Movie · 2014 · Action, Adventure, Thriller · 2h 6m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.6/10 (320.2K ratings)
New team. New attitude. New mission.
Overview
Barney, Christmas and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks, 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.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.6/10
IMDb: 6.1/10
Letterboxd: 2.45/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 32%
Metacritic: 35
TMDB: 6.2/10
Director
Patrick Hughes
Production
Davis Films, Ex3 Productions, Fipex Holding, Lionsgate, Millennium Media, Nu Image Entertainment
Cast
Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer, Glen Powell, Antonio Banderas, Victor Ortiz, Ronda Rousey, Kellan Lutz, Jet Li, Ivan Kostadinov, Robert Davi, Nikolay Stoyanov Ilchev, Daniel Angelov
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A loud, star-packed action reunion that still has flashes of old-school charm, but the PG-13 downgrade, bloated plotting, and weaker energy make it the least essential entry in the series. It’s worth it mainly for franchise completists and viewers who enjoy watching aging action icons trade quips and gunfire, not for anyone seeking sharp thrills or a strong story.
Best for
fans of ensemble action nostalgia
viewers who like lightweight, self-aware shoot-’em-ups
franchise completists
people who enjoy seeing legacy action stars share the screen
Skip if
you want hard-R intensity and real bite
you’re looking for tight plotting or fresh ideas
you were already lukewarm on the first two films
you dislike PG-13 action that softens the impact
Overview
The Expendables 3 tries to refresh the formula by bringing in younger recruits and leaning harder into the generational handoff, but the result is more cluttered than invigorating. The movie still understands the appeal of its premise: watching veteran action stars swagger through explosions, one-liners, and impossible missions with a straight face.
Worth noting
What it loses is the rougher, more mischievous edge that made the earlier films feel like a guilty-pleasure throwback. The PG-13 rating blunts the violence, and the story spreads itself thin across too many characters and too many obligations to the franchise’s own mythology.
Bottom line
There are still a few fun moments, especially when the cast seems to be enjoying the absurdity of it all, but the film mostly plays like a reminder of a better idea rather than a great execution. For viewers who simply want a parade of familiar faces in combat gear, it delivers enough. For everyone else, it’s a step down.
Top Letterboxd reviews
DirkH (1★) · 285 likes
There comes a point in life when you realise you've outgrown IKEA furniture.
MizfitMathew (2.5★) · 211 likes
It was ok, but I didn't quite enjoy it as much as the last 2.
I mean, there's only so many things you can do in movies like this. Doesn't matter who's in the cast.
And the cast IS huge.
I can really appreciate all the people they cram into these movies.
I mean it is literally an action smorgasbord.
I wasn't a huge fan of the new blood being introduced, but I did like the direction they went with… more
Jade talks too much🎅🏻🎄 (2.5★) · 210 likes
Th3 3xp3ndabl3s should’ve been the title. Missed opportunity.☹️
This was pretty boring. Antonio Banderas & Frasier Crane were fun new additions⭐️ but everything else felt tired🥱. The lowered age rating certainly didn’t help👎🏻.
Mel Gibson gets more screen-time than Jason Statham and that makes me wanna hurl🤢. Fuck off, Mel😡.
Jason Statham- ranked
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (2★) · 188 likes
Starring: The Bold, Bald, Gruff Action Man Jason Statham
Definitely the weakest of the three films so far, especially given how great and improved the last one was, this one feels like a step back.
While the concept of the sequel, the villain's objectives, and the inclusion of a new generation in theory are all excellent, and have been executed effectively on past occasions, the story feels bloated and convoluted in this installment. To top it all off, not a… more
Bryan Espitia (2.5★) · 182 likes
Trying to decide if Harrison Ford was enjoying himself or absolutely hating every moment he was on screen
2010 · Thriller, Adventure, Action · 1h 43m · R · Curator 1.1/10 (580.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
The original film has the same premise with a cleaner novelty: a wall-to-wall reunion of action icons that feels more like a celebration than a compromise.
1997 · Action, Crime, Science Fiction · 2h 19m · R · Curator 6.2/10 (728.5K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, MGM Plus
Operatic, over-the-top action melodrama that embraces absurdity with total conviction and memorable star chemistry.