The movie's making a killing in China.
The Big Picture At a time when China’s impact on the box office performance of Hollywood films has become negligible — mainly because of sanctions and a burgeoning local industry — Meg 2: The Trench is an anomaly. Granted, it's a Chinese co-production, but even though the surprise sequel to the hit 2018 film The Meg didn’t make much of an impact at the domestic box office this past weekend, it’s doing exceedingly well in the Middle Kingdom.
Warner Bros. released the film alongside Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and only two weeks after the blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer. Meg 2 has since grossed $37 million at the domestic box office, and has made $115 million from international territories, for a running global haul of $152 million. To this worldwide total, China has contributed $53 million, making it the film’s most lucrative territory. There’s precedent here.
But a lot has changed since 2018. The pandemic didn’t merely alter how movies are produced and consumed, but it made the world’s biggest film market, China, practically inaccessible for foreign titles. And this was after Hollywood studios spent a solid decade trying to appease Chinese audiences by casting popular local talent in big franchises such as Transformers and Star Wars. The first Meg featured, for instance, Li Bingbing in a supporting role.
Despite Mixed Reviews, the Franchise Is Swimming Along Based on the book series by author Steve Alten, The Meg was directed by Jon Turteltaub — a filmmaker with proven franchise experience. Meg 2, on the other hand, has been helmed by Ben Wheatley, the director of oddball British titles such as High-Rise, Sightseers and Kill List.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meg 2: The Trench Director on Balancing Humor with High-Stakes ActionMeg 2: The Trench director Ben Wheatley is revealing how he managed to balance the film's high-stakes action with its zany, outlandish humor Meg2
Read more »
Shudder’s ‘Sharksploitation’ Gives Respect to One of Cinema's Most Ridiculed Subgenres'Jaws' and its descendants are given the documentary treatment they deserve. If the past three years have been any indication, there is currently a wave of renewed interest in shark movies. Not even counting the numerous low-budget productions, recent theatrically released shark movies include The Requin, The Reef: Stalked, The Black Demon, and Meg 2: The Trench, the latter likely being the most widely known.
Read more »
Shark Movies Are Having a Crisis. Who Will Save Them?The future of shark movies is uncertain as the success of sequels like Meg 2 raises concerns about diminishing returns. Despite its charm, Meg 2 struggles to find its identity.
Read more »
Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Shares Baby Bump Photos as She Anticipates the Arrival of Her First Child with Travis BarkerKourtney Kardashian, who is expecting her first child with husband Travis Barker, took to Instagram to share adorable pictures of her baby bump. She showcased her growing belly during a training session and while on vacation in Hawaii, wearing a pink asymmetrical bodysuit and a white trench coat.
Read more »
Nice Saves: 13 Must-Have Items on Sale This WeekCheck out these 13 must-have items on sale this week, including sleek Off-White sunglasses and celeb-loved New Balance sneakers. Don't miss out on the opportunity to grab this Sacai coat, which combines the styles of a blazer, trench coat, and tuxedo jacket in one. It can be paired with various outfits, from shredded light-wash jeans and lightweight turtlenecks to sleek black trousers and little black dresses.
Read more »