The Expendables 4 Fails To Beat ‘The Nun 2’, Collects Only $8.3 Million

In a challenging weekend for the box office, ‘The Expendables 4’ fell short of expectations, bringing in a mere $8.3 million in its opening weekend. This disappointing performance marks the franchise’s weakest debut yet, placing it behind the reigning champion, ‘The Nun II.’ Join us as we delve into the details of this unexpected turn of events in the world of cinema.

Box Office: ‘The Expendables 4’ Faces Tough Competition

During what is predicted to be the bleakest weekend for theatrical ticket sales this year, ‘The Expendables 4’ struggled to make its mark. The Lionsgate and Millennium production, financed by Millennium, played across 3,400 theaters but fell well short of its expected earnings in the range of $15 million.

This installment in the franchise is the first in nearly a decade, following the release of ‘The Expendables 3’ in 2014. The third film in the series grossed $15.8 million in its opening weekend and eventually amassed a global box office total of $214 million. In comparison, the original ‘Expendables’ film from 2010 opened with $35 million, while the 2014 sequel started with $28 million. Altogether, the first three entries in the series collectively raked in an impressive $800 million worldwide.

Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham return to lead the explosive cast, alongside returning stars Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture. The film’s official summary teases an exhilarating journey: “The Expendables serve as the world’s ultimate defenders, called upon when all other options have been exhausted. However, the infusion of fresh talent with innovative styles and strategies promises to redefine what ‘new blood’ truly signifies.” Adding to the anticipation, a stellar lineup of newcomers including Megan Fox, 50 Cent, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia, is set to breathe new life into the franchise.

The Nun II Holds Its Ground

Despite ‘The Expendables 4’ entering the scene with high expectations, it was outshone by ‘The Nun II,’ which continued to dominate the September box office. ‘The Nun II,’ in its third weekend, secured a projected $8.4 million, pushing its domestic earnings to nearly $70 million. Globally, the film is set to cross the $200 million mark, with an international gross of $20.8 million.

The Box Office Landscape

Other films that held their ground in this challenging box office climate include Disney’s ‘A Haunting in Venice,’ the latest installment in Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie-inspired movie series. After its second weekend, it has accrued $25 million domestically and sits at $71 million worldwide.

In fourth place, Denzel Washington’s ‘Equalizer 3’ added $4.7 million to its domestic box office earnings, surpassing $80 million. Meanwhile, ‘Barbie’ rounded out the top five with an additional $3.2 million in its tenth week of release, boasting a global gross of $1.41 billion, including an impressive $630 million from the domestic box office.

The Future of the Box Office

While the domestic box office has been facing weeks of lackluster performance, there is hope on the horizon with highly anticipated films and events like fall’s awards contenders and the eagerly awaited Taylor Swift Eras concert film. However, all eyes in Hollywood are currently on the ongoing negotiations between the AMPTP and WGA, striving to bring an end to a historic strike that has persisted for 145 days, with studios presenting their “best and final” offer.

In an unexpected turn of events, ‘The Expendables 4’ faced tough competition and fell short of its anticipated opening weekend earnings. While ‘The Nun II’ continues to reign supreme at the box office, ‘The Expendables 4’ may have a challenging journey ahead to recoup its budget and satisfy both critics and audiences. The box office landscape remains unpredictable, but with exciting releases on the horizon, there is still hope for a resurgence in the industry.