The Meg Devours the Competition

The American-Chinese co-production doubles estimated draw
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 12, 2018 12:02 PM CDT
The Meg Gobbles Up $44.5M as Spike Lee Opens Strong
This image released by Focus Features shows Adam Driver, left, and John David Washington in a scene from "BlacKkKlansman."   (David Lee/Focus Features via AP)

The shark thriller The Meg became the latest success in Hollywood's sizzling summer, opening well above expectations with $44.5 million in ticket sales, according to box office estimates Sunday, the AP reports. The Warner Bros. release had been forecast by some for closer to half that total. An American-Chinese co-production, it also debuted well overseas, taking in $50.3 million in China and $141.3 million globally. Starring Jason Statham, The Meg cost about $150 million to make.

After two weeks at no. 1, Mission: Impossible—Fallout slid to second place in its third weekend with $20 million. The Paramount Pictures release has pulled in $162 million in three weeks. Filling out the top five were the Winnie the Pooh movie Christopher Robin ($12.7 million), low-budget thriller Slender Man ($11.3 million), and Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman ($10.8 million), Variety reports. Timed to the anniversary of Charlottesville, BlacKkKlansman is Lee's best film opening in more than ten years.

(More movies stories.)

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