It’s official—she’s back! The quirky, cursing, killing machine M3GAN returns to our screens (and any place with a Wi-Fi signal). Believe me, she still doesn’t mince words. Following the success of its highly entertaining predecessor, M3GAN 2.0, created by Gerard Johnstone and Akela Cooper, is one heck of a ride.
Though much less gory than the original, the sequel grabs your attention from the start and doesn’t let go—just like M3GAN’s vice-like robot grip. The story picks up in the aftermath of the first film, with Gemma (Allison Williams) trying to come to terms with her creation and now advocating for laws regulating artificial intelligence, alongside her new boyfriend Christian (Aristotle Athari). Meanwhile, Cady (Violet McGraw) is also trying to cope with what has transpired. Although armed with the help of the therapist and Gemma’s support, the 14-year-old still struggles to move on from the memories of her singing, mechanical former friend.
But peace doesn’t last long. Enter a new android: Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno). Built from blueprints stolen from Gemma, Amelia is essentially M3GAN’s twisted sister—a merciless, unbeatable AI weapon created for military use. She won’t stop until everyone responsible for her existence is destroyed, including, by proxy, Gemma. With no other choice, Gemma reluctantly decides to bring M3gan back. But this time, the creation must be stronger, faster, waterproof, and—at her own request—taller.
That’s where M3GAN 2.0 distinguishes itself from the original. Rather than raging against humanity, M3GAN now fights for it, protecting Gemma and Cady from another, more dangerous Android. The sequel doubles down on the threats of artificial intelligence, with characters navigating conflicting agendas, lobbying for human safety laws, and some concealing their dangerous intentions. The sequel changes the genre entirely, which makes me a bit sad as a horror and slasher enthusiast, though it’s still a light, entertaining watch.
The Amie Donald/Jenna Davis duo once again brings M3GAN to life with unstoppable charisma. There’s more wit, more snark, and some genuinely fun robot-on-robot fight scenes including a newcomer Sakhno, whose portrayal of Amelia is chilling. But no one can outdo M3gan when it comes to foul-mouthed sass and sinister charm.
It’s also a pleasure to see Allison Williams and Violet McGraw return. While the story shifts away from Cady’s emotional arc, she still plays an integral role—especially in helping create the new and improved M3GAN. The supporting cast is also solid, with great performances from Jen Van Epps and Brian Jordan Alvarez, whose characters also play important roles in the sequel.
M3GAN 2.0 is a hoot in a way that’s completely bonkers, entertaining, with a sharp script and an all-star ensemble. While it doesn’t exactly qualify as horror or slasher, as mentioned before, it now leans more into the realm of hi-tech dark comedy. So don’t expect much gore, but do expect a pretty good time.
All in all, it’s a solid sequel. Sure, some plot beats are predictable, but the fun factor is undeniable, especially during the dancing scene at the AI Expo. The fans of M3GAN will have fun, but horror fans will be disappointed.
Grade: B
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M3GAN 2.0
After the underlying tech for M3GAN is stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia, M3GAN’s creator Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal.
