“The Meg” devoured the competition at the domestic box office.
Warner Bros.’ big-budget shark thriller opened well above expectations, biting off $44.5 million when it opened in 4,118 North American locations. That was easily enough to nab the No. 1 slot over “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” which picked up $20 million in its third outing for a domestic tally of $162 million.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – AUGUST 06: Ruby Rose, Jason Statham and Jessica McNamee attend Warner Bros. Pictures And Gravity Pictures’ Premiere of ‘The Meg’ at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on August 6, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
“The Meg,” which is a co-production with China, will still have to secure big returns overseas to justify its expensive $130 million production budget. It’s not quite in the black yet, but it’s off to a good start given a $96.8 million international tally. In the Middle Kingdom, it generated a strong $50 million. Imax screens accounted for $13.6 million of “The Meg’s” $141.3 million global total.
With $44.5 million, “The Meg” secured the best opening of the year for Warner Bros., ahead of “Ready Player One” ($41.7 million) and “Ocean’s 8” ($41.6 million).
