'M3GAN 2.0' Review: A Chaotic, Ambitious Sequel That Swaps Horror for Sci-Fi Mayhem

Dan Bremner
1 minute ago
3 min read

By Dan Bremner - June 28, 2025

Film

Arriving two years after M3GAN captivated audiences with its viral charm, this sequel pivots boldly from horror-slasher to sci-fi action-comedy, wearing its Terminator 2 influences proudly, if not always effectively. My lukewarm response to the original, which I found to be a Chucky rethread with grating characters and an obnoxious tone leaning towards a “Tik-Tok” crowd left me skeptical for a sequel, but the unhinged trailers for M3GAN 2.0 promised a wilder ride.

While the result is undeniably ambitious, juggling explosive action and quirky humour, M3GAN 2.0 stumbles under its own chaotic mix of tones, landing as a flawed yet entertaining step up from its predecessor.

What is 'M3GAN 2.0' about?

Two years after M3GAN’s deadly rampage, her creator Gemma is forced to revive the notorious AI to stop Amelia — a powerful military-grade weapon developed by a defence contractor who stole M3GAN’s core technology.

The shift to action-comedy yields bigger set-pieces, with chase sequences and lab showdowns that aim high but are marred by budget constraints, resulting in visual effects that occasionally resemble low-rent Doctor Who CGI (Anything to do with electricity looks utterly appalling). Ivanna Sakhno’s Amelia, a kick-ass android with a lethal edge, injects fresh energy, her steely menace outshining M3GAN’s familiar antics. Yet, the extended runtime, pushing two hours drags in the final third, with lab-bound scenes that overstay their welcome and a late villain reveal that fizzles into irrelevance.

This sequel revels in glorious absurdity, piling on daft ideas with reckless abandon, from highly stylised fight choreography to rogue AI dance-offs. It’s the kind of gleefully unhinged nonsense that might claim the crown as 2025’s most delightfully brainless blockbuster, a film so committed to its own lunacy it almost forgets to tell a coherent story. Yet, this chaotic silliness lends it an oddball charm that keeps you watching, if only to see how much wilder it can get.

Allison William’ Gemma is more tolerable this time, evolving from a detached aunt to a conflicted AI advocate, while the young Cady, less insufferable than before, with Violet McGraw given far more to do than just be a complete brat. Jemaine Clement steals the show as a sleazy billionaire, his smarmy wit delivering the film’s sharpest laughs, particularly in a scene riffing on corporate ego. However, supporting characters remain underdeveloped, and the violence feels oddly sanitized, with cuts around gore that sap impact, likely awaiting an uncut home release, much like the first film.

The film’s Terminator 2 parallels of AI rebellion and human-robotic AI bonds are overt as they follow very similar story beats but lack the finesse of their inspiration (Nothing here will make you cry like Arnie’s thumb going into the molten lava). M3GAN remains a charismatic Blumhouse mascot, though her filtered voice grows grating, and her Kate Bush rendition of “This Woman’s Work” feels like a cynical bid for TikTok virality, pandering to a social media crowd with meme-ready moments. A bizarre nod to Steven Seagal’s filmography in the final fight adds a layer of absurd charm, but it can’t salvage the tonal whiplash between gritty sci-fi and forced humour.

This will no doubt be a success due to its low-budget and viral love for Miss M3GAN, and while I'm lukewarm on the franchise so far, I am curious as to how they will top the utter insanity and silliness of this outing, as lot is thrown at the wall here. What else could they add to the mix? Time travel? Multiple M3GANs? A crossover with Chucky? Hopefully we'll get to go to space in a few decades in the inevitable “M3GAN X”. The possibilities are endless. A spin-off titled “SOULM8TE” is due to release in January, 2026 and I'm sure we'll see a familiar face or two in that, but the world will be seeing a lot more of this psychotic AI doll.

Can the M3GAN Franchise Level Up from Viral Hit to Sci-Fi Staple?

M3GAN 2.0 swings big with stronger performances and an audacious genre shift, but its uneven execution and pandering moments hold it back. Sakhno and Clement shine, and the chaotic energy is more engaging than the original’s TikTok-fuelled horror, yet shaky effects and a bloated runtime keeps it from greatness. It's a step in the right direction, and the franchise may yet find its groove, but this sequel remains a fun, yet mixed bag.

'M3GAN 2.0' is out now in cinemas

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