Maps of Movies

The Expendables 2 (2012)

Where The Expendables 2 says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

The film says Nepal, the camera says Bulgaria in winter: almost the whole shoot was in Bulgaria, with snow removed digitally

Scenes and places

The opening rescue in Nepal (2012)

The team goes in to free a captured Chinese businessman, and rescues Ross's rival Trent Mauser along the way. It is the young sniper Billy's first big job with the group.

Set in Nepal — Where the team rescues a Chinese businessman held by a Nepalese militia, in a riverside stronghold.

A South Asian country in the story; the real shoot was a Bulgarian winter turned tropical with effects.

Filmed at Hong Kong (opening interior set) (Hong Kong, China) — Wikipedia lists Hong Kong among the filming locations; which scene was shot there, and where, is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Back in New Orleans (2012)

Billy tells Barney he wants to quit at the end of the month and settle down with Sophia. Barney, short of men and out of favour with the CIA, is soon pulled into one more job.

Set in New Orleans — The team returns home, and Billy tells Barney he plans to retire at the end of the month to live with his girlfriend Sophia. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Louisiana port city where the team lives and works.

Filmed at New Orleans (New Orleans, United States) — Wikipedia lists New Orleans among the filming locations; which scene or building is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The downed plane in Albania (2012)

Barney is forced by the CIA's Mr. Church to take one last errand, and the team retrieves the item. Vilain's group ambushes them and takes Billy hostage, demanding the item in exchange.

Set in Albania (crash site) — Where the team recovers an item from a downed airplane and is ambushed by Jean Vilain's criminal group, the Sangs.

A country in the Balkans; no filming source for this scene was found.

The abandoned Soviet base in Bulgaria (2012)

Out of ammunition against the Sangs and a tank, the team is saved by Barney's old friend Booker. He also points them to villagers who oppose Vilain.

Set in Abandoned Soviet military base, Bulgaria — Where the team stays overnight, then comes under attack by the Sangs and a tank.

A Cold War relic in the story; no filming source for this scene was found.

The village that fights back (2012)

The women ask for help because the village's men are being forced into slavery in the mine. The Sangs arrive to round up villagers and are ambushed by the Expendables.

Set in Anti-Vilain village, Bulgaria — A village where armed women guard their children from Vilain's forces while local men are taken to work the mine.

A small Bulgarian village in the story; a fxguide article mentions a plane landing in a village field but names no village.

The plutonium mine (2012)

The team rescues the enslaved miners, but Vilain escapes with the plutonium. He then detonates charges that trap miners and Expendables alike.

Set in Plutonium mine, Bulgaria — A mine abandoned by the Soviet Union that holds weapons-grade plutonium; the team crashes its plane through the adit to enter.

A real cave in Bulgaria; for the film, its inside was rebuilt in the computer from more than 5,000 photographs.

Filmed at Devetashka Cave, Lovech Province (Devetashka Cave, Lovech, Bulgaria) — Exterior and the rebuilt bridge over the Osam River were filmed here; the cave interior was recreated digitally. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The airport showdown (2012)

Freed from the collapse, the team chases Vilain to an airport where he is about to fly out. Joined again by Booker, they fight the Sangs head on.

Set in Airport where Vilain tries to leave — An airport where Vilain prepares to flee by plane while the Expendables, Trench, Church and Booker engage the Sangs.

A working airport near Plovdiv, Bulgaria, used for much of the film's biggest battle.

Filmed at Plovdiv Airport (Plovdiv Airport, Plovdiv, Bulgaria) — Bulgaria's second-largest airport was a main set: gunfights, explosions and car chases throughout the terminal. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Ognyanovo Reservoir — Boat explosion stunt (second unit); link to a story scene not stated Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Bansko — Not stated in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Barney Ross — Leader of the Expendables, a mercenary team.
• Billy the Kid — The group's youngest and newest member, a sniper.
• Jean Vilain — An international criminal and arms dealer hunting a plutonium stash.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was the plutonium mine in The Expendables 2 really filmed?
• Where is the airport showdown in The Expendables 2 filmed?