WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for director Jon Turteltaub’s The Meg, in theaters now.


Director Jon Turteltaub doesn't pull any punches with The Meg, his super-size adaptation of Steve Alten's 1997 novel, which pits a group of scientists against a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark. It's Jaws on steroids, with influences drawn from the likes of Deep Blue Sea and The Shallows.

The story focuses on rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) battling a megalodon as it escapes from the ocean depths off the coast of China. What follows is an unbelievable series of events as Taylor and his colleagues outmaneuver and outwit the giant shark, setting up a blood-filled ending that's every bit as ridiculous as it is enjoyable.

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After an excursion into a mysterious trench by the scientific team from the Mana One underwater research facility results in the release of the megalodon, to say it proceeds to wreak havoc is an understatement. Jonas, who had an encounter with the creatures years earlier, recognizes they need to stop it themselves, as waiting for aid would take too long.

He heads out in a boat with scientist Suyin Zhang (Li Bingbing) and, following a tough wrangling session, they poison the creature with a lethal injection into its skin. However, just when they think it's over, they're attacked by a second megalodon, enraged that they killed its mate. Sadly, they're left with a few fatalities, including Suyin's father.

The Meg

The outcome is definitely bleak, as this shark is far larger, and more ferocious, than the first. When the owner of Mana One, Jack Morris (Rainn Wilson), fails in his efforts to kill the megalodon, in hopes of avoiding legal ramifications, Taylor is once more left to take matters into his own hands by venturing out with his squad of experts using an oil tanker -- as they obviously need a bigger boat. It's imperative they stop this new shark, which is already slaughtering people on a beach near the Chinese city of Sanya.

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They use whale audio to lure out the creature, with Jonas and Suyin taking a couple of high-speed submersibles underwater to kill it. After a few news helicopters mess up their plan, crashing into the tanker, the humans who fall overboard prove to be a distraction for the megalodon.

That allows Jonas to get into position as the shark tries to reach the people stranded in the water. In a head-to-head encounter, his sub ducks beneath the megalodon, allowing Jonas access to its underside. He uses the vessel's dorsal-like rooftop blade to slice open the length of the shark's body.

Severely wounded but not dead, the creature makes one last attempt to kill Jonas, only for a school of smaller sharks to dart in and save the day by attacking the monster. In a blood-fueled feeding frenzy, hundreds ravage the megalodon, dragging it underwater. Just as one tries to take a bite out of Jonas, Suyin swoops in with her sub to save his life, and the team celebrates a well-deserved victory in the crimson Chinese waters.

In theaters nationwide, director Jon Turteltaub’s The Meg stars Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Masi Oka, Cliff Curtis, Page Kennedy, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao and Rainn Wilson.