The previous film, MEG: The Monster, depicted a deadly battle between humans and the Megalodon—a 23-meter-long, 20-ton megalodon shark that actually existed 2 million years ago—and achieved an astonishing opening weekend, grossing over $140 million in 75 countries and regions worldwide.

Watching “MEG: The Monsters 2” feels like being at a theme park—the theater itself turns into an attraction.

Epic scale: from ancient Earth to modern resorts

The movie opens with a nonstop stream of stunning visuals. Set in the Cretaceous period, it smoothly shows the food chain, starting with tiny insects, then lizards, Tyrannosaurus rex, and finally the Megalodon as the top predator. Queen’s “Under Pressure” plays as the title appears, grabbing the audience’s attention right away.

The film’s deep-sea visuals are also impressive. Glowing sea anemones and tiny octopuses create a magical underwater world. Later, the action moves to Fan Island, a resort with bright blue water and white sand, offering a sharp contrast to the earlier dark, deep-sea scenes.

Story Structure: Action on the Deep Sea, Ocean Surface, and Land

The movie is cleverly structured, with three parts that each bring their own excitement and suspense.

First, the story dives into a survival struggle in the unexplored Mariana Trench. Scenes of characters walking on the seabed in new powered suits capture the feel of classic sci-fi, while a fight with a criminal group in a secret undersea base adds a Mission: Impossible-style twist.

Then, the mid-section escape drama depicts a desperate escape from a depth of 7,500 meters, where you can enjoy beautiful underwater action sequences that make full use of Statham’s experience as a former diving athlete.

In the final part, chaos breaks out at the resort, turning into what one reviewer called a “USJ Water World situation.” It’s like a monster wrestling match, with three Megalodons, a giant octopus, and ancient reptiles called “Snappers” all fighting at once.

Jason Statham’s Unstoppable Appeal

Jason Statham goes beyond human limits in this movie. His stunts are so wild that some people say, “By the time he starts free diving at 7,500 meters, he’s no longer human.” Thanks to his background as a former British national diving champion, his underwater action feels believable and shows that “Statham is overwhelmingly powerful in the sea.”

The new character, Jiumin Zhang (Wu Jing), is introduced as Suyin’s brother from the first film. He brings a strong presence to the story, fitting for a Chinese star. As a scientist who believes in his bond with the megalodon “Haiti,” he contrasts with Jonas, who always respects nature. Jiumin’s role is important and hints at a possible sequel.

Mei-Ying (Sophia Tsai) returns from the first movie, now a 14-year-old with new charm. What first appears to be a weakness becomes her strength in the climax, making her story a fun coming-of-age journey.

Direction & Pacing: Nonstop Action Every Five Minutes

What stands out most about this film is its fast pace. There’s always something happening—some say “every five minutes”—so you never get bored. The horror elements from the first movie are toned down, making this one feel like pure action, with almost nonstop action scenes.

The Rise of the “Athletic Shark Movie”

It’s hard not to compare this movie to the Jurassic World series. The opening dinosaur scene and the way it shows bonds with ancient creatures seem intentional. But this film doesn’t just show simple “human-ancient creature bonds.” Instead, it takes a more careful approach, like when Jonas says at the end, “Maybe I was just chasing a dolphin.”

The movie delivers excitement through sporty, fun action scenes instead of brutal violence, even though Statham’s diving background could have led to more intense moments. This makes it a fresh take on monster movies and suitable for all ages.

The Pros and Cons of the B-Movie Style

MEG 2 leans even more into the “B-movie” style than the first film. It cuts back on human drama and character backstories, making more room for action and spectacle.

This approach is a double-edged sword. On the plus side, it skips slow dialogue for nonstop, flashy fun. But it can also feel like the story is missing depth.

The criminal organization’s motives and background are handled much more loosely than in the first movie. It almost feels like the filmmakers think viewers just want to watch giant sharks and explosions without worrying about the details.

The film accepts this flaw and goes all-in on being pure entertainment. It’s this bold, unapologetic approach that makes it so appealing.

Problems with Historical and Biological Accuracy

From a paleontologist’s perspective, the movie has some problems. Early on, a Megalodon is shown attacking a Tyrannosaurus rex. But T. rex went extinct about 66 million years ago, and Megalodon didn’t appear until around 20 million years ago, so they never lived at the same time. It’s as odd as having the Self-Defense Forces show up in a samurai-era movie like Sengoku Jieitai.

Also, the movie doesn’t really explain how snappers—ancient reptiles that should live in the deep sea—can move around on land. The idea that they developed gill breathing isn’t very believable from an evolutionary perspective.

Summary: Is It Just Pure Entertainment?

Whether people enjoy MEG: The Monster’s 2 really depends on whether they can accept it as pure entertainment.

This movie puts visual spectacle and nonstop action ahead of story depth or human drama. It’s all about “battles between a ridiculously huge shark and the superhuman Statham,” “monster wrestling in the deep sea, on the surface, and on land,” and “a storm of events every five minutes.”

If you see this as a movie with human drama, you might find it lacking in that regard. But if you appreciate its bold, entertainment-first approach, you’ll find its commitment refreshing and charming—films this focused on fun are rare.

If you go in ready to just enjoy the fun visuals, you’ll probably be more than satisfied. But if you’re looking for the deeper story or survival elements from the first movie, you might be disappointed. Personally, I was in the second group.