Jason Statham’s popular monster movie is ready to make its streaming debut as “The Meg” arrives on HBO Max on July 1, giving fans a chance to relive the intense ocean adventure. This much-anticipated Jason Statham monster movie streaming release brings back the thrilling battle between man and prehistoric beast that captured audiences worldwide.
Action Superstar Faces a Prehistoric Threat
Jason Statham, known for his roles battling international criminals and killers, confronts one of his biggest adversaries yet in “The Meg.” As viewers have often wondered,
What if Jason Statham had to kill a kaiju?
This movie answers that hypothetical by pitting Statham against a colossal underwater creature. In exclusive comments for MovieWeb, Ackie highlighted Statham’s collaboration with director Ric Roman Waugh, building anticipation for this action-packed installment.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub and based loosely on the 1997 novel by Steve Alten, “The Meg” features Statham as Jonas Taylor, a determined rescue diver. The film’s script, written by Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, and Erich Hoeber, assembles a strong cast that includes Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, and Cliff Curtis. Together, they face a nightmare scenario as a 75-foot-long megalodon escapes from the depths of the Mariana Trench, threatening the ocean and all who venture near its waters.
The movie’s official synopsis sets the stage for a tense rescue mission and an epic battle beneath the Pacific:
“Previously thought to be extinct, a massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible, leaving it disabled and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific. With time running out, a visionary oceanographer recruits rescue diver Jonas Taylor to save the crew and the sea itself from an unimaginable threat — a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon.”
Box Office Success and Franchise Potential
Stepping away from his usual martial arts prowess, Jason Statham brings his signature drive and grit as a world-weary rescue diver in “The Meg.” While he does not attempt to punch the megalodon, his character’s mix of heroism and cynicism brings depth to the film. Upon release, the film polarized critics and audiences, tallying a 47% critics score and 44% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite these split opinions, “The Meg” achieved a standout performance at the box office, earning $530 million globally. This made it Statham’s top-grossing film outside his appearances in the Fast and Furious franchise, marking a major achievement for both the actor and the studio.
The film’s success led to the release of a sequel, “Meg 2: The Trench,” in 2023. While critics rated the follow-up even lower, with a 27% score, the movie found greater favor with everyday audiences, achieving a 72% on the Popcornmeter. The sequel allowed Statham to take on more action-packed sequences, further satisfying his fans and contributing to another strong box office showing. The impressive take raises questions about the franchise’s future, especially with six Meg novels providing ample material for further oceanic adventures.
Looking ahead to potential new installments, director Ben Wheatley shared his hopes for another sequel, emphasizing the story’s international scope and depth:
You don’t want to talk about it until Meg 2 is out, but I hope [to see a third installment]. There’s a lot more to explore in that world. It’s very rich. The international-ness of it is very interesting.
—Ben Wheatley, Director
What Lies Ahead for “The Meg” Franchise and Streaming Fans
The arrival of “The Meg” on HBO Max signals new opportunities for fans to revisit or discover the underwater thriller that turned Jason Statham into a modern-day giant killer. As speculation grows around a potential third film, supporters can enjoy the original’s blend of suspense and action from the comfort of home. With the studio backed by compelling box office returns and with further stories to adapt from Steve Alten’s novels, both critics and viewers await confirmation of future cinematic dives into the world’s most terrifying waters.
