“The Meg” Takes A Surprising Bite Of The Weekend Box Office!

Turns out that while industry analysts didn’t have faith in Warner Bros.’ The Meg, the prehistoric-shark flick was able to attract a sizeable audience. Jason Statham’s latest movie bit off an estimated $44.5 million at North American theatres, way more than what was previously projected and giving the studio it’s biggest opening of 2018 yet!

Not only did The Meg manage a surprising domestic opening weekend debut, it went on to collect $97 million overseas with more than half of the gross coming from China. If you watched the film’s trailer you would know how important it was for the title to do well in the Middle Kingdom.

Not only is The Meg co-produced and co-financed by Gravity Pictures (a Chinese company), it also features Asian talent along with an action-heavy scene involving the megalodon attacking a Chinese beach. While having Asian talent be part of a film isn’t something new, what’s great about The Meg is it stars Li Bingbing as a proper female lead rather than making her a supporting character for some diversity points.

Having watched The Meg, I can tell you that Bingbing’s Suyin Zhang is an awesome role. Furthermore, Ruby Rose plays Jaxx Herd while Jessica McNamee is Lori. All of the women are accomplished in their respective professions and play important roles in The Meg. It was a refreshing thing to see on the big screen.

As of now, The Meg has gone on to make $141.5 million at the global box office against a production and advertising budget that’s being estimated to be north of $200 million. I recommend you go see it if you’re into enjoyable shark films where women aren’t treated as mere love interests, damsels in distress or shark fodder.

Coming to the rest of the box office, Tom Cruise’s Misson: Impossible – Fallout (Paramount) fell to number two with $20 million. Disney’s Christopher Robin came in third with $12.4 million. Sony’s Slender Man debuted in fourth place with $11.3 million.

Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features) was fifth with $10.8 million. The film has been getting rave reviews. So, you might hear more about it once the award season rolls in.

Have you watched The Meg? Let us know what you thought of it.

(via Box Office Mojo)

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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