A mercenary group known as the Expendables, led by Barney Ross, undertakes what appears to be a straightforward mission: to recover an item from a downed airplane in Albania. The team, consisting of veterans and skilled fighters, easily retrieves the black box from the plane. However, their success is short-lived when they encounter Jean Vilain, the leader of a rival group called the Sangs. Vilain coerces the Expendables into surrendering the item in exchange for one of their own members' lives, revealing the true value of what they’ve stolen. It contains the location of a massive stock of plutonium, enough to change the balance of world power. In the confrontation, the team faces a tragic loss, which strengthens their resolve.

Fueiled by vengeance, the Expendables set out to track down Vilain and stop his plan to mine the plutonium and sell it to the highest bidder. Their journey takes them through treacherous territory, pitting them against both the Sangs and other dangerous elements. As they delve deeper into enemy lines, they also uncover a small, beleaguered village suffering under the shadow of Vilain’s forces. The team must confront their own moral compasses and decide whether to focus solely on their mission or to also take up the cause of the innocent villagers who have become unwitting pawns in Vilain’s ruthless game.