren), who are attending their best friend Cal’s (Luke Wilson) wedding to Brook (Nicky Whelen), along with the bride’s sister Hailey (Scout Taylor-Compton), must rely only on their wits and training to combat the terrorists and save the hostages held for ransom.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘The Best Man?’

    ‘The Best Man’ stars Brendan Fehr (‘X-Men: First Class,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’), Nicky Whelan (‘Hall Pass’), Scout Taylor-Compton (‘The Runaways’), Scott Martin (‘Big Kill’), Dolph Lundgren (‘Rocky IV,’ ‘The Expendables,’ ‘Aquaman‘), and Luke Wilson (‘The Royal Tenenbaums,’ ‘Old School’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dolph Lundgren about his work on ‘The Best Man,’ his character, his approach to his work now, the ‘Die Hard’ type plot, working with Luke Wilson, playing the piano, and even teased the upcoming ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film, 'The Best Man,' a Saban Films release.
    Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Moviefone: To begin with, your character has been to war and its changed him. Where is he at mentally when the film begins?

    Dolph Lundgren: Well, the way it was written was this slightly lighthearted character who drinks and he is a bit of a rogue, he’s a bit of a drunk, but he is still sharp enough to do his job. So, I sort of focused on that part of him, not the military side of it because that I could do in my sleep and so many people play that. So I was trying to have fun with the character and make him a little irresponsible, and I thought it came across fairly well, at least in the first half of the movie.

    MF: Can you expand on your approach as an actor when you are playing a role like this and the idea of “not playing the military side” of the character?

    DL: Well, yes. I started that when I got older. When I was younger, you played a tough guy because it’s in your DNA and you’re trying to impress people or impress yourself. I don’t know. But I sort of started doing that. I think it started with ‘The Expendables’ franchise where I had this character in the first ‘Expendables.’ He was supposed to be killed off actually, but he was kind of a bit of a drunk, crazy and certainly didn’t care that he looked tough and he didn’t care what he looked like. He didn’t dress all cool and his hair was all hanging around. So I think it started there and I realized that people seem to enjoy that, and they kind of set me apart a little bit. There’s an ‘Expendables 4’ coming out, and I enjoyed going back and having fun with that unpredictability and also because I’m such a big guy. If you’re bigger than everybody else, you have to play something else. You can’t play tough because then it’s tough upon tough and it doesn’t really work. I mean, unless you’re a villain or somebody who’s totally over the top.

    Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film, 'The Best Man,' a Saban Films release.
    Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.

    Related Article: Brendan Fehr Talks ‘The Best Man’ with Luke Wilson and Dolph Lundgren

    MF: You have a few scenes in the movie where your character plays the piano. Was that improvised, and is that an example of you choosing to focus on another aspect of the character?

    DL: Yes, I enjoyed that. That was in the script and I was afraid that it was going to be covered more in detail and I was going to have to practice. But I kind of spoke to the pianist a little bit about how to do it, but you’d only see me play and it was more the playfulness of that moment. I used to play trombone and I used to play drums in a couple of different bands, so I like music and I thought it was an interesting little departure.

    MF: The movie is sort of ‘Die Hard’ at a wedding, and if terrorists were going to attack at your wedding, these are the guys you want there. Can you talk about how your character springs into action when the trouble starts?

    DL: Yeah, you’re right. I mean, everybody’s armed for some reason. I was trying to figure that out, but I guess it’s in America. It could be in a state where everybody’s got a carry license, which they seem to have because everybody’s got a concealed weapon. Yeah, it’s like trying to rob a sheriff’s convention, bad idea, and I think here Anders and the other guys are ex-military. It was just a bad idea for these guys to try what they were trying to do.

    Luke Wilson as Cal in the action film, 'The Best Man,' a Saban Films release.
    Luke Wilson as Cal in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.

    MF: Finally, have a great scene at the bar with Luke Wilson, what was it like working with him?

    DL: I loved working with Luke. He is a lot of fun, very easy, easygoing guy, relaxed, and he improvised a lot of that scene. We ended up improvising and he started it, so he started improvising and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed working with him. I wish he would’ve had more scenes. Maybe next time.

    Luke Wilson as Cal, Nicky Whelan as Brooke and Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film,'The Best Man,' a Saban Films release.
    (L to R) Luke Wilson as Cal, Nicky Whelan as Brooke and Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film,’The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.

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    ‘The Best Man’ is produced by Saban Films. It is set to release in theaters, On Demand and digital on April 21st.

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger Starring in ‘Breakout’

    Arnold Schwarzenegger as Sheriff Ray Owens in 'The Last Stand.'
    Arnold Schwarzenegger as Sheriff Ray Owens in ‘The Last Stand.’

    Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to be spending less time on cinema screens these days, his last major release happening in 2019 (though since that was ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, we can imagine him wanting to take a break). But he’s making moves to snatch a starring role again, agreeing to lead new action thriller ‘Breakout’.

    Scott Waugh, who has made movies including ‘Act of Valor’, ‘Need for Speed’ and the upcoming ‘The Expendables 4’ (which seemingly features almost every action icon bar Schwarzenegger), is on to call the shots for the new film.

    Schwarzenegger here will play Terry Reynolds. When his stepson, Daniel, is framed and sentenced to 25 years in a foreign country, Reynolds recruits some old friends to help makes a daring jailbreak to save him, hoping to overcome an overzealous prison warden in a race against time to avoid capture and flee the country.

    It’s not like Schwarzenegger doesn’t have experience breaking out of prisons –– he did, after all, star in the first ‘Escape Plan’ alongside Sylvester Stallone, but this one promises to be a little less ridiculous.

    Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin "Ben" Richards in 'The Running Man.'
    Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’

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    RZA history

    This is not the first time the movie has been in active development, as ‘The Call’s Richard D’Ovidio wrote the screenplay, in cahoots with his regular collaborator (and wife) Nicole D’Ovidio back in 2015.

    Then, rapper-turned-filmmaker RZA was attached to direct at a time when he was looking to make as many films as possible following ‘The Man with the Iron Fists’. But it has since lingered in limbo, not even getting as far as the casting stage. Back then, the setting was Bangladesh, though some elements appear to have changed in the story.

    This time, things appear to be going much more smoothly given the addition of Arnie and the fact that the shoot is due to kick off this year in Eastern Europe.

    But if that’s not enough Schwarzenegger in your life, he has a couple of other projects headed our way –– cinema-wise, he’s back as the president in action comedy ‘Kung Fury 2’, which doesn’t yet have a release date for the States.

    Before that, he’ll be on our TV screens in Netflix’s ‘FUBAR’, in which he plays Luke Brunner, who has kept the truth of his status as an ace CIA agent for decades. He’s anticipating retirement (and looking to win the affections of his divorced wife back), only to learn that his daughter Emma (‘Top Gun: Maverick’s Monica Barbaro) is also an agent and is now in danger undercover with a villain that Luke has dealt with in the past). Cue an awkward team-up that reveals other family secrets and results in lots of things exploding. Think ‘True Lies’ but with a slightly different family dynamic. That will be on screens on May 25th.

    Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day.'
    Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator in ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day.’

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