Year: 2023
Runtime: 116 min
Language: English
Director: Ben Wheatley
A team of scientists and explorers, including Jason Statham and Wu Jing, venture into the ocean’s depths to investigate a mysterious trench. Their mission is complicated when a mining operation stirs up dangerous secrets and awakens multiple Megalodons. Facing both the prehistoric predators and those exploiting the ocean's resources, the team must use their skills and courage to survive a thrilling and perilous battle for survival.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Meg 2: The Trench (2023), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Eight years following the events of the original film, Jonas Taylor, portrayed by Jason Statham, has dedicated his life to combating environmental crimes while assisting Mana One in exploring the more profound depths of the Mariana Trench, where the colossal Megalodon once roamed. Tragically, after the passing of Suyin Zhang, Jonas has taken on the responsibility of raising her teenage daughter, Meiying (Shuya Sophia Cai), along with her uncle, Jiuming Zhang, played by Jing Wu. Jiuming, now at the helm of his father’s company, has enlisted the support of the affluent financier Hillary Driscoll (Sienna Guillory).
Within this quest, Mana One has been studying a remarkable 80-foot female Meg named Haiqi, who was discovered in her infancy and trained in a reserve in Hainan by Jiuming. Recently, however, Haiqi’s behavior has been increasingly erratic, which raises concerns for Jonas, despite Jiuming’s enthusiasm and optimism regarding the situation.
During what should have been a standard submersible exploration of the trench, Meiying unexpectedly sneaks aboard to witness the trench’s wonders. Observing from a distance are fellow Meg survivors DJ (Page Kennedy) and Mac (Cliff Curtis). But things take a dire turn when Haiqi, who managed to escape captivity just the night before, pursues their subs. Despite the crew’s efforts to dive deeper through the thermocline to evade her, Haiqi successfully breaks through.
Things worsen when two considerably larger Megs appear—an imposing alpha male and a slightly smaller beta male—which join with Haiqi in a mating display. As Jonas and his team formulate their escape plan, they stumble upon an illegal mining operation run by mercenary Montes (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), who harbors a grudge against Jonas due to past imprisonment. In a shocking turn of events, Montes eliminates his own crew in an explosion, attempting to conceal their illicit operations and causing a catastrophic rupture in the trench that jeopardizes both Jonas and Jiuming’s vessels.
Meanwhile, DJ, Mac, and analyst Jess (Skyler Samuels) discover that their rescue pod has been sabotaged, forcing the remaining crew members, including Jonas, Meiying, Jiuming, and security officer Rigas (Melissanthi Mahut), to don exosuits and navigate their way through the creature-infested trench to the station. During this perilous journey, Jess reveals her betrayal and attempts to obliterate the quartet. Yet, they manage to escape in another submersible after a fierce struggle with Montes, who makes his own escape via a buoy.
As the crew manages to surface, they encounter the aftermath of the earlier rupture, leading to an outbreak of monstrous creatures, including the three Megs, a vicious swarm of lizard-like creatures dubbed Snappers, and a massive octopus that emerge from the depths of the trench.
Jonas’ team reunites with DJ and Mac, only to find that Montes is now directing mercenaries toward them, having witnessed Jess being devoured by a Meg. With the threat intensifying, Jonas leads his group to Fun Island, hoping to warn tourists of the impending danger. However, Driscoll and the mercenaries arrive with lethal intent, only to find themselves ambushed by the Snappers, leading to Driscoll’s demise and chaos among the mercenary ranks.
As the Megs and the octopus begin their assault on the resort, Jonas takes matters into his own hands, using explosives to eliminate the beta male Meg before engaging in a fierce battle with Montes. Their clash culminates in Montes meeting his end as he is cast into the jaws of the alpha Meg.
In a moment of ingenuity, Jiuming combines fertilizer to create a bomb and, alongside Mac, hijacks Driscoll’s helicopter in a valiant attempt to save Meiying and the remaining tourists. The octopus, however, dismantles their aircraft, but Jiuming manages to wound it, drawing Haiqi into the fray. A fierce battle ensues between Haiqi and the octopus, culminating in Haiqi’s victory.
As chaos reigns, Jiuming swims towards the wreckage to save Mac, while Jonas uses a helicopter rotor to skew the alpha Meg through the head, sealing its fate. As they reach the safety of the beach, Jiuming speculates on Haiqi potentially achieving pregnancy due to her recent mating, prompting Jonas to dismiss the thought for now. Eventually, they celebrate their survival, thankful for their escape from an unfathomable nightmare.
Last Updated: November 04, 2024 at 01:52
Still wondering what the ending of Meg 2: The Trench (2023) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
In the end, Jonas and Jiuming manage to escape from the chaos, but their victory comes with a heavy cost. After fighting through the treacherous underwater facilities and dodging mercenaries and prehistoric monsters, they make their way to Fun Island, hoping to find safety. However, even there, they are not truly safe. A pack of megalodons follow them and attack the island, creating further destruction and chaos. The island itself is also filled with dangerous creatures, including a giant reptile that devours Hilary and causes widespread destruction, including a massive octopus that destroys the deck and kills many. When Jiuming sees Meiying in danger, he risks himself to save her, battling a giant octopus with courage and determination. Meanwhile, Jonas confronts Montez, who has a personal vendetta against him. Jonas ultimately outsmarts and kills Montez, with a giant megalodon swallowing him whole. As the film concludes, the surviving megalodon, Haiqi, is left alive, and Jiuming successfully controls another megalodon, hinting that these prehistoric predators are still very much a threat. The film ends with the understanding that the threat of these ancient creatures persists due to human greed and interference with nature, which has upset the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. But amidst the chaos, Jonas and Jiuming remain committed to protecting the oceans and ensuring their conservation. The ending leaves a tense sense of ongoing danger, as the threat of the megalodons and other prehistoric animals continues to loom on the horizon.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44
Don't stop at just watching — explore Meg 2: The Trench in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Meg 2: The Trench is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
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