Meg 2 Devours Oppenheimer in Unpredictable Box Office Triumph

Summary

Meg 2: The Trench surprises by surpassing Oppenheimer at the weekend box office, despite negative reviews and a press tour cut short.

The international audience plays a crucial role in the success of the sequel, which has earned $30 million domestically and a staggering $142 million worldwide. The film's popularity overseas is boosted by the inclusion of renowned international stars Wu Jing and Jason Statham teaming up.

The surprise box office upset of the weekend goes to Meg 2: The Trench, surpassing Oppenheimer in ticket sales. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the 2018 film, The Meg, was a commercial success with a worldwide gross of over $530.2 million. Initially, it was expected that Meg 2: The Trench would not perform as well as its predecessor due to overwhelmingly negative reviews prior to its theatrical release, particularly amidst the ongoing "Barbenheimer" box office battle.

However, Warner Bros. has now shared the official box office numbers for Meg 2: The Trench, revealing that it has indeed knocked Oppenheimer out of second place for the first time since its release. Domestically, the sequel earned $30 million, surpassing Oppenheimer's $28.7 million and securing third place. Impressively, Meg 2: The Trench earned a remarkable $142 million worldwide.

Meg 2: The Trench's Box Office Explained

While the domestic opening of Meg 2: The Trench fell below its predecessor's $45.4 million, its success at the box office can be attributed to its international audience. Despite negative reviews and a shortened press tour due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the film opened with a higher gross than the first installment's initial $101.5 million. The international viewers showed more enthusiasm for the sequel compared to North American audiences, contributing to the overall success of Meg 2: The Trench within a highly competitive theatrical landscape.

One of the key factors that make the Meg movies popular globally is their ability to feature internationally renowned stars who consistently attract audiences in foreign countries. For instance, in the 2018 film, Li Bingbing and Winston Chao starred alongside Jonas Taylor portrayed by Statham. In Meg 2: The Trench, Wu Jing joined the cast. Wu is known as one of China's most profitable actors, and his movies, such as Wolf Warrior 2 and The Wandering Earth, have achieved tremendous success both in China and worldwide.

Statham's fame in North America is well known, but the real draw of Meg 2: The Trench could lie in his collaboration with Wu, who is making his Hollywood debut. This partnership might be one of the main factors contributing to the film's international success surpassing its performance in the domestic market. Surprisingly, even in North America, Oppenheimer couldn't compete with the sequel's allure, despite receiving mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. Only time will tell how Meg 2: The Trench will fare in its second weekend and beyond.