Jason Statham has starred in various popular film franchises, but his most significant one has been determined following the success of yet another blockbuster movie during the summer of 2023.
Hollywood action hero Jason Statham has starred in several blockbuster movie series throughout his career, but it is now clear that his biggest franchise is the Meg film series. Since his breakout role in The Transporter in 2002, Statham has been a part of some of the most iconic action franchises of the past century. However, with the release of Meg 2: The Trench, Statham’s status as one of Hollywood’s best box office draws has been cemented.
The latest installment of the Meg franchise has continued its impressive theatrical run, with rare international success, grossing over $386 million so far and expected to reach $400 million before moving to streaming. This is a significant achievement, considering that the first film, The Meg, grossed an unexpected $530 million worldwide. Fans loved the concept of Statham as a deep-sea diver battling ancient sea creatures, and the two Meg films have earned almost $1 billion together, making them Statham’s most impressive franchise yet.
Despite being less well-known than other movie series, Meg 2’s box office success is more impressive than even the Fast and Furious series.
Although Meg 2: The Trench is expected to earn $400 million during its theatrical release, it falls short compared to Jason Statham’s other franchise hit, Fast X, which earned $715 million since its release in May. However, some argue that Meg 2’s box office success is more impressive than that of Fast X. Fast & Furious has a 20-year history and featured several famous co-stars, while Meg 2 is only the second film in its series with a niche storyline and no A-list performers. Despite this, Meg 2 managed to maintain 75% of the original film’s box office, with moviegoers supporting it as a perfect summer popcorn movie filled with action and humor. Additionally, the Meg franchise has already surpassed the box office earnings of The Expendables.
In just two films, the Meg franchise has outperformed the Expendables franchise, in which Jason Statham also appears. The first three Expendables movies made just over $800 million globally, but with a significant drop in box office earnings between the second and third films. It remains to be seen what Expend4bles will bring in when it is released in September 2023, but it is unlikely to come close to the $400 million earned by Meg 2: The Trench.
While the Expendables franchise appeals to audiences by bringing together action stars from the past, the novelty has worn off as the fourth installment is prepared for release. On the other hand, movie franchises like Meg can keep drawing audiences despite potential drawbacks, such as Meg 2’s poor Rotten Tomatoes score. This is because they promise more exciting action scenes, bigger creatures, or other enticing elements. It is clear that Jason Statham is the true star of the Meg films.
Jason Statham’s prominence in the Meg franchise is a key factor behind its enduring success. While his other film franchises, such as Fast & Furious and The Expendables, boast bigger names as lead actors, Statham’s star power has propelled the two Meg movies to great heights, with lesser-known performers rounding out the cast. By giving Statham top billing, the Meg franchise allows the charismatic and action-oriented actor to truly shine. Unlike in his supporting role in Vin Diesel or Sylvester Stallone-led films, Statham’s presence takes center stage in Meg 2: The Trench, which was a massive hit in the summer of 2023. It is highly likely that this successful formula will continue in a third Meg movie, where audiences can eagerly anticipate seeing Statham take on new breeds of ancient Megalodons.
