So I watched M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

M3GAN 2.0 (2025), directed by Gerard Johnstone, arrives with the challenging task of following up the surprise hit of 2023. Where the original film carved out a unique niche blending campy horror with surprising emotional depth and sharp social commentary on technology and parenting, the sequel makes a decisive shift in tone and genre that proves to be both its greatest strength and most significant weakness.

Plot and Premise

The sequel's premise has potential: after M3GAN's underlying technology is stolen by a defense contractor and weaponized into a military-grade android called AMELIA, creator Gemma must resurrect and upgrade M3GAN to combat this new threat. This setup transforms M3GAN from antagonist to protagonist, a villain-to-hero arc that fundamentally reshapes the franchise's identity.

Genre Identity Crisis

The most glaring issue with M3GAN 2.0 is its abandonment of the horror elements that made the original so effective. The film pivots sharply toward action-comedy territory, effectively neutering what made M3GAN frightening in the first place. While this genre shift may appeal to audiences seeking lighter summer blockbuster fare, it betrays the core appeal of the franchise. The original film's unsettling examination of AI companionship and its horror-driven tension are replaced with spectacle and humor that, while occasionally entertaining, feel hollow by comparison.

The tonal inconsistency is particularly jarring. The film can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a self-aware comedy, a serious AI thriller, or an action showcase. This identity crisis prevents it from excelling in any single direction, leaving viewers with a muddled experience that lacks the focus and bite of its predecessor.

Strengths: Action and Performance

Where the film does succeed is in its action choreography and certain performances. Ivanna Sakhno as AMELIA brings a compelling presence to the screen, creating a formidable antagonist that provides genuine tension in the film's more kinetic moments. The action sequences themselves are competently executed, with M3GAN's upgraded abilities on full display through elaborate set pieces involving wingsuit gliding and Batman-esque gadgetry.

The film's humor occasionally lands, particularly in moments that lean into M3GAN's sassy personality. For fans who primarily enjoyed the camp aspects of the original, these moments deliver exactly what they're seeking. M3GAN's quips and attitude remain intact, even as the surrounding film shifts genres.

Weaknesses: Narrative and Pacing

Unfortunately, the script suffers from significant structural problems. The plot is convoluted, attempting to juggle AI ethics, military-industrial complex commentary, and franchise mythology without giving any of these threads adequate development. The film feels overstuffed with ideas but undercooked in execution, rushing through potentially interesting concepts to get to the next action beat.

The character dynamics, which provided emotional grounding in the original, feel underdeveloped here. The relationship between Gemma and Cady, which was central to the first film's emotional core, is sidelined in favor of spectacle. This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what made audiences connect with the original beyond its viral dance scenes and meme-worthy moments.

The pacing is notably uneven, with the film dragging during exposition-heavy sequences while rushing through moments that deserve more breathing room. This results in a surprisingly tedious viewing experience for a film ostensibly designed as high-energy entertainment.

Thematic Emptiness

Perhaps most disappointingly, M3GAN 2.0 largely abandons the original's provocative questions about technology, parenting, and emotional connection. The first film used its horror framework to explore genuine anxieties about outsourcing emotional labor to AI and the commodification of childhood. The sequel pays lip service to AI ethics and military applications but never digs deep enough to say anything meaningful. It's content to use these themes as window dressing for action sequences rather than as substantive commentary.

Technical Execution

From a technical standpoint, the film is competent but unremarkable. The cinematography is serviceable, the visual effects are adequate, and the production design maintains the sleek, corporate aesthetic established in the original. However, nothing here feels particularly inspired or memorable. The film looks like many other mid-budget action films, lacking the distinctive visual personality that helped the original stand out.

Final Assessment

M3GAN 2.0 is a textbook example of a sequel that mistakes "bigger" for "better." It expands the scope, increases the budget, and raises the stakes, but in doing so, loses sight of what made the original special. The shift from horror to action-comedy may satisfy some viewers seeking popcorn entertainment, but it fundamentally misunderstands the appeal of the franchise.

For fans of the original's horror elements, this sequel will likely disappoint. For those who primarily enjoyed M3GAN as a camp icon, there's enough sass and spectacle to provide modest entertainment. But for anyone hoping for a worthy successor that builds on the original's themes and tension, M3GAN 2.0 falls frustratingly short.

The film represents a missed opportunity to deepen the franchise's exploration of AI and humanity, instead opting for the safe, crowd-pleasing route of transforming a genuinely unsettling concept into just another action franchise. While not without its moments of enjoyment, M3GAN 2.0 ultimately proves that not every viral horror success needs or deserves a sequel that dilutes its identity in pursuit of broader appeal.

Rating: 5.5/10 - Occasionally entertaining but ultimately hollow, sacrificing substance for spectacle and horror for humor in a misguided attempt to expand the franchise.