REVIEW: 'M3GAN 2.0' Trades Horror For Campy Action Fun
- Christopher Mills
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
It’s summer, and there’s almost a huge new release every week through this week until August. It wouldn’t be a summer blockbuster if there weren’t a few horror movies sprinkled throughout. M3GAN crosses the thin line of what constitutes a horror movie, and M3GAN 2.0 feels like it completely gets rid of the horror aspect. It’s campier than ever, takes all the batshit insanity from the first film multiplied by 100, and the iconic M3GAN (Amie Donald) returns with her killer moves that could only be described as "cunty", which I’m sure she would agree with herself. With no competitors like Chucky or Annabelle around, M3GAN is the next doll that could really take the spotlight, and while this film is far from a masterpiece, it makes a solid argument for why it should be a franchise.
After the events of M3GAN, it’s discovered that M3GAN’s code has been leaked and used to create a military-grade weapon called AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), which goes rogue in an attempt to annihilate its creators, which include Gemma (Allison Williams). With Cady (Violet McGraw) in danger, M3GAN returns from the dead with a few upgrades to defend her and take down the rogue AI.
The release of the first M3GAN brought laughs to its audience, and she was quickly a character that people fell in love with. What no one expected was for the film to get a sequel with a spin-off already on the way. M3GAN 2.0 links itself back to the first film as we get to see the consequences of Kurt (Stephane Garneau-Monten) selling the blueprints to an unknown buyer. This movie reveals all with that deal, and AMELIA is not a threat to be taken lightly.
This film steers away from the kills compared to the first, as it continuously cuts away as people are getting killed. Every once in a while, we do get to see some brutal killings, such as the opening scene where we see AMELIA take someone’s head clean off their body with just a punch, which not only highlights how dangerous she is but also the absurdity of M3GAN 2.0. As lethal as AMELIA can be, she never reaches the level of creepiness of M3GAN, and the film begins to lose what little horror aspect that it had. It also doesn’t help when a robot that’s gone rogue feels one-dimensional in comparison to M3GAN, who runs laps around her.
If M3GAN was taking inspiration from The Terminator, it only made sense that their sequel would take inspiration from Terminator 2: Judgement Day, with M3GAN now having to face a killer robot that is much more lethal than she has ever been. If that wasn’t enough for Gemma, Cady and M3GAN to deal with, there’s the risk of a complete AI takeover. From what used to be a sci-fi horror, M3GAN 2.0 fully embraces its sci-fi aspects, solely becoming just a sci-fi action movie when you look at it for what it really is. While an interesting and respectable direction for Gerard Johnstone to take, it does bring that risk of M3GAN losing her identity and the question of who the target audience is for this film.
Allison Williams gets a lot more to work with in M3GAN 2.0 and finally gets a little bit more involved in the action. After the aftermath of M3GAN’s destruction, Gemma has become an advocate against the use of AI and the dangers it can bring upon the world, which introduces hysterical characters such as Altman (Jermaine Clement), who’s a hilarious addition to the cast. The character, a womaniser who doesn’t know any better, is trying to push an AI device connected to their head that has the ability to provide mobility to an immobile person, such as himself.
Violet McGraw has aged with the role of Cady, delivering another great performance. She’s following in the footsteps of Gemma, and unlike her aunt, understands M3GAN better than anyone. The movie really leans into second chances and plays around with the character’s trust in someone who previously harmed them, but it makes the point that just because you do a bad thing, it doesn’t make you a bad person.
M3GAN’s reintroduction into the film is handled beautifully and hilariously as she reveals that she’s been alive the entire time, having access to Gemma’s entire house and taking out FBI agents with counter drawers, a Roomba, dispensing ice from a fridge and so much more, which is the first of many creative action scenes. There’s so much to love about M3GAN, and it’s proven by Jenna Davis’ voice work alone for the character, as she retains that charismatic, cocky and manipulative behaviour no matter what form she’s in. She’s the star of her own film and easily remains the highlight from her reappearance until the end.
M3GAN 2.0’s messages of the danger of AI when you dive in too deep and second chances are the driving forces of this entire film. Its story is unfortunately not as coherent as the first film, which felt much tighter. There’s no doubt that M3GAN 2.0 will be the most fun you’ll have in the cinema and is a must-watch with friends, but outside of its chaotic energy throughout with outrageously hilarious comedy, action sequences that keep you engaged with its stylish camera work and finally an icon such as M3GAN herself who has great chemistry with every character she comes across, this is still evidently a movie way out of its depth when it comes to creating that perfect balance. M3GAN 2.0 is extremely self-aware of what type of film it is, and as long as they keep that in mind, staying in their lane, M3GAN is a franchise that could bring enjoyment for years to come.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
About M3GAN 2.0
Premiere Date: June 27, 2025
Director: Gerard Johnstone
Producers: Jason Blum, James Wan, Allison Williams, Michael Clear
Writers: Gerard Johnstone, James Wan, Akela Cooper
Production: Atomic Monster, Blumhouse Productions, Universal Pictures
Distribution: Universal Pictures
Cast: Jenna Davis, Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald
Synopsis: When a defense contractor weaponizes M3GAN’s technology to build a deadly android named Amelia, inventor Gemma recognizes the urgent danger. To counter this threat, she reactivates M3GAN with critical upgrades, boosting her power, agility, and lethality, ensuring she can stand against the advanced military-grade counterpart now threatening global security.
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