My quick rating – 6.1/10. Finally getting around to this one after it sat stalled on my watchlist for way too long, M3GAN 2.0 turns out to be pretty much as I expected. A louder, slicker, slightly dumber sequel that knows it needs to evolve if the franchise is going to survive. And yeah, “villain turned hero” is very much the name of the game here. Sound familiar? It should. This has Terminator 2: Judgment Day written all over it, and I seriously doubt writer/director Gerard Johnstone would call that a coincidence.
The film kicks off with a brisk action scene showcasing a new military-grade AI android named Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) during what’s meant to be a rescue mission. Spoiler: it doesn’t go great. When Amelia decides shooting the target is more efficient than saving him, you immediately know we’re not dealing with just one rogue doll this time around. Meanwhile, young Cady (Violet McGraw) is explaining to a therapist how Gemma (Allison Williams) has dedicated herself to making AI “safer” so the events of the first movie never happen again. Naturally, this noble idea lasts about five minutes before being tossed straight out the window.
For anyone worried M3GAN (Amie Donald) herself might be sidelined, don’t. She’s still very much alive as floating data, patiently waiting for her chance to get dropped back into a body, all while framing herself as humanity’s only hope to stop Amelia. Apparently, she’s also been busy doing other things, like secretly building an entire bunker inside Gemma’s house without anyone noticing. If you thought M3GAN was creepy before, seeing her in a half-built, DIY form cranks that unease up a notch. And honestly, while watching all this, it’s hard not to think, “Yeah… we’re absolutely going to see something like this in our lifetime.” Probably less Terminator and more WarGames, but still. Quote me on that.
Before anyone jumps all over this sequel for leaning away from horror, it’s clearly embracing action and comedy instead. That shift might rub some fans the wrong way, but plenty of successful horror franchises – Evil Dead and Alien included – have walked that same path. I’m not comparing M3GAN 2.0 to those heavyweights, but the logic is sound. Franchises that don’t change tend to die. The action scenes here are genuinely solid, including a creatively staged hand-to-hand fight that stood out for me.
That said, the movie’s ultimate goal is…pretty silly. A motherboard from the 1980s that’s somehow been powered and learning for decades? Sure. Whatever you need us to believe. The message isn’t subtle, but it works. AI desperately needs better regulation, though the film also quietly admits it’s probably already too late. No, this wouldn’t crack my 2025 Top Ten, and it’s a small step down from the original, but it’s still an entertaining ride. And honestly? I can see myself having fun with wherever this franchise decides to go next.
