The new Blumhouse horror film, M3GAN 2.0, has a lower Rotten Tomatoes score than the original phenomenon
Blumhouse was founded in 2000 by Jason Blum and has taken a stride into a multitude of genres while making it’s 25 year mark, although Blumhouse is most well-known for its horror films, including the Paranormal Activity and Insidious families and The Purge franchise.
The studio had some success with affirming previous efforts, but has been kinda mixed recently. While The Black Phone and M3GAN made a return on investment for their budgets, more recently, Night Swim, Imaginary, and Afraid: either did poorly at the box office; and landed at 25% or worse at rotten tomatoes.
However, the studio ended 2024 on a high note with Speak No Evil earning 83%. This year has been mixed as well: The Woman in the Yard earned a disappointing 39%, while Lisa Frankenstein bounced back with 84%. Now comes a highly anticipated sequel to the 2022 hit M3GAN.
M3GAN 2.0: A Mixed Bag
M3GAN 2.0 follows up the story of the original film and centers on Model 3 Generative Android confronting a humanoid military robot created using similar AI technology. Directed once again by Gerard Johnstone and co-written with Akela Cooper, the sequel features returning cast members including Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, and Brian Jordan Alvarez. New faces include Ivanna Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Tim Sharp, and Jemaine Clement.
With just a few days since release, M3GAN 2.0 holds a 61% score on Rotten Tomatoes—decent, but still significantly lower than the original’s 93%. With 57 reviews so far, the score may fluctuate.
What the Score Means
The Rotten Tomatoes score reflects mixed reviews. For example, one critic noted, “The sequel still made me laugh, but it no longer fits the horror genre… the lighter world of the sequel doesn’t align with the creepy absurdity that made M3GAN so popular.”
Critics are polarized. Some enjoyed the sequel’s campy humor and joked the movie shifted dramatically to an action-comedy (maybe a new take on Terminator 2 or Evil Dead 2). Others thought the sequel was so tonally all over the place, it wasn’t an actual horror movie. Some audiences thought M3GAN 2.0 was perfectly acceptable; it took risks and pushed boundaries. Other audiences are upset that it didn’t have the charm of the original.
Release Date
M3GAN 2.0 releases in theaters June 27.
First Reviews: A Campy Action Ride
Critics say this sci-fi sequel turns the original on its head, replacing horror with action and comedy. While M3GAN was a horror breakout in 2022, its follow-up aims for a genre shift, focusing on sci-fi action and turning the iconic killer doll into a sort of tech-hero—though not necessarily a “good girl.”
M3GAN 2.0 accepts absurdity more than the first film. While it’s not a horror film, it is more of a real, action-oriented romp, including shooting, fighting, and a scene breaking into a location using a wingsuit where M3GAN gets to swoop down into a cave similarly to Mission: Impossible.
This outrageous tonal shift might upset some, while others welcome it. You could argue that there is no traditional horror here; however, there is some commentary about AI autonomy, the regulation of technology, and ethics; there’s even a mention of Section 230—a deep cut for techies.
The Plot & Commentary
Set after the events of the first film, Gemma (Allison Williams) returns as the engineer behind M3GAN and is now an AI critic. But when a new military robot, AMELIA, goes rogue, M3GAN becomes the only one who can stop her.
The plot thickens when we see that M3GAN wasn’t really destroyed and had backed herself up to the Cloud. M3GAN was able to use Gemma’s smart devices to track Gemma and her niece Cady. After a number of nefarious actions from some rogue FBI agents and using a few government contacts, we see that M3GAN is back, this time in an upgraded body that is even more powerful and lifelike.
While the movie dives into intense action, it’s filled with quirky humor, pop culture references, and even nods to 90s action cinema. The villain AMELIA, portrayed by Ivanna Sakhno, channels a sleek, deadly female Terminator vibe.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Director Gerard Johnstone returns with a clear understanding of his vision, though he sacrifices some of the satirical horror that made the original shine. The film is longer, louder, and more ambitious, but may alienate fans of the original’s sharp blend of horror and humor.
M3GAN’s standout performance by Amie Donald, alongside Jenna Davis’ witty voice acting, is a highlight of the film. The action choreography is solid and there are plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments. Being an Elon Musk-type tech mogul and references to Xerox PARC and GUI origins add depth for tech viewers.
That said, some may find the story too complex, others too varied, or be upset it went from horror to almost parody action.
Final Thoughts
M3GAN 2.0 is a bold sequel that takes the series into a new direction with less horror, and more sci-fi and action. While it’s not without flaws, it provides entertainment, especially if you’re open to hybrid storytelling. Whether or not you consider it a worthy sequel to the original is likely to depend on how you rate continuity versus creative growth.
And yes, a third film looks likely. Fingers crossed M3GAN 3.0 is even more crazy, campy and smart.