The mere thought ofJason Stathambattling a giant shark with nothing more than a spear is enough to make anyactionfan drool with delight, but it’s a scene that actually happened in his blockbuster 2023 sci-fi action sequel that’s now taken a commanding spot on the free streaming charts. After all, nothing says “action hero” like holding the weight of a 60-ton megalodon with the power of your quadriceps, proving that it’s best not to skip leg day at the gym.
We’re, of course, talking aboutMeg 2: The Trench, Statham’s follow-up to his 2018 hit that was based on the novel by Steve Alten, but took many creative liberties with its story. Raking in a massive $397 million at the box office, it failed to meet the highs of the first movie, but was still a fun popcorn flick nonetheless that featured the return of Statham’s Jonas Taylor battling not one megalodon like in the book, but three massive giant prehistoric mackerel sharks. Eat your heart out,Jaws.
Sadly, likeThe Megbefore it,Meg 2wasn’t met with a warm reception from critics. While the first movie managed to snag a 47% rating, the sequel earned just 27% from 184 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. By contrast,The Meg’s audience score sits at 44%, whileMeg 2leads with a stunning 72%, signifying that more sharks mean more rabid fans eager to see blood spilled, and why the heck not?Meg 2doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not:a giant spectacle that’s bigger than the firstand filled with absurd action sequences that have led many to call it “Sharknadowith a larger budget.” If that doesn’t sound like fun, we don’t know what does.
What’s the Status of ‘Meg 3: Primal Waters?’
While theMegfranchise seems ripe for another sequel, Warner Bros. has yet to give the green light for an adaptation of Alten’s third book in the series,Meg: Primal Waters. That doesn’t mean it’s not in the cards for the studio, which is currently in the process of undergoing some restructuring that is perhaps holding things up. Complicating matters further is the fact thatMeg 2underperformed at the box office and, as mentioned, wasn’t exactly met with critical praise, so it remains uncertain which direction things will take.
That being said, an adaptation ofMeg: Primal Waterswould certainly be an even bigger spectacle than the previous two movies, as its plot centers around a reality TV series that Jonas is convinced to participate in which pits people against dangerous ocean challenges. Unbeknownst to almost everybody is the fact that where it takes place is home to some new megalodons that are descendants of the ones our hero previously dispatched, proving thatJaws: The Revengewas right, and that the darn things can hold one heck of a grudge.
As we await news on anotherMegmovie, be sure to check outMeg 2: The Trench, which is streaming now for free on Tubi, and currently sits in the #3 positionon their Top 10 list.
The Meg 2: The Trench
