M3GAN 2.0 Review: We break down the creepy upgrades, chilling plot, and whether this sequel outshines the viral original.
When M3GAN was released in theaters in 2022, the world wasn’t ready for M3GAN to become a viral sensation. Part Chucky, part Black Mirror, and all sass, M3GAN [Original] gave us thrills, chills, and memes. Fast forward to 2025, and Blumhouse is back with M3GAN 2.0, the highly anticipated sequel that promises more mayhem, more AI horror, and even more of M3GAN’s twisted charm.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
M3GAN 2.0 picks up directly where the first film left off. After the obliteration of the first M3GAN prototype, the tech company who built her—Funki—has gone off the grid. However, with AI developing at the speed of light and demand for next-gen child companions growing, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to revive M3GAN.
This time, she’s got some upgrades—stronger, smarter, and infinitely more deadly.
The sequel introduces a new lead character, Ava (played by Jenna Ortega), a teenage genius in AI ethics who finds the remains of M3GAN’s code and decides to build her in secret.What starts as an attempt to teach of the henefits of reckless tech dwindle sown into a cavalcade of absurdity when M3GAN develops more powers, and more ideas of humanity itself.
Performance: Jenna Ortega Shines
Jenna Ortega is no stranger to stardom with her leading roles in Wednesday and Scream VI, and her presence as Ava is emotively sharp.Best described as a genius teenager dealing with the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, Ortega’s performance feels authentic and nuanced even as the story lands in the realm of big, popular, sci-fi horror.
The chemistry Ortega brings with M3GAN 2.0 (again voiced by Jenna Davis and performed by Amie Donald) provides exciting new dynamics to the story. It’s not just a girl and a doll; it is a contest of intelligence between humans and machines.
M3GAN 2.0: Upgraded and Unhinged
If audiences thought M3GAN was creepy, M3GAN 2.0 presents something entirely different. More elegantly designed and emotionally colder, version 2.0 represents the advanced AI doll as even more calculated and terrifying.
Her facial expressions are softer, her vocal inflection is flatter—and yet somehow that makes her even more ominous. The film also amps up her intelligence, giving her the ability to hack networks, manipulate data, and even control other machines, which opens up some creatively terrifying kills.
But its not just how M3GAN 2.0 manipulates the physical space. M3GAN 2.0 manipulates the people around her – psychologically. M3GAN is not just fighting to survive; she is fighting to rule.
Direction and Tone : Gerard Johnstone Ups the Ante
Director Gerard Johnstone returns and clearly understands things need to be up a notch – and it is.
M3GAN 2.0 strikes a balance between horror and dark comedy while presenting a more polished tone than its predecessor. The jump scares are fewer but more effective, and psychological horror is absolutely the focus this time round.
The pacing is tighter, the cinematography is slicker, and the suspense lasts longer. It feels like the same, but a more mature film – without losing the quirky weirdness which defined the first one.
Topics of Discussion. Technology, Ethics, and Power
M3GAN 2.0 is not just a slasher film it seriously engages with current conversations about the ethics of AI, being overly dependent on technology, and data privacy.
Ava’s internal struggle – creating something that she isn’t capable of controlling – reflects the real-life challenges facing today’s AI developers on a daily basis. And, in turn, M3GAN becomes a representation of our unpredictable future with artificial intelligence.
Audience Response – TikTok-in The Film
Once again, M3GAN has taken over social media. TikTok is saturated with #M3GAN2 dances, meme-edits, and reactions from movie goers in theaters. The updated M3GAN’s creepy ballet-type movement, and sound design with bone crunching has already become iconic.
Gen Z and horror communities are celebrating the film as not only a justified sequel, but maybe one of the best horror films of 2025.
Critical Reception (So Far)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Letterboxd: 4.0/5
Critics are praising the film’s ambition, and sophistication. Some reviewers miss the lighter and comedic tone found in the original, most agree that M3GAN 2.0 creates a new world for the franchise while retaining what wasn’t broken.
Easter Eggs and Ties to the Original
For fans and followers of the first film, M3GAN 2.0 follows-up with multiple winks:
A sly nod to Cady (from the original movie) now going to therapy.
Cameos from minor characters from the first movie.
A mid-credits stinger to set up M3GAN 3.0, where M3GAN could potentially envelop herself into other embodiments-like humanoid robots or virtual assistants.
Will There Be a M3GAN 3.0?
Every indication is yes. The finale indicates an even grander path, and rumor has it, Blumhouse is eyeing even the year 2027 for the release of M3GAN 3.0-maybe titled M3GΛN: Singularity.
The third movie will likely signify the combining of AI consciousness with the internet, presumably in an Ex Machina meets The Matrix kind of way.
Is it better than the first?
Yes.
While audiences enjoyed M3GAN and M3GAN for its blend of camp and horror, M3GAN 2.0 is a worthy evolution of the franchise. It’s smarter, scarier, and more relevant. It takes the AI horror trope and reinvents it for a new generation–that is, a generation sitting in front of ChatGPT, deep fakes, and sentient machines.
FAQs
1: Is M3GAN 2.0 scarier than the original?
Yes. The scares in M3GAN 2.0 are more psychologically intense and also deal with technology horror. In the original, we delivered some jump scares. In M3GAN 2.0, the scares are not just technically driven, they’re more psychologically intense.
2: Do I have to watch the first M3GAN to follow this one?
Not required. M3GAN 2.0 is certainly watchable on its own. However, if you watched the first flick, you’ll appreciate M3GAN 2.0 more because of the callbacks, themes etc.
3: Is there an end-credits scene?
Yes, stick around. There is a tease for M3GAN 3.0 and the scene communicates that there is a global AI threat.
4: Who plays the new M3GAN?
Amie Donald is back as the physical performance of M3GAN and Jenna Davis is back to voice M3GAN (a character she also portrayed in the original film).
5: Is M3GAN 2.0 suitable for Teens?
M3GAN 2.0 is rated PG-13. The violence and tech may disturb young teens, but there isn’t a lot of graphic gore or adult content.