10 Action-Packed Movies Like "The Expendables"

Lila Sommers

Lila Sommers

The expendables 2011 banner

Action movies are one of the most enjoyable movies for all ages. This makes them one of the most popular genres across the globe. In 2010, an unprecedented feat was made. Most of the top action stars came together and formed a high-octane film called "The Expendables." It's filled with explosive stunts, hand-to-hand combat, gunfights, and basically any action-movie cliché you can think of. A new franchise was born from this movie where adrenaline junkies and casual movie watchers can both enjoy.

With the impending release of "The Expendables 4" looming on the horizon, everyone has caught themselves revisiting the older entries in the franchise and trying to figure out where the story goes next. It brings back all the nostalgia and memories watching these films. This has made us wonder about other movies that share the thrilling prospect of electrifying team-ups. So, we've compiled 10 exciting films reflecting the adrenaline rush and jam-packed battles "The Expendables" provides.

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Rotten tomatoes49%
iMBD47
Metacritic6.7

"The A-Team" follows a group of former military and federal officers framed for stealing $1 billion in counterfeit money by corrupt government officials. They escape the initial false charges and set out to clear their names while attempting to reveal the real culprits in the process. Like "The Expendables, it brought the promise of elite teamwork, matched with energizing action scenes and a star-studded cast.

CAST

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson

Sharlto Copley

Sharlto Copley

Quinton Jackson

Quinton Jackson

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper

Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel

Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wilson

Gerald McRaney

Gerald McRaney

Brian Bloom

Brian Bloom

Omari Hardwick

Omari Hardwick

Maury Sterling

Maury Sterling

Directed by Joe Carnahan
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Rotten tomatoes48%
iMBD44
Metacritic6.2

A rag-tag group of CIA operatives set out to seek revenge on the agency that betrayed them. "The Losers" features a solid mix of thrilling action scenes while keeping the audience entertained with well-timed gags. Similar to "The Expendables, the movie features excellent exchanges between the characters along with well-done fight scenes, but with an overall lighter vibe.

CAST

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña

Chris Evans

Chris Evans

Idris Elba

Idris Elba

Columbus Short

Columbus Short

Óscar Jaenada

Óscar Jaenada

Jason Patric

Jason Patric

Holt McCallany

Holt McCallany

Peter Macdissi

Peter Macdissi

Peter Francis James

Peter Francis James

Directed by Sylvain White
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Rotten tomatoes72%
iMBD60
Metacritic7

Featuring another title from 2010, we've got "Red" headlined by Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker. It delivers not only through its stunning cast but also its humor-filled story and well-choreographed action sequences. Compared to "The Expendables," the movie features a more upbeat tempo with a bunch of old but not too old characters.

CAST

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis

John Malkovich

John Malkovich

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren

Mary-Louise Parker

Mary-Louise Parker

Karl Urban

Karl Urban

Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss

Brian Cox

Brian Cox

Rebecca Pidgeon

Rebecca Pidgeon

Julian McMahon

Julian McMahon

Directed by Robert Schwentke
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Rotten tomatoes70%
iMBD61
Metacritic6.5

If you're craving for a darker, more realistic, and grim storyline, then watching "Triple Frontier" will be a treat. It centers around a group of former Special Forces as they attempt to pull off a seemingly simple heist but ultimately end up chewing more than they can swallow. While it shares similarities to "The Expendables," it has a massively different plot, delivering vastly unique experiences.

CAST

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac

Charlie Hunnam

Charlie Hunnam

Garrett Hedlund

Garrett Hedlund

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal

Adria Arjona

Adria Arjona

Louis Jeovanny

Louis Jeovanny

Juan Camilo Castillo

Juan Camilo Castillo

Reynaldo Gallegos

Reynaldo Gallegos

Maddy Wary

Directed by J.C. Chandor
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Rotten tomatoes64%
iMBD54
Metacritic6.9

"The Magnificent Seven" takes us into the ungoverned era of the wild west. It's typically associated as a movie with great comedic timing and an unparalleled cast. It falls short in story and has shallow characters but makes up for it through realistic gore and high-paced sequences. Think of it as a shoot-'em-up version of "The Expandables" that the whole family can enjoy, with proper parental guidance, of course.

CAST

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke

Vincent D'Onofrio

Vincent D'Onofrio

Lee Byung-hun

Lee Byung-hun

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Martin Sensmeier

Martin Sensmeier

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard

Haley Bennett

Haley Bennett

Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer

Directed by Antoine Fuqua
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Rotten tomatoes31%
iMBD44
Metacritic6.6

The “Smokin Aces” might’ve been a commercial nightmare, but its neo-noir approach earned it a cult following for years to come. It has its own unique visual style with a matching soundtrack to boot. It’s definitely comparable to “The Expendables,” matching its over-the-top violence and well-put-together cast.

CAST

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds

Andy García

Andy García

Martin Henderson

Martin Henderson

Chris Pine

Chris Pine

Ray Liotta

Ray Liotta

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys

Common

Common

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson

Jeremy Piven

Jeremy Piven

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck

Directed by Joe Carnahan
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Rotten tomatoes50%
iMBD49
Metacritic6.7

The premise of “Escape Plan” revolves around a security expert attempting to find defects and break out of a state-of-the-art supermax prison. Parallel to “The Expendables,” it also features stars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger at the center of the action.

CAST

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Jim Caviezel

Jim Caviezel

50 Cent

50 Cent

Sam Neill

Sam Neill

Vinnie Jones

Vinnie Jones

Faran Tahir

Faran Tahir

Vincent D'Onofrio

Vincent D'Onofrio

Amy Ryan

Amy Ryan

Graham Beckel

Graham Beckel

Directed by Mikael Håfström
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Rotten tomatoes67%
iMBD60
Metacritic6.5

If you're searching for a film with nearly invincible macho men trying to one-up each other, then "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" is too good to pass up. The incredible chemistry between the leads definitely carries the show. Just like "The Expendables," it features plenty of extravagant action scenes but typically involving vehicles.

CAST

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson

Jason Statham

Jason Statham

Idris Elba

Idris Elba

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren

Eiza González

Eiza González

Eddie Marsan

Eddie Marsan

Eliana Su'a

Eliana Su'a

Cliff Curtis

Cliff Curtis

Lori Pelenise Tuisano

Lori Pelenise Tuisano

Directed by David Leitch
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Rotten tomatoes37%
iMBD37
Metacritic6.3

"Red Notice" delivers with its laugh-out-loud moments and surprisingly entertaining action scenes. The plot is good yet predictable and has plenty of cliches. However, that shouldn't stop you from having a good time. The unlikely teamwork between the uniquely different characters while taking on a high-risk mission definitely reflects the theme of "The Expendables."

CAST

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot

Ritu Arya

Ritu Arya

Chris Diamantopoulos

Chris Diamantopoulos

Ivan Mbakop

Ivan Mbakop

Vincenzo Amato

Vincenzo Amato

Rafael Petardi

Rafael Petardi

Seth Michaels

Seth Michaels

Sebastien Large

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
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Rotten tomatoes29%
iMBD41
Metacritic5.7

The Joes find themselves ambushed and framed. "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" offers a path to redemption while finally taking down the devious Cobra organization. Similar to "The Expendables," "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" follows a group of elite specialists highlighting themes of sacrifice, camaraderie, and justice.

CAST

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis

Jonathan Pryce

Jonathan Pryce

Adrianne Palicki

Adrianne Palicki

Ray Park

Ray Park

Ray Stevenson

Ray Stevenson

Élodie Yung

Élodie Yung

Lee Byung-hun

Lee Byung-hun

D.J. Cotrona

D.J. Cotrona

Luke Bracey

Luke Bracey

Directed by Jon M. Chu

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Lila Sommers

About Lila Sommers

Lila is your media maven with a passion for the extraordinary! Spot her at the local bookstore or crafting her own stories on lazy Sunday afternoons. From indie flicks to hidden gem tracks, Lila's knack for weaving words and tunes is unmatched, making her your ultimate companion in the exciting world of media and entertainment.

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