Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Jason Statham’s All-Star Action Masterpiece Is Finally on Free Streaming
The Expendables, Sylvester Stallone's 2010 action franchise-starter co-starring Jason Statham, has become available to stream for free without a subscription on Pluto TV. The Lionsgate film brought together numerous action stars of the 1980s and 1990s, making it a notable ensemble piece within the genre, and its wider availability gives audiences an easy way to watch it without paying for a streaming service.
The film follows a team of mercenaries, led by Stallone's character Barney Ross alongside Statham's knife-wielding Lee Christmas, on a mission to overthrow a rogue CIA operative on a fictional Gulf island. Its cast includes Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Terry Crews and Randy Couture, plus cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. All four films in the series, including 2023's Expend4bles, are also available on Pluto TV and Paramount+ (subscription required), with Stallone having since stepped back from the franchise and passed leadership to Statham.
In short
- The Expendables (2010) is now streaming free on Pluto TV
- Stars Stallone, Statham and an all-star action-hero ensemble cast
- All four Expendables films are on Pluto TV/Paramount+; Stallone has exited the franchise
Explained simply
The Expendables is an action film released in 2010, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film follows a team of veteran mercenaries led by Stallone's character Barney Ross, alongside Jason Statham's knife-wielding specialist Lee Christmas, on a mission to overthrow a rogue CIA operative on a fictional Gulf island. It marked the beginning of a film franchise that continues to the present day.
The film was notable for assembling action stars from the 1980s and 1990s in a single ensemble cast, including Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Terry Crews and Randy Couture, alongside cameo appearances from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This assembly of veteran action stars from different eras became a key selling point for the film and franchise.
Stallone directed and starred in the first film, but the franchise has since expanded to four films released through 2023. In recent entries, Stallone has stepped back from a leading role whilst Jason Statham has taken on greater prominence in the series.
Celebrity Entertainment Film TV