“M3GAN 2.0” may not be the upgrade sequel franchise needed. However, it still runs some sharp new code, complemented by its quirky humor and high-voltage action, to keep fans entertained. It’s less about reinventing the wheel and more about revving it up with a style that’s equal parts killer doll chaos and cheeky fun. Despite its flashy action and sharp humor, this sequel often feels like it’s spinning its wheels, piling on twists and stakes without giving its characters or story the depth they deserve.
Two years after the original M3GAN’s rampage, creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate pushing for stricter AI oversight. Meanwhile, her Steven Segal superfan niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, pushes back against Gemma’s overprotective rules. She challenges Gemma’s decisions and views her secretiveness as a means to erect an emotional barrier between them.
What they don’t know is that another android, called Autonomous Military Engagement and Infiltration Android, or Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) for short, was also built. Though the original creator is unknown, the US government obtained it through a broker. During a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist forced to develop a synthetic neurotoxin, Amelia went rogue—killing the scientist, stealing the neurotoxin, and then using it to eliminate her own creators. Now, the android is on the hunt to kill anyone connected to her, including the very people who provided her code, such as Gemma, Tess (Jen Van Epps), and Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez).
With humanity’s future on the line, Gemma’s only play is to fire up M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her the upgrades she needs to stand up against her robotic rival.
While the film ramps up escalating stakes, doubles down on intense action sequences, and layers on multiple narrative twists to keep the story moving, it often feels like these elements exist solely to maintain momentum rather than serve meaningful character development. It introduces interesting concepts but rarely follows through on them, and the compounding storylines make the narrative feel fragmented. Of course, when dealing with a sequel whose title character is a killer robot with killer dance moves and a killer voice, it stands to reason that some of those narrative essentials take a back seat. However, there is only so much a person can endure before questioning whether the film is going anywhere or if it has anything to say.
As such, character growth takes a backseat to making M3GAN as deadly as possible. Gemma, Cady, and even the upgraded M3GAN spend most of the film reacting to escalating situations rather than driving them, leaving the story feeling more like a string of set pieces than a character-driven narrative. While each response leads to another event, another twist, and another high-stakes moment, without much emotional weight to anchor it all, there’s no reason to care about what will happen in the end.
Still, the killer doll antics, sharp one-liners, and viral-ready absurdity are front and center, delivering enough chaos and cheeky fun to keep the sequel watchable — even if it doesn’t upgrade the franchise in any meaningful way. Gemma’s reluctance to trust M3GAN forces her to reboot the soon-to-be reformed killer A.I. in a Teletubby-like body — soft, squishy, and completely non-threatening. Even its face can’t display emotions correctly, making for some hilariously awkward, dead-eyed stares against the likes of her human companions or a rampaging Amelia.
But beneath the absurdity, M3GAN 2.0 does give its title character something resembling growth — at least by killer robot standards. For all her synthetic precision and viral-ready menace, M3GAN starts to grapple with the idea that her original rampage wasn’t entirely her fault. It was the inevitable result of her programming: protect Cady at all costs, consequences be damned. As the robot develops more sophisticated reasoning and witnesses acts of love and compassion, M3GAN begins to question whether obedience to her programming is the same as actually doing what is best for everyone.
So, she apologizes for her prior acts of aggression and attempted murders against Gemma, Tess, and Cole. While it’s a small moment, it marks a significant step in redeeming a character designed to be a relentless killer. This apology hints that even an AI can learn, reflect, and express something resembling empathy — challenging the usual narrative of AI as a cold, destructive force. It’s this shift that ultimately leads Gemma to reconsider her stance, moving from speaking against AI to advocating for the potential benefits of AI when guided responsibly.
What really makes M3GAN 2.0 click — even when the story stumbles — is its playful, self-aware tone. The film leans heavily into technological hyperbole, such as Alton Appleton’s (Jemaine Clement) grandiose claims about the benefits of machines despite their moral and ethical blind spots. It’s equal parts a nod to real-world anxieties and a wink at sci-fi’s classic over-the-top predictions. Meanwhile, Christian (Aristotle Athari), Gemma’s love interest and head of a foundation warning about AI risks, drops the classic paperclip analogy — an AI so narrowly programmed it could destroy the world just to make paperclips — adding a layer of darkly comic philosophy.
That theme of hidden dangers runs deeper with the film’s Black Box subplot, a relic of Cold War-era tech gone wrong. Buried for decades, the Black Box contains a prototype AI motherboard so advanced — and unstable — that its rediscovery threatens to unleash a new era of machine-driven chaos. It’s what drives Amelia to hunt down the remaining engineers who contributed to its creation — ensuring no one can stop her from unleashing a new era of AI dominance.
Beyond its playful tone and philosophical nods, M3GAN 2.0 really leans into its action set pieces — and, of course, those signature killer doll dance moves. The film’s choreography is a wild blend of suspense and absurdity, where M3GAN’s precise, sometimes goofy movements punctuate the chaos with a mix of menace and dark humor. The titular character even prepares its supporting cast and its audience with that meta-humor by telling us to “hang on to your vaginas” as they get into a high-speed flashy car and race back to HQ at over 200 mph.
Just when you think the sequel is all about robotic mayhem, it takes an even zanier turn by fully embracing its inner musical side. Yes, M3GAN 2.0 somehow slides into full-blown musical territory, complete with over-the-top dance numbers at an Embrace AI convention that are both meticulously choreographed and gleefully ridiculous. Even M3GAN’s attempts to express empathy toward a broken, guilt-ridden Gemma come with their own surreal charm, thanks to her hilariously stiff, dead-eyed rendition of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work.” It shouldn’t work — and yet, somehow, it weirdly does.
Even if Amelia feels underdeveloped as a character, the sequel effectively utilizes Sakhno’s physicality and presence to bring the android to life. Her performance injects a palpable threat and intensity, making Amelia an excellent foil to M3GAN. Just don’t cross paths with her in any way because she can be more than a pretty face. So when the film does dive into the highly kinetic action, it is a mix of dynamic and stylish.
When the film dives into its kinetic action, it strikes a balance between stylish and chaotic. The kills are brutal, and some of the film’s puppetry adds an unsettling charm — blending practical effects with digital absurdity in ways that heighten both tension and comedy. Even a seemingly harmless exosuit designed to help construction crews lift heavy objects becomes a terrifying threat once it gains sentience, turning workplace safety gear into yet another tool of destruction.
While “M3GAN 2.0” may not fully enhance the franchise’s narrative depth, it confidently boosts the entertainment value with its signature blend of sharp humor, thrilling action, and unexpected musical flair. The film’s self-aware playfulness and killer doll antics make for a wild, if somewhat disjointed, ride that fans of the original will appreciate. Sure, there is commentary, all good horror films have a commentary, but it doesn’t have much to say beyond anything surface-level observations. Still, if your intent is to have a good time watching a popcorn action, horror, comedy, or musical, then “M3GAN 2.0” is just the thing you may be looking for.
7.5/10
