‘M3GAN 2.0’ Movie Review: Viral Killer Robot Downgrades to Lackluster AI Action Spectacle
Photo from Geoffrey Short/Universal Pictures
From Jeff Nelson
Have you ever wondered what Child’s Play 2 would be like if killer doll Chucky helped protagonist Andy save the world instead of pursuing him as a vessel? M3GAN 2.0 gives a taste of that baffling pivot. The first M3GAN is a delightful blend of comedy and horror that pays homage to the sub-genre while pushing it into the future. Unfortunately, the sequel misses the memo.
Set years after M3gan’s (Jenna Davis) destruction, the sequel pits Gemma (Allison Williams) in a struggle between technological innovation and regulation. Meanwhile, she remains committed to the promise she made to her late sister to always be there for her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw) – a promise that feels increasingly hollow as she buries herself in work. Cady, meanwhile, grapples internally with M3gan’s murderous rampage and her own lingering attachment to the robot. She dreams of becoming a robotics engineer one day, determined to make a difference.
A government mission goes awry when a robot named Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), powered by M3gan’s underlying technology, goes rogue, forcing Gemma to confront an even more dangerous version of her creation. She decides to resurrect M3gan to take down Amelia as a last resort. The adult-presenting robot is a more formidable killing machine, but she lacks the original’s charisma.
The first M3GAN walked the line between comedy and horror. While never outright scary, it’s a gateway horror film that leans into campy entertainment. The iconic dance sequence, “Titanium” lullaby, and slasher winks pranced their way into the cultural zeitgeist. Unfortunately, this sequel gives horror the cold shoulder, aside from the occasional jump scare. How many times will the screen quick cut away from any violence to a generic blood splatter on the wall? The last installment also suffered at the hands of its PG-13 limitations, but it’s even more noticeable here.
The film’s influence pivots from a killer-AI satire to Mission:Impossible meets Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but without the nail-biting stakes of either. Writer/director Gerard Johnstone loses the connection between Gemma and Cady that anchored the first film in favor of ridiculous set pieces. The most compelling aspect to Cady is how she views M3gan as something greater and deeper than the rest of the world perceives her to be – programming composed of ones and zeroes. Meanwhile, Gemma’s rehashed feelings of inferiority as a mother figure adds nothing new.
Worst of all, M3GAN 2.0 veers into clunky AI propaganda. What’s the answer to defeating AI? Just build a better AI! M3gan’s shift from menacing villain to unearned anti-hero robs her of what makes her so amusing.
M3GAN 2.0 dials down the horror and the camp, swapping them for convoluted action/sci-fi spectacle. It chases the next meme-worthy moment through recycled beats from the first film. There are sporadic entertaining moments, but the tonal shift toward something lighter and warmer is a misstep. Akela Cooper’s (writer of the first film) touch is sorely missing from this disappointing sequel that overstays its welcome.
Rating: 2/5
M3GAN 2.0 hits theaters on June 27th, 2025.
