Jason Statham has emerged as one of the biggest action stars of the modern era, with the success of “Meg 2: The Trench” potentially signaling a new franchise direction for the actor. The year 2023 was challenging for blockbusters at the box office, with many films that were expected to be hits underperforming. Several of Statham’s movies also faced this issue, failing both critically and commercially. However, “Meg 2: The Trench” managed to buck the trend and prove to be a successful film, suggesting a promising future for Statham in major movie franchises.
“The Meg” and its sequel have been surprising successes at the box office, despite being over-the-top shark movies. Statham, known for his roles in grounded and serious action films, wasn’t initially associated with CGI-heavy blockbusters about figҺting prehistoric sharks. Nevertheless, the recent wave of success for Statham can be attributed to “The Meg,” highlighting an interesting shift in his career towards franchise films.
In 2023, Statham appeared in four movies, but “Meg 2: The Trench” was the only one that achieved box-office success. With a budget of around $139 million, the film managed to earn $395 million, surpassing the profitability rule of thumb of doubling the budget to account for distribution and advertising costs. In a year where many blockbusters struggled financially, “Meg 2: The Trench” stood out as Statham’s biggest box office success.
In contrast, Statham’s other movies in 2023 didn’t fare as well. “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” made $49.1 million on a $50 million budget, “Fast X” earned $714.6 million on a $340 million budget (barely breаking even), and “The Expendables 4” flopped, making only $51.1 million on a $100 million budget. These underperformances underscored the significance of “Meg 2: The Trench” as Statham’s most profitable film in 2023.
“The Meg” franchise seems to be a perfect fit for Statham. It offers a lucrative action franchise where he is the sole star, prominently featured in trailers and posters. “The Meg” films provide big, dumb, and fun entertainment, allowing for the possibility of multiple sequels without diminishing the franchise’s appeal.
While Statham is part of other successful franchises such as “Fast & Furious” and “The Expendables,” he isn’t the primary star in those series. In “Fast & Furious,” he shares the spotlight with Vin Diesel, and even in the spinoff “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took the lead, with Statham playing a supporting role. Similarly, in “The Expendables,” Statham is part of an ensemble cast led by Sylvester Stallone. However, in “The Meg,” Statham has the opportunity to shine as the sole star.
As for the possibility of “Meg 3,” although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, it appears likely given the box office success of the previous two films. Director Ben Wheatley has expressed interest in exploring more of the Meg universe, indicating his eagerness to continue the franchise. While “Meg 2: The Trench” is still relatively new, fans can anticipate news of a third installment in the near future.