Every generation has its defining action hero—someone who can mow down armies with style, crack a one-liner, and make it all look effortless. The '80s gave us Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. The '90s belonged to Jackie Chan. Then came Keanu Reeves and Liam Neeson, who reinvented the genre with The Matrix and Taken. But the reigning king of modern action? That's Jason Statham. And one of his most iconic franchises, The Expendables, is about to vanish from Netflix on June 20.
For those who haven't yet experienced the adrenaline rush, The Expendables is a love letter to over-the-top action cinema. Stallone's Barney Ross leads a crew of elite mercenaries—including Statham's knife-wielding Lee Christmas—on missions too dangerous for anyone else. Across four films, the series has delivered bloody, testosterone-fueled chaos that action fans crave. But come June 20, you'll need to find another streaming home for your fix.
Jason Statham Shines in 'The Expendables'
It's no secret that The Expendables was built as a tribute to the action stars of yesteryear. The cast is a who's who of genre royalty: Terry Crews as Hale Caesar, Jet Li as Yin Yang, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger as Trench Mauser. The first two movies are so drenched in violence they'd make Quentin Tarantino blush. One unforgettable scene in the original film brings together Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis in a single room—a moment that cemented the franchise as a generational event.
Through all the roster changes, Statham remains a constant. His character, Lee Christmas, is the team's second-in-command and a master of blades, earning him some of the franchise's best action sequences. In The Expendables 3, he trades barbs with Wesley Snipes' Doctor Death, and in Expen4bles, he steps up as the leader. Even when the later installments stumbled—Expendables 3 softened its R-rating, and Expen4bles felt rushed—Statham proved he could carry the torch.
What's Next for the Franchise?
The Expendables aren't done yet. A comic series, The Expendables Go To Hell, sent the team to the underworld, and a TV series has been in development for years. But the biggest news is The ExpendaBelles, an all-female spin-off set during the Y2K era. Millennium Films is developing the project, which promises a fresh twist while keeping the explosive spirit alive.
If you're looking for more action before the franchise leaves Netflix, check out our list of Top 3 Netflix Movies to Stream This Week: June 8-12 for other adrenaline-pumping picks. Or dive into Forgotten Netflix Action Gems That Are Flawless From Start to Finish for hidden treasures.
The Expendables was a gamble that paid off—uniting legends, delivering mayhem, and proving that Jason Statham is an action icon whether he's leading the pack or sharing the screen. Don't miss your chance to stream it before June 20.
