Sylvester Stallone’s Franchise-Killing Box Office Bomb Is Now a Netflix Success, 3 Years Later

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Sylvester Stallone is known for starring in long-running film series. He’s famous for playing Rocky and Rambo over many years, and he’s also appeared in both Marvel and DC superhero movies, including the Guardians of the Galaxy films and The Suicide Squad. In 2010, he started another series, The Expendables, bringing together a team of action heroes. While the first movie wasn’t a critical success (it received a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it did well enough in theaters to lead to several sequels. The series continued until 2023, when Expend4bles didn’t perform well at the box office, earning just $51.1 million worldwide. However, the movies are now gaining popularity with viewers on streaming services.

From February 16th to 22nd, The Expendables 4 ranked as the eighth most popular movie on Netflix worldwide. It outperformed films like Wrath of the Titans and Rumble, racking up 2.9 million views and a total of 4.9 million hours watched. This marked the first time the film appeared in Netflix’s top 10.

Why Expendables 4 Is a Streaming Hit on Netflix

It’s remarkable how quickly Expendables 4 became popular on Netflix. Added to the platform on February 20th, along with the other films in the series, it gained almost 3 million views in just a few days. Because it’s a new release, it’s expected to stay in the top 10 for at least a couple more weeks, and might even climb higher as more people discover it. Netflix subscribers often check out new content right away, which gives those movies and shows an initial surge in popularity.

It’s notable that The Expendables 4 is the only film in the series currently ranking in Netflix’s top 10. Viewers seem to be choosing it over the previous three movies, which is a little surprising. One possible explanation is that Expendables 4 didn’t perform well in theaters, so people who missed it initially are now watching it on Netflix. Someone who’s seen the first three films might be especially likely to start with the fourth. It’s common for movies that don’t succeed in cinemas to find a bigger audience through streaming, as it’s more convenient for people to watch at home.

We don’t have exact numbers for the shows that ranked 11-15 on Netflix last week, but other movies in The Expendables series are likely performing well. Viewers who enjoyed the latest installment might be curious to watch the rest of the franchise, and dedicated fans could even have a marathon. While The Expendables is known for bringing together action stars from the past, some of those actors are still working today. Jason Statham, for example, continues to star in new films, and his older movies have also been popular on streaming. So, some viewers might simply be interested in watching more of his work.

While Expendables 4 isn’t winning over critics (it currently has a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it still delivers for action movie fans. Jason Statham gives a strong performance, and the film features the hard-hitting action sequences the series is known for. It probably won’t appeal to those unfamiliar with the Expendables franchise, but that’s not unexpected – these movies are made for a specific audience. In fact, Expendables 4 seems ideally suited for streaming on Netflix, offering a solid action experience perfect for relaxing after a busy day.

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2026-02-28 00:17