What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Expendables
Sylvester Stallone · Film · 2010
If you loved The Expendables, start with Strike Back (Jed Mercurio, 2010) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Expendables across media.
If you loved the brotherhood of The Expendables, you will appreciate these stories featuring highly skilled operatives navigating dangerous, high-stakes missions.
Books on the same thread
The Cobra
Frederick Forsyth · Book · 2010
Shares a thread with The Expendables: Action Thriller.
Like the team in The Expendables, this thriller centers on elite professionals executing ruthless, high-stakes covert operations that mirror the intensity of Barney Ross and his mercenary crew.
Reacher: Persuader
Lee Child · Book
Explores: undercover operations, lone wolf protagonist, ruthless justice.
Jack Reacher shares the unstoppable, tactical precision of the mercenaries in The Expendables, delivering the same brand of ruthless justice when navigating dangerous and hostile criminal environments.
One Shot
Lee Child · Book
Explores: Vigilante Justice, Military Expertise, Small-town Secrets.
Fans of The Expendables will recognize the military expertise and vigilante spirit here, as Jack Reacher utilizes his specialized background to dismantle threats with calculated, lethal efficiency.
Shibumi
Trevanian · Book · 1983
Shares a thread with The Expendables: Action Thriller.
Nicholai Hel embodies the same elite assassin archetype found in The Expendables, thrust into a world of international intrigue where his lethal training is the only way to survive.
Series on the same thread
Strike Back
Jed Mercurio · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with The Expendables: Redemption, Action Thriller.
This series captures the gritty, redemption-seeking spirit of The Expendables, following a former special forces soldier who thrives in the high-stakes world of international covert operations.
The A-Team
Frank Lupo · Series · 1983
Shares a thread with The Expendables: Redemption.
Much like the squad in The Expendables, this group of ex-special forces soldiers relies on teamwork and military skill to operate as soldiers of fortune while on the run.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with The Expendables: Redemption.
John Reese possesses the same lethal paramilitary background as the team in The Expendables, applying his specialized training to wage a solitary war for justice against dangerous criminals.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
If The Expendables hit, The Adventure Zone shares the thread.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
If The Expendables hit, S-Town shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary mission Barney Ross leads in The Expendables?
In The Expendables, Barney Ross leads his band of highly skilled mercenaries on a mission commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church. The group is tasked with traveling to a remote South American island to assassinate its dictator.
Who are the key specialists working under Barney Ross in The Expendables?
The Expendables features a team of experts including Lee Christmas, who is a knife enthusiast, and Yin Yang, the group's martial arts expert. The team also includes Hale Caesar as the heavy weapons specialist, Toll Road as the demolitionist, and Gunner Jensen as the loose-cannon sniper.
Is The Expendables a film directed by Sylvester Stallone?
Yes, The Expendables is a 2010 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone. He also stars in the film as Barney Ross, the leader of the mercenary group commissioned to take down a dictator on a small South American island.
How does the team begin their operation in The Expendables?
The mission in The Expendables begins when Barney Ross and Lee Christmas travel to a remote South American island. They visit this location to scout the area before the rest of the mercenary team arrives to carry out the assassination of the island's dictator.