Expendables 4 Rating Restores Franchise Tradition Broken 9 Years Ago (With 1 Pivotal Addition)-TGN

Summary

• Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham are returning for another action-packed adventure in The Expendables 4 after a nearly 10-year franchise hiatus.

• The new film will be returning to its roots with an R rating after the PG-13 rating of The Expendables 3 disappointed some audiences.

• The R rating includes “strong/ bloody violence throughout” and “language”, which is nothing new, but also includes “sexual material,” a first for the franchise.

The Expendables 4 age rating is now official and, while it brings the franchise back to its roots, it also features one very notable change. Following the lackluster reception to The Expendables 3 in 2014, Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham are returning for another action-packed adventure after nearly a decade away. While the first two movies in the franchise were rated R, the third film opted for a PG-13 rating, which proved to be a controversial change.

Now, ahead of The Expendables 4‘s release date, the MPAA has confirmed via FilmRatings.com that the sequel will indeed be returning to an R rating. While this rating is given for “strong/ bloody violence throughout” and “language”, it also includes “sexual material” this time, which is a first for the franchise.

What Expendables 4’s R Rating Means For The Movie

The Expendables 3 was rated PG-13 largely to increase its box office chances, with younger viewers now able to come and experience the movie. What happened, however, was that the rating alienated the franchise’s core fanbase without really bringing new, younger audiences on board. The film received the worst reviews and lowest box office of the franchise, with Stallone himself admitting that going PG-13 was a mistake.

The upcoming sequel, then, seems to be a return to form for the franchise, with Stallone, Statham, and the rest of The Expendables 4 cast dishing out the graphic and gory violence that the earlier installments were praised for. While the return of R-rated violence is sure to be a welcome announcement, the addition of sexual material is an interesting change.

It’s unclear exactly how this material will factor into the movie, but the Expendables 4 trailer does feature an extended look at the sexually charged dynamic between Statham’s Lee Christmas and Megan Fox’s new character, Gina. It seems likely that the pair will be responsible for the new addition to the film’s rating. While many questions remain about The Expendables 4, the R rating confirmation is definitely a positive sign.

Source: FilmRatings.com

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