“The Expendables 4” has had a disastrous start, and on its second weekend, it plummeted so severely that any hopes for “The Expendables 5” seem to have been banished to the deepest corners of the movie industry’s drawers.
The production budget for “The Expendables 4” alone is estimated to be a staggering $100 million. However, after two weeks of global release, this action-packed film starring Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone has only managed to rake in a mere $36 million worldwide. It appears highly unlikely that this figure will see substantial growth.
This grim reality is especially evident in its dismal performance in the North American cinema market. Following a disastrous opening weekend with just $8 million in earnings, the second weekend witnessed a precipitous 69% decline. A mere $2.5 million trickled in, and it’s expected to dwindle to near-zero figures quickly. Many of the 3,500 screens that showcased Statham and company over this weekend are likely to make way for other films next week.
While “The Expendables 3” relied on international markets to salvage its overall performance, the fourth installment seems to have no such lifeline. Disappointment also prevails in Germany, where “The Expendables 4” sold only around 40,000 cinema tickets over the weekend. The rest of the world isn’t faring much better, with some regions even experiencing more dire results. Notably, a substantial portion of the global earnings hails from China.
There have been suggestions that the film might find profitability in the home entertainment market, with the hope that more people will watch it at home. However, this notion was predicated on the assumption that the film would still make some money in theaters.
It has now become abundantly clear that “The Expendables 4” will fall woefully short of recouping its production costs on the big screen alone – and theaters take a share of those earnings too. Furthermore, there’s no apparent reason why a dramatic turnaround would occur in the home entertainment market. The negative word-of-mouth and waning interest, particularly with a less compelling and less prominent cast in the fourth installment, are unlikely to dissipate.
In conclusion, it’s safe to say that “The Expendables 4” is shaping up to be one of the biggest flops of the 2023 cinematic calendar. Given these circumstances, “The Expendables 5” appears to be an improbable prospect.