Jason Statham’s Sea franchise movies have top-notch popularity for entertainment appeal with their action-packed sequences with their thrilling encounters with prehistoric creatures. The 2018’s The Meg captures deep sea diver Statham facing off against a gigantic shark that terrorizes a research facility.

Despite its mixed reviews and criticisms, the movie was a commercial hit, further solidifying Statham’s industry value. Given the undeniable success of the previous flick, the recent sequel, Meg 2: The Trench carried forward the legacy, invading a substantial box office impact.

Jason Statham’s Meg 2: The Trench holds steady despite critic pans

Meg 2: The Trench
Meg 2: The Trench continues with a sea-breathing adventure of Jason Statham’s Jonas Taylor, who faces new challenges in his new mission to explore the uncharted depths of the ocean. As he delves deeper, he encounters formidable underwater creatures that push him to his limits.

Regardless of its thrilling storyline and exciting pitch, the movie failed to embark on a success trajectory as high as its predecessors and was panned by critics. Despite its bashing and lackluster reception, the movie secured another million in its sixth week of release. This came from 77 overseas territories, earning an average of $304.2 million, giving the movie a global running tally of $384.9 million.

The decent financial haul suggests more Meg ventures

Although the previous movie garnered $530 million worldwide during its theatrical run, with its heart-pounding actions and thrilling storyline, it captivated the audience, eliciting their anticipation for a sequel that sadly ended with a disappointing reception and underwhelming performance. Despite its tragic reception, the movie, however, managed to grab a decent audience outside its domestic market.
Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor in The Meg
Meg 2: The Trench, making a decent collection with $384 million, might not reach the targeted $400 million mark, but the film’s $129 million budget ensures a profitable return to Warner Bros. Because of the film’s decent financial success, coupled with a dedicated, sizable audience, it probably suggests more sea adventures with Jonas Taylor in the future.

Jason Statham’s movie, ensemble with a star-studded cast

The new movie, Meg 2, comes with familiar faces from the first, including Shuya Sophia Cai as Meiying, Cliff Curtis from Avatar: The Way of Water, and S.W.A.T. actor Page Kennedy as DJ. The sequel also cast a well-known Chinese megastar, Jing Wu, known for hit films like The Wandering Earth and Wolf Warrior. Some fresh ensembles include Sergio Peris-Mencheta from Resident Evil: Afterlife, Melissanthi Mahut, recognized for her work in The Other Me, and Skyler Samuels from The Gifted.
Meg 2: The Trench character poster
Created by Ben Wheatley from a screenplay by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, and Dean Georgaris, Meg 2: The Trench is based on the novel The Trench by Steve Alten. The film was produced by Charlie Reed, Belle Avery, Cliff Lanning, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura and is a collaboration between China Media Capital Pictures, Apelles Entertainment, DF Pictures, and Di Bonaventura Pictures.

The Meg 2: The Trench was released on August 4, 2023, and had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Source: Collider