Box office Top 20: ‘The Meg’ reels in $45.4 million debut
NEW YORK — It took until mid-August, but an original movie is finally no. 1 at the box office. After several months of sequel and franchise reboots leading the weekend box office, the shark thriller “The Meg” swam away with $45.4 million in its debut at North American theatres, according to final figures Monday.
The Warner Bros. release might not be the most inventive movie, but audiences have shown an appetite for shark movies in recent years. Starring Jason Statham, “The Meg” far exceeded expectations to topple “Mission: Impossible — Fallout,” which slid to second with $19.4 million in its third weekend.
Opening in 1,512 theatres, Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” also pulled in a strong $10.8 million for Focus Features. The result is the director’s best debut in more than a decade.
1. “The Meg,” Warner Bros., $45,402,195, 4,118 locations, $11,025 average, $45,402,195, 1 Week.