It’s important to consider statements made after its release by director Jon Turteltaub and star Jason Statham. The Meg wasn't intended to be the kind of gruesome exploitation film they initially envisioned or shot; it was supposed to be a full-on, bloody monster movie with a creature unleashed from the depths. Unfortunately, studio executives didn’t view that as a profitable venture and altered it to become a "12" rated film aimed at attracting audiences. That's disappointing. The result is a fairly standard creature feature that won't likely stick with you long (though perhaps no one was expecting anything more), but it can be entertaining in a way that simply passes the time. It follows all the familiar beats of the modern monster movie formula. We see the expected hero with a difficult past, a wealthy benefactor who’s clearly out of his depth, women struggling with personal issues, and a man who can't swim working on the ocean! The script is often quite bad, making it delightfully cheesy. Jason Statham is usually enjoyable – in that classic, muscular action hero way – but you can see the difference between what the film was supposed to be and what it ultimately became. He seems to be taking things very seriously, which feels absurd given the final product. He's surrounded by lesser-known actors, although there are plenty of attractive people (Bingbing Li is stunning, Ruby Rose is strikingly sexy), and the story lays out exactly where everything will lead. There are a few clever nods to Jaws, some fairly suspenseful scenes, and the cinematography (by Tom Stern) is crisp and visually appealing. The best way to appreciate this film is to accept it as a “12” rated movie designed for a broad audience and understand that it's ultimately just another monster movie. It’s nowhere near the quality of Jaws, nor does it have the self-aware humor of Deep Blue Sea, but it serves its purpose in providing undemanding entertainment. 5/10

Source on TMDB