M3GAN 2.0 Review

A Killer Upgrade That Trades Terror for Thrills

Not since Terminator 2 has a sequel so boldly shifted the tone of its predecessor while launching its franchise into new, exhilarating territory—until now. M3GAN 2.0 is the sequel I didn’t know I needed, and I had an absolute blast watching it. Imagine Austin Powers, Upgrade, Mission: Impossible, and Terminator 2 all rolled into one slick, chaotic, and totally entertaining adventure for our favorite killer robot.

Swapping horror for a more comedic action-thriller vibe was a bold move—one that may divide fans of the original. But it’s a smart evolution that not only amplifies M3GAN’s potential as a pop culture icon, it opens the door for Blumhouse to explore this franchise in fresh and exciting ways.

Picking up after the events of M3GAN, the sequel finds Cady (Violet McGraw) still living with her Aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), who is now leading the charge on AI reform. Having experienced firsthand how deadly unchecked AI can be, Gemma has made it her mission to ensure no one else suffers the same fate. But unbeknownst to her, the government has been developing a next-gen robot of their own—one that’s meant to revolutionize modern warfare.

Enter Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), who makes her entrance in a high-octane hostage rescue sequence that feels straight out of Mission: Impossible and pushes the film’s PG-13 rating to the edge. When government handlers realize they’ve lost control of their new weapon, a dangerous threat is unleashed—one that will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Amelia is a force to be reckoned with and a fantastic addition to the franchise, serving as the perfect foil for our quick-witted killer bot.

With the stakes higher than ever, this forces Gemma to do the unthinkable: resurrect and upgrade M3GAN to help track down and eliminate this new enemy before Cady, their friends, and millions of others become collateral damage. Along for the ride are returning associates Tess (Jen Van Epps) and Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez), as well as Gemma’s new love interest (played by Aristotle Athari), who brings a calming, supportive presence to the group—a much-needed contrast after everything the family has been through. We’re also introduced to a scene-stealing tech billionaire (played by Jemaine Clement), who lands somewhere between Charles Xavier and Austin Powers, and is a delight every time he’s on screen.

Yes, the film is a bit overstuffed and runs a little longer than it should—but it’s also one of the most fun theater experiences I’ve had in a while. The comedy lands so effortlessly that I was laughing and smiling from start to finish. M3GAN 2.0 fully embraces everything that made the original a sensation, then builds on it with even sharper camp, outrageous one-liners, wild dance moves, and just the right amount of chaos to keep you grinning throughout. Director Gerard Johnstone and Blumhouse clearly knew exactly what they had this time around—and they went all in.

The action is dialed up considerably, delivering some of the year’s best fight sequences and a mid-film car chase that could’ve been lifted straight out of Fast & Furious. Depending on how this one performs at the box office, that long-rumored M3GAN vs. Chucky showdown might finally be within reach.

While its extended runtime may test the patience of younger viewers—and horror purists may be disappointed by the pivot away from scares—there’s a lot to love here. M3GAN 2.0 is zany, action-packed, and refreshingly self-aware. It’s easily one of the must-see films of the summer.

Rating: 4.5 Seths out of 5