Jason Statham's $530M Shark Thriller 'The Meg' Lands on HBO Max
Jason Statham has faced hackers, mutineers, traffickers, and mafia bosses. But his most formidable foe to date has been, quite literally, enormous. When a 75-foot prehistoric predator is hunting you from the deep, closing the beach seems sensible. Staying on dry land feels even better. Not for the Stath.
Statham (The Beekeeper) stars in The Meg, which officially found a new streaming home last week when the sci-fi monster movie landed on HBO Max in the United States. Jon Turteltaub's (National Treasure) gloriously silly 2018 blockbuster became a much bigger hit than anyone expected, eventually earning more than $530 million worldwide and spawning a sequel.
What is 'The Meg' about?
In The Meg, a massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible, leaving it disabled and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. With time running out, rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) must save the crew and the ocean itself from an unimaginable threat: a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the megalodon.
The cast also features Li Bingbing (Transformers: Age of Extinction) as Suyin Zhang, Rainn Wilson (The Office) as Jack Morris, Ruby Rose (Orange Is the New Black) as Jaxx Herd, Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) as James “Mac” Mackreides, Winston Chao (The Wedding Banquet) as Dr. Minway Zhang, Page Kennedy (Rush Hour) as DJ, and Jessica McNamee (Mortal Kombat) as Lori.
How did critics and audiences react?
Nobody was expecting “Jason Statham, Shark Puncher” to be a critical hit. The reaction from critics reflects this, with the movie currently sitting at 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. But judging it on a scale of anything other than Statham punching a shark seems silly, and audiences certainly understood the assignment.
The Meg opened at No. 1 domestically before swimming all the way to approximately $530 million worldwide, including roughly $155 million in North America and another $155 million from China. It became the highest-grossing Chinese-American co-production at the time and comfortably earned itself another encounter with prehistoric sea life.
Is there a sequel?
That sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, followed in 2023 with Statham returning as Jonas. It added more giant sharks and even more prehistoric monsters because, apparently, the lesson from the first movie was that one megalodon simply isn't enough.
The Meg is streaming now on HBO Max in the United States.
Frequently asked questions about 'The Meg'
Where can I watch 'The Meg'?
The Meg is currently streaming on HBO Max in the United States.
How much money did 'The Meg' make at the box office?
The film earned approximately $530 million worldwide, including about $155 million in North America and $155 million in China.
Who directed 'The Meg'?
Jon Turteltaub, known for National Treasure, directed the 2018 blockbuster.
Is there a sequel to 'The Meg'?
Yes, Meg 2: The Trench was released in 2023 with Jason Statham returning in the lead role.