Sylvester Stallone scored the biggest opening of his career with his new film "The Expendables." Lionsgate said that the all-star mercenary thriller earned an estimated $35 million across the United States and Canada during its first three days of release.

Speaking to Hollywood Reporter, Stallone said "I never thought we would win this weekend, as we were up against some tough competition." The 'Expendables' was up against the Julia Robert's starrer 'Eat Pray Love' and the action comedy 'The Other Guys.'

Stallone admitted that his movie is never gonna be critical darling. 'Most action films tend to rub people the wrong way. This is not to disparage critics, but the more physical and brutal an action film is, the least well it is received.' While that may be true, the film still played strongest with older men who are nostalgic for '80s action flicks. Lionsgate said that men accounted for 61 percent of the audience, and 60 percent of viewers were aged over 25.