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Jason Statham’s $397M Shark Thriller Surges Across Global Streaming Charts
Jason Statham's shark thriller Meg 2: The Trench has been finding renewed popularity on streaming platforms, resurging across global charts despite a mixed critical reception when it first hit cinemas. The film, a sequel to the hit The Meg, sees Statham return as Jonas Taylor leading a deep-sea research team whose expedition is thrown into chaos by a rogue mining operation and a set of prehistoric sharks, forcing the group to fight for survival. Its streaming success highlights how the film has found a more receptive audience at home than it did with critics on its original release.
Directed by Ben Wheatley, Meg 2 earned $397.8 million worldwide at the box office, a step down from the original Meg's $529 million haul. Critical reviews were notably polarised, with the film scoring just 27% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes compared with a much warmer 72% audience score, suggesting that while professional reviewers were unconvinced, general viewers enjoyed the film considerably more, a divide now reflected in its strong streaming performance.
In short
- Meg 2: The Trench is surging on global streaming charts
- Jason Statham sequel made $397.8M, less than the original Meg
- Critics scored it 27% but audiences gave it 72% on Rotten Tomatoes
Explained simply
Meg 2: The Trench is a 2023 action thriller starring Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor, a deep-sea rescue expert leading a research expedition that descends into chaos when the team encounters prehistoric sharks and a rogue mining operation. The film is the sequel to 2018's The Meg.
The original Meg earned $529 million at the worldwide box office, making it a significant commercial success. Meg 2 made $397.8 million globally, a notable decline, and received mixed critical reviews, scoring just 27% on Rotten Tomatoes compared with 72% from general audiences. This gap between professional critics and viewers was considerable.
The film's current success on streaming platforms highlights this audience-critic divide. Despite mixed reviews from critics, viewers are discovering and enjoying the film at home, suggesting that audiences appreciate its action-focused entertainment more than professional reviewers did. This pattern demonstrates how audience tastes can differ significantly from critical consensus.
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