Meg 2’ Previews Gross $3.2 Million, ‘Barbie’ Soars Past $400 Million Domestically in Box Office Battle

Meg 2: Diverse Choices for Summer Moviegoers

The Trench’ Sinks Its Teeth into $3.2 Million in Previews, Critics' Reviews Unfazed by Sea Creature Frenzy

In a thrilling box office showdown, "Meg 2" took a deep dive into the previews, earning an impressive $3.2 million in Thursday showings. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 hit starring Jason Statham is projected to make a splash with a potential $30 million premiere.

Despite critics tearing into the movie, giving it a "rotten" 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the monstrous marine action is expected to attract audiences seeking an adrenaline-fueled spectacle rather than a cinematic masterpiece. With a mesmerizing 75-foot-long megalodon and other carnivorous sea creatures, "Meg 2" promises to deliver a heart-pounding experience. Warner Bros. has invested $129 million in the production of this aquatic adventure.

Challenging "Meg 2" for the box office throne is the animated family film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," co-produced by Paramount and Nickelodeon. Already amassing $15.1 million since its Wednesday opening, the PG-rated film is projected to reach an impressive five-day opening total of $35 million to $45 million. Made on a budget of $70 million, the movie demonstrates that animated productions can achieve remarkable success without breaking the bank.

However, reigning supreme over the box office for some time now is Warner Bros.' "Barbie," which has crossed the impressive $400 million milestone in domestic earnings. The PG-rated film continues to captivate audiences, holding its position as the second-highest grossing movie of the year with $406 million in North America alone. Adding $11.8 million on Thursday, "Barbie" continues to dazzle and dominate.

In a triumph for the genre, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," an R-rated drama centered around physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's work on the atomic bomb, nears a significant box office milestone. Garnering $199.9 million domestically, the film is expected to break the $200 million mark any day now, proving that serious and weighty subjects can thrive at the summer box office even amidst competition from massive cinematic spectacles like "Meg 2."

As the summer box office competition heats up, audiences have a diverse array of choices to satisfy their movie cravings. Whether it's the spine-tingling underwater action of "Meg 2," the animated charm of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," or the enduring allure of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," there's something for everyone at the movies this season.