The Expendables 4

After the uneven reception of The Expendables 4 (2023), which many critics called “a missed opportunity,” few expected the franchise to rise again. But against the odds, it returns — louder, meaner, and surprisingly sharper — in The Expendables 5: Final Protocol, a fictional yet plausible next chapter that rekindles what made the originals so beloved.

This time, the aging mercenaries face their most personal threat yet. When a rogue black-ops division activates a Cold War–era nuclear failsafe — known as the “Final Protocol” — it's up to Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and the remaining crew to stop global annihilation. But here’s the catch: the Expendables are now considered obsolete, betrayed by the very governments they once protected.

To keep up, they reluctantly team up with a new generation of operatives, including a cyber-warfare expert (played by Jenna Ortega), a disgraced Navy SEAL (played by Glen Powell), and a drone pilot turned whistleblower. The tension between the old-school and the tech-savvy youth becomes a central theme — guns vs. gadgets, grit vs. strategy.

Directed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick), the action choreography is elevated to a new level. Gone are the clunky shootouts of Expendables 4; instead, we get fluid, brutal, and inventive sequences. A standout scene involves a close-quarters knife fight on a speeding cargo train, blending practical stunts with dynamic camera work.

What surprises the most is the film’s self-awareness. It pokes fun at aging action heroes but never disrespects them. Stallone delivers one of his most grounded performances as Ross grapples with mortality, legacy, and relevance. Meanwhile, Jason Statham, returning as Lee Christmas, provides the comic relief and physical edge fans expect.

Of course, Final Protocol still checks all the expected boxes: explosive finales, ridiculous one-liners, over-the-top villains (this time a cyber-tyrant played by Mads Mikkelsen), and a soundtrack that mixes ‘80s rock with modern pulse-pounding beats.

Is it perfect? No. Some supporting characters are underused, and the plot—while tighter than the previous installment—still leans into clichés. But in terms of sheer entertainment, it’s a worthy course correction.