Jason Statham stars in 'Meg 2: The Trench'. Photo: Handout
Meg 2: The Trench, a movie about giant killer sharks, is dominating box-office sales in China, thanks to a helping hand from the Chinese government.
The film, a joint production between Warner Bros Discovery and local partner China Media Capital, generated US$53.3mil in its debut during the weekend of Aug 4 in China, 77% more than it did in the United States.
The tally for Meg 2 in China already exceeds what Barbie and Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise’s new Mission: Impossible earned in that country since they opened in mid-July.
If the present trend continues, it could end up being the top US film locally in 2023, a spot currently held by Universal Pictures’ Fast X.
Once a great growth engine for Hollywood, the Chinese film market has become tough to crack for US firms.
Studios that used to get prime placement in theatres now wait anxiously to see if they will even be allowed access to the market, as the Chinese government has been favouring local content.
Meg 2, like its 2018 predecessor The Meg, is deemed a local production because it has a significant Chinese partner.
The film, which is largely in English, stars English actor Jason Statham but features Chinese actors in major roles, including one of the country’s biggest stars, Wu Jing, as well as scenes shot in China.
The picture had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June.
Beijing’s support provides huge distribution advantages and outsized marketing access, according to Mr Chris Fenton, an American film producer and trustee of the US-Asia Institute.
“Chinese filmgoers take pride in Meg 2’s national relevancy, leading to bigger attendance,” he said.
The film, about prehistoric megalodon sharks that terrorise modern-day ocean explorers, cost about US$129mil to produce, an amount jointly financed by the two partners.
China Media and its affiliates handled the distribution in that country and keep the local box-office receipts.
The first film in the series generated US$530mil in ticket sales worldwide, including US$153mil in China. – Bloomberg
