M3GAN 2.0 Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

She is back, though this time to teach us about the dangers of A.I., similar to how this sequel teaches about the pain of sitting through a mediocre film.

Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Thriller 

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Cast: Allison Williams, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald, Violet McGraw, Ivanna Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Jen Van Epps, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jemain Clement & Tim Sharp.

Run Time: 120 min.

US Release: 27 June 2025

UK Release: 27 June 2025

German Release: 26 June 2025

A January release back in 2023 that managed to surprise, obtaining a summer blockbuster spot for its follow-up in 2025: the talk is about M3GAN 2.0! Honestly, the first movie, about the possible dangers of artificial intelligence, wrapped up in a light horror scenario, was an enjoyable piece of its own, and while it did set up for a possible continuation, I never believed it to be necessary. Now, two years later, director/writer Gerard Johnstone gives it the Aliens/Terminator 2 treatment, scrubbing down its horror element to the bare minimum, while amping up the action. 

So let us reboot our systems, as we load up the review for this cyber thriller…

Two years have passed since M3GAN’s rampage. Gemma, now an activist against artificial intelligence, is forced to rebuild her creation, as a military-grade weaponised doll named AMELIA is set loose in the public. M3GAN could be the only one able to stop her, but can she be trusted? 

The project was in the works pretty much as soon as Universal noticed the positive box office outcome, given the predecessor's limited budget. Producer James Wan said he had a couple of ideas where the story could lead. Though it was expected for Akela Copper to return for the screenplay, it was ultimately the regisseur himself, who also took on writing duties.

The shift of genre for a sequel, to keep the premise fresh, is a bold move, even if it pays off. In this case, the complete undoing of its horror roots, while ramping up the goofy comedy, did not do the premise any favours. In fact, the self-aware humour is so on the nose that it becomes cringy, rather than amusing. What made the first one so great is its contained, as well as intimate tech-horror atmosphere. This follow-up expands the setting, introducing spy elements, global stakes, plus excessive organisations, detracting from the core message.

With all of the above going on, filmmakers struggled with maintaining a cohesive narrative. The addition of further subplots disrupts the pacing, with specific aspects feeling rushed, while others are left unexplored. It also lacks the emotional hook that the first one had, leaving Gemma’s and Cady’s progression as a superficial point that needed to be ticked off. 

Having said that, not everything this continuation offers is bad. The themes it includes are as timely as ever, especially with the shift in perception of A.I., giving both sides a voice, trying to offer a solution, as obvious as it might be. It is also the basis for M3GAN’s arc of redemption, evolving from villain to anti-hero in an organic way.

Dialogues are as snarky as they were in the first one, though they overstep boundaries, as specific comments are made by the doll that leave an awkward sentiment, or are simply offensive. The opening act, which sees Cady talking to a counsellor, is used as a lazy, introductory exposition dump that doesn’t even sound genuine.

One of the biggest offences this sci-fi thriller commits is completely sidelining the supporting cast, turning its personas into nothing more than devices to further the plot. This is especially true of Gemma’s potential love interest, who is given no depth other than serving a specific role, to create a rushed, just like unearned growth for her character.

Allison Williams returns in her role as Gemma, Cady’s guardian and surrogate mother. She continues giving a solid performance, especially since her persona was diminished to a one-dimensional caricature. Her growing relationship with McGrawth’s Cady is completely sidelined, in favour of turning her into a run-of-the-mill action hero.

Violet McGrawth has grown as an actress, giving this time around a more grounded, believable rendition of Cady, as she enters her teenage years. Her physical acting, just like some of the stunts, look realistic. Begrudgingly, just as with Gemma, Cadys arc is sidelined to make space for more action sequences.

Jenna Davis' voice acting gives M3GAN her uncanny, foul-mouthed wit. Showing remorse for what she did, as well as learning to care more for other human beings, Davis manages to blend vulnerability well with bad-assery. Amy Donald, who returned as the doll's body double, convinces once again with robotic movements.

AMELIA, the antagonistic copy of M3GAN played by Ivanna Sakhno, is an effective, cold-blooded, murderous villain, though she lacks personality.

Camera-wise, this feels like several steps backwards, compared to its predecessor. While the picture looks clear plus polished, complementing the spy-esque scenes, the camera moves are often incoherently frantic, especially during battle sequences, where rapid cuts and extreme close-ups are paired with disorienting shaky shots. The utilisation of messy cross-cuts doesn’t help the already chaotic flow. The colour palette is similar to its forerunner, making use of a lot of pink-bluish neon lights.

The effects are most disappointing, taking another dip in quality. While the practical animatronic puppets by Wētā serve to ground effects realistically, the CGI undoes most of it, fluctuating between good and unfinished. This leads to a diminishing impact during key emotional scenes. The creative wardrobe, on the other hand, successfully blends classic style with tech designs, giving the whole premise a realistic, futuristic tone.

The sound design is one of the better aspects, as it layers textures of robotic sounds plus human notes. Unfortunately, the horror atmosphere has been replaced with a heavier, action-themed tone. The music itself sounds more generic, missing the bold experimental sound of its precursor.

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Verdict: All in all, this looks like a rushed, uninspired cash-grab of a sequel. Johnstone, who, apart from returning as director, also wrote the script this time around, tries to go bigger, yet doesn’t put the effort in to create an intriguing narrative, worth sitting through. Instead, the genre is shifted to a more comedic action, using on-the-nose meta references that are simply embarrassing. The plot is overstuffed, leading to side-characters being barely explored, or side-arcs being dropped completely. The dialogues are clunky, while the personas are one-dimensional shadows of their former selves. An effort is made to maintain its original message, which is as current as it's ever been, given the rise of A.I. programmes. The cinematography is a step down, using quick cuts and shaky cams. The effects are a mixed bag, while the sound design is strong. M3GAN 2.0 is a mediocre, unnecessary sequel. It’s a 5.0 out of 10. 

Have you seen this cyber-thriller yet? If not, wait until it comes out on streaming, it ain’t worth the money for a cinema ticket. Let me know if you agree with my review & as always, thank you for reading!