The 2018 action film The Meg, starring Jason Statham, has been added to HBO Max this week, giving subscribers a topical summer watch as heatwaves and extreme weather keep many people away from the beach. The article frames the 114-minute creature feature as an ideal seasonal choice for action fans, with its sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, also available on the platform for those wanting to continue the story.

The Meg follows deep-sea diver Jonas (Statham), hired to rescue researchers trapped in a submarine in the Mariana Trench, where the team unleashes a supposedly extinct prehistoric shark, the Megalodon. Based on Steve Alten's 1997 novel, the film was directed by Jon Turteltaub and features a large ensemble including Rainn Wilson, Cliff Curtis, Ruby Rose and Li Bingbing, and was a co-production with the Chinese film industry. The piece notes the sequel's 2023 release, ongoing fan hopes for a third instalment, and Alten's extensive back catalogue of source novels.