Expend4bles infiltrates the top spot in China with an $11M debut

The fourth chapter of the Expendables franchise, Expend4bles, is converging on the top spot at the box office in China after the weekend. Details from the consultancy firm Artisan Gateway say Expedend4bles earned $10.9M during its debut. While the sequel fails to include a Chinese star, it features Jason Statham, whose films typically perform well in the territory.

Expend4bles narrowly edged Dust to Dust out of the top spot, which snagged $10.6M after its second week in cinemas. After ten days of release, Dust encountered a 52% week-on-week decline but managed a $44.2M total.

Expend4bles could open with a bigger bang in North American territories, where Stallone, Statham, and the rest of the action superstar crew cater to fans of explosive action cinema.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Expend4bles:

A new generation of stars joins the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in The Expendables 4. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Iwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Megan Fox lead Expend4bles, with 50 Cent, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Andy Garcia, Randy Couture, Jacob Scipio, and Levy Tran.

After wrapping his part in Expend4bles, Stallone announced that his fourth film in the action-packed franchise is his last. “It’s time to be movin’ on” from The Expendables. Stallone added that he’s “ready to pass the baton on to Jason [Statham] and his capable hands.” Should there be another franchise installment, Staham might be the new face of the series. As Stallone walked through the set, he spoke of the “heart, energy, and humour” he hopes to bring to all his projects.

“The greatest thing is being able to provide films and entertainment [where] maybe there’s a little message in there, because what I try to convey in my successful films is the human touch, the bond,” Stallone said while reflecting on his time as the Expendables leader, Barney Ross. “Not so much the action, the action is self-evident, but just relating to the audience in a way they can identify with whatever the mission is with the characters at hand.”

Will Expend4bles debut at #1 at the box office when it explodes onto screens in the United States and Canada on September 22? Let us know what you think in the comments below.