Sly Stallone & “The Expendables” Outmuscle Julia Roberts At Weekend Box Office

Sylvester Stallone back on top of the box office — The Expendables stole the top spot at the box office this weekend, earning $35 million in its first week of release. Julia Roberts’ Eat, Pray, Love — the big-screen adaptation of the bestselling memoir about a woman’s international search for herself — came in second, opening with $23.7 million.

The Expendables features such action stars as Jet Li and Jason Statham — along with cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger — in a tale of mercenaries aiming to overthrow a dictator.

The film proved most popular with middle-aged men, who are nostalgic for ‘80s action flicks with high body counts and loud explosions.

The hit opening marks a boost not only for Stallone, who directed and co-wrote the project, but also for Lionsgate, whose Lions Gate Entertainment Corp parent is fending off a hostile takeover from investor Carl Icahn.

A sequel is reportedly in the works.