Barney Ross je izkušeni vojak plačanec, ki s svojo ekipo veteranov po naročilu izvaja razne nevarne naloge. Za zadnjo izmed njih ga najame skrivnostni gospod Church, ki želi, da Ross in njegovi odpotujejo na južnoameriški otok Vileno in tam obračunajo s tamkajšnjim diktatorjem, generalom Gazo. Rossa, njegovega zvestega partnerja Christmasa in ostale na otoku pričaka lepa upornica Sandra, ki naj bi jim pomagala izvesti misijo, toda plačanci kmalu ugotovijo, da vse ni tako, kot se zdi in da so se pustili uloviti v smrtonosno past.
Barney Ross leads the "Expendables", a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas, martial arts expert Yin Yang, heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar, demolitionist Toll Road and loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen. When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church to assassinate the merciless dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee head to the remote locale to scout out their opposition. Once there, they meet with local rebel Sandra and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city. When they escape the island and Sandra stays behind, Ross must choose to either walk away and save his own life - or attempt a suicidal rescue mission that might just save his soul.