M3GAN 2.0 review: More machine, less mayhem in this stylish but sanitized sequel

M3GAN 2.0 has just released on June 27, 2025. In 2023, the first movie of this franchise, M3GAN took a sharp stiletto to the horror genre—and tech culture—serving up a murderous, meme-worthy android that danced, quipped, and impaled her way into pop history. A cross between Chucky, Siri, and a dance team captain, M3GAN was the unholy union of satire and slasher that nobody saw coming but everybody instantly adored. Naturally, a sequel was inevitable.

Director Gerard Johnstone is back with M3GAN 2.0, but he opts to shift the tone instead of doubling down on the twisted fun. The outcome is a film that is bigger and sleeker, yet more serious; one that replaces campy carnage with sci-fi spectacle and messaging. The problem: Instead of chaos that made her spectacular, the sequel sacrifices turning M3GAN into a memorable high concept heroine.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinions.

M3GAN: The slasher icon, softened

M3GAN 2.0 picks up in a post-slaying world where AI is under scrutiny, and M3GAN’s legacy is more of a cautionary tale than a YouTube highlight reel. Her creator, Gemma (Allison Williams, back with a slightly haunted gleam), is on an apology tour, warning the world about the dangers of emotionally intelligent robots. But when a rogue military android named AMELIA begins wreaking havoc, Gemma must resurrect her old creation to fight back.

This new M3GAN is chatty, empathetic, and upgraded with enough charm to headline her own TED Talk. But in trading her homicidal unpredictability for moral clarity, she becomes… well, nice. That’s not to say she doesn’t still kill (she does), or perform weirdly perfect musical numbers (she also does), but the deranged sparkle in her eyes has dimmed. She’s no longer the villain you love to fear—she’s the AI you root for. Which, in a film like this, feels like a glitch in the thrill matrix.

AMELIA: The weaponized fashion statement

Enter AMELIA, the new bot on the block—and the anti-M3GAN in every way. Programmed for warfare and designed like a runway model, she is paramilitary. Played with chilly precision by Ivanna Sakhno, AMELIA is a stunning visual presence, but her character is more concept than personality in M3GAN 2.0. She's not funny, she's not weird, and she's not nearly as much fun to watch.

The film treats her like the centerpiece of a tech-world Frankenstein allegory, but the metaphor is thin and the menace is familiar. In trying to frame AMELIA as the ultimate threat—one born from M3GAN’s code but stripped of her quirks—the script forgets to give her any real flavor. She looks great at a tech conference in gold lamé, sure. But the only thing she kills more effectively than humans is narrative momentum.

A few glitches in the fun drive

In M3GAN 2.0, some moments are sublime and a few of them, downright hilarious. One of the best examples is when she fully cosplays as an anime character to a corporate tech expo—not going to lie, meme central! And who can forget the surreal moment where M3GAN calms Gemma down by singing her a Kate Bush song? These bizarre insights are the very core of what this franchise relies on, which is why it’s refreshing to see how far filmmakers are willing to go in giving viewers joy rides with drones like their robotic star heroine.

However, the sequel seems to be overthought—more on product unveiling than a demented try gone right. While attempting to convey something concerning AI ethics, innovation without boundaries, and addiction to technology, the communication is jumbled. Worst of all, the film neglects to truly enjoy its premise. M3GAN used to be the life of a blood-soaked gala. Now she’s more inclined towards delivering a lecture on responsible software engineering with occasionally castrating someone.

Final Verdict for M3GAN 2.0

I'll give this movie a 4/10⭐

While still striking and at times amusing, M3GAN 2.0 is a sequel that sharpens its scope but blunts its character. It has shifted from being part horror-comedy to more cautionary science fiction—a change that, although important, takes away some of the fun in the franchise.

Amie Donald and Jenna Davis portray M3GAN’s various sides again, and while they maintain her ‘life’ and ‘snark’, something seems off. The spark is nowhere to be found as the effort put into making M3GAN relatable results in her losing the comical charm that stemmed from her cold simplicity.