In 2018, “The Meg” made a colossal splash at the box office, debuting with a whopping $45 million in the United States and ultimately amassing a staggering $530 million globally. It’s hardly surprising that Warner Bros. has returned to the waters with “Meg 2: The Trench,” currently gracing theaters worldwide.

So, how’s this aquatic sequel faring in the box office depths? “Meg 2: The Trench” debuted with $30 million in the United States over the weekend, a figure $15 million below the initial movie’s 2018 opening. However, Warner Bros. is banking on “Meg 2” reeling in the bulk of its profits internationally. Indeed, the film has already reeled in a notable $142 million on a global scale.

Significantly, a substantial chunk of this worldwide sum hails from China.

Film analyst Scott Mendelson highlights, “In China, ‘Meg 2’ surfaced with a $53 million opening, slightly surpassing the $50 million launch of ‘The Meg’ in 2018. This achievement marks the third instance since 2019 of a Hollywood sequel outperforming its respective franchise predecessor in China, joining the ranks of ‘Avatar 2’ and ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong.'”

The question lingers: Will “Meg 2” manage to reach the lofty $530 million global benchmark set by its predecessor in the weeks ahead? And could Warner Bros. soon greenlight yet another sequel? Our gaze remains fixed on these developments…

The reported production budget for this fresh 2023 sequel ranges from $129 million to $139 million, slightly lower than its predecessor’s reported $130 million to $178 million budget.

In “Meg 2: The Trench,” “A team of researchers, led by Jason Statham, faces a multitude of perils while delving into the ocean’s depths, contending with a sinister mining operation.”

Directed by Ben Wheatley (known for “In the Earth” and “Free Fire”), “Meg 2: The Trench” boasts a screenplay by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (of “The Meg” and “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” fame) and Dean Georgaris (who worked on “The Meg” and “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life”), along with a screen story by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, all adapted from Steve Alten’s novel “The Trench.”