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Action thriller

The Meg (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

The Meg (2018) movie poster

The Meg is a 2018 action thriller directed by Jon Turteltaub, starring Winston Chao as Zhang, Jason Statham and Robert Taylor. It is based on The MEG by Steve Alten. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $529.3 million worldwide on a $130 million budget. Critics gave it 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Stream it on Bloodstream and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
47%
worldwide gross
$529.3M
Echo Score
73
The Meg (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Director
Jon Turteltaub
Genres
Action , Sci-Fi , Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$130M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Meg About?

The premise of The Meg without spoilers, adapted from The MEG by Steve Alten. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A deep-sea submersible is stranded in the Pacific's deepest trench, and its crew faces a terrifying threat: the Megalodon, a massive shark believed to be extinct. Oceanographer Dr. Minway Zhang recruits expert diver Jonas Taylor to rescue the trapped crew. Taylor must confront his past traumas and overcome his fears to battle this enormous prehistoric creature and protect humanity from its destructive power.

The Meg Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • prehistoric animal
  • megalodon
  • creature feature
  • giant shark
  • shark
  • predator
  • deep sea
  • based on novel
  • altered version of studio logo
  • survival
  • great white shark
  • jaws
+38 more
  • submersible
  • carcharodon
  • chase
  • helicopter
  • giant animal
  • giant creature
  • giant monster
  • whale
  • dog
  • disaster
  • high tech
  • diver
  • submarine
  • rescue
  • rescue mission
  • beach
  • hero
  • shanghai china
  • thailand
  • doctor
  • sea monster
  • boat
  • yacht
  • sea creature
  • wedding
  • bar
  • underwater rescue
  • giant squid
  • bikini
  • teeth
  • giant
  • title spoken by character
  • betrayal
  • sea
  • elephant
  • tent pole
  • closer
  • ancient
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Meg

Stream it on Bloodstream and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Meg Cast & Characters

Winston Chao leads the cast as Zhang, with Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor and Robert Taylor as Heller. Directed by Jon Turteltaub; 13 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

The Meg Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Meg 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 73/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (50).

73 /100

The Meg Echo Score Breakdown

In overall terms, The Meg delivers an agreeable brand of large-scale spectacle balanced by modest narrative ambitions. Enthusiastic reaction often highlights its kinetic thrills and uncomplicated fun, while dissenting voices note generic plotting and uneven character work. Its consistent emphasis on entertainment over depth yields a broadly engaging experience despite occasional pacing hiccups. The result is a crowd-pleasing summer feature that offers reliable thrills but stops short of lasting dramatic resonance.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, The Meg capitalizes on bold production design and dynamic framing to create an immersive spectacle. Reviews frequently praise crisp cinematography that underscores underwater enormity, and energetic editing that sustains momentum. While direction remains unambitious, the visual cohesion supports the film’s intended escapist tone. Overall, its technical presentation is a robust element that effectively showcases the shark’s scale and propulsive action set pieces.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    In terms of character dynamics, The Meg benefits from Jason Statham’s confident presence and sporadic moments of interpersonal chemistry. Several commentators cite genuine connections among the ensemble, but many also criticize limited depth in supporting roles and occasional reliance on stereotypes. Emotional beats register intermittently amid broadly sketched personalities. The net effect is a serviceable character framework that offers engaging performance highlights but lacks sustained emotional complexity.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, The Meg delivers straightforward plotting centered on familiar monster-versus-hero tropes. Enthusiasts note brisk pacing and consistent escalation of peril, yet critiques commonly highlight predictability, schematic structure, and a rushed resolution. The narrative rarely ventures into unexpected territory, and plot inconsistencies occasionally surface. As a result, its flow maintains audience interest through energetic momentum but offers limited originality or narrative depth.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    In terms of sensory experience, The Meg generates a lively audio-visual atmosphere marked by a driving score and immersive sound design. Commentators applaud the effective use of musical cues to heighten suspense and the coherent visual style that underscores the shark’s impact. While sound mixing occasionally underplays dialogue clarity, the overall sensory approach amplifies key action set pieces. The result is an engaging sonic and visual package.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, The Meg offers consistent entertainment potential through its blend of humor and spectacle. Observers note that the film’s self-aware tone and rapid-fire action yield enjoyable repeat viewings, though the novelty diminishes once the predictable beats become familiar. Its charm endures primarily for fans of high-concept creature features. Overall, it sustains moderate replay value but may not hold lasting appeal beyond the initial viewing.

Plot

The Meg Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Meg from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the gripping opening sequence, Jonas Taylor, portrayed by Jason Statham, is a seasoned diver tasked with rescuing a team trapped in a wrecked submarine. Despite his efforts to save them, including Dr. Heller played by Robert Taylor, they face a perilous, unseen attacker, forcing Jonas to make a heart-wrenching decision to abandon the sub and escape, just as it is violently destroyed.

Full summary

The whole story of The Meg, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Meg Box Office & Budget

The Meg grossed $529.3 million worldwide on a $130 million budget, 4.1 times what it cost. $145.5 million came from the US and Canada and $383.8 million (73%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$529.3M

4.1× its budget

US & Canada
$145.5M
International
$383.8M
Budget
$130M
US & Canada 27% Rest of the world 73%
Videos

The Meg Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 2 trailers and 6 clips.

All 8 videos
Official Trailer #1
  • Trailer Digital Trailer
  • Clip Cage is Being Swallowed
  • Clip Extended Preview
  • Clip The Enormous Killer Shark
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Meg?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the character Jonas Taylor?

Cars

Cars in The Meg

6 cars on screen, including the 2018 Cushman Hauler and the Honda CG 125.

All 6 cars
  • 2018 Cushman Hauler in The Meg 2018 Cushman Hauler Minor role
  • Honda CG 125 in The Meg Honda CG 125 Minor role
  • Honda CG 125 in The Meg Honda CG 125 Background role
  • Honda CG 125 in The Meg Honda CG 125 Background role
Details

The Meg Also Known As

36 alternative titles, including “Meg: Tubarão Gigante” and “Mégalodon”.

Also known as
  • Meg: Tubarão Gigante
  • Mégalodon
  • Megatubarão [The Meg] (2018)
  • Megatubarão - The Meg (2018)
  • Megalodón
  • เม็ก โคตรหลามพันล้านปี
  • Meg 1
  • Мег: Монстр глубины
  • En eaux troubles
  • Megatubarão
  • Shark - Il primo squalo
  • Meg
+24 more
  • Meg: Ο Κυρίαρχος του Βυθού
  • 메가로돈
  • Мега звяр
  • Megalodonas: Grėsmė iš gelmių
  • אימה במצולות
  • Мег
  • 極悍巨鯊
  • 巨齿鲨
  • Meg - Az őscápa
  • Meg: Derinlerdeki Dehşet
  • MEG: Monstrum z hlubin
  • Мегалодон
  • 巨齒鯊
  • Megalodons
  • MEG ザ・モンスター
  • MEG: Hrozba z hlbín
  • الميق
  • MEG: Confruntare în adâncuri
  • Cá Mập Siêu Bạo Chúa
  • Megalodon: Predator iz globin
  • Meg: Predator iz dubina
  • مگ
  • Megalodon
  • द मेग, ზღვის ურჩხული: MEG

Seen The Meg?

FAQ

The Meg FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of The Meg, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Meg?

The Meg runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was The Meg released?

The Meg was released on August 10, 2018.

Who directed The Meg?

The Meg was directed by Jon Turteltaub.

More films by Jon Turteltaub

Who is in the cast of The Meg?

The Meg stars Winston Chao as Zhang, Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor and Robert Taylor as Heller, among 13 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Meg?

In the US, The Meg is streaming on Bloodstream, Fandango at Home Free and fuboTV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did The Meg make at the box office?

The Meg grossed $529.3 million worldwide ($145.5 million domestic, $383.8 million international) on a budget of $130 million.

How is The Meg rated?

The Meg has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62% on TMDB and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd.

Is The Meg based on a book?

Yes. The Meg is adapted from The MEG by Steve Alten.

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