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Jason Statham Meets ‘Jaws’ in HBO Max’s Latest Late-Night Favorite
The Meg, a 2018 shark thriller starring Jason Statham, has become one of HBO Max's ten most-streamed films in the US, showing renewed audience appetite for the "sharksploitation" genre nearly 50 years after Steven Spielberg's Jaws set the template. The film pits Statham against a giant prehistoric megalodon and also stars Rainn Wilson and Cliff Curtis, having significantly outperformed industry expectations on release.
Made on a reported budget of $178 million, The Meg grossed $529 million worldwide ($145 million domestically and $384 million overseas), success that led to a 2023 sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, which also performed well. Director Ben Wheatley has expressed interest in a third instalment, but Warner Bros. is not currently thought to be pursuing one, even as the original continues to find a large late-night streaming audience.
In short
- The Meg is currently a top-ten most-streamed film on HBO Max
- 2018 film made $529 million globally against a $178 million budget
- A third Meg film looks unlikely despite director Ben Wheatley's interest
Explained simply
The Meg is a 2018 action thriller in which Jason Statham battles a giant prehistoric megalodon shark. The film was made as a contemporary entry into a long-established film genre centred on shark-based threats, which was popularised by Steven Spielberg's Jaws nearly 50 years ago.
The film earned over $500 million worldwide upon its release, far exceeding industry expectations, and spawned a successful 2023 sequel, Meg 2: The Trench. The enduring popularity of films about shark threats reflects sustained viewer interest in this type of entertainment.