Studio: Universal Pictures
Release Date: 9/23/2025
Rating: PG-13 and Unrated
Film Grade: C+
The Story: A few years have passed since the threat of M3GAN was neutralized, but a new android has entered the scene. Meet AMELIA (Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android) an agent for the U.S. government that has been programmed with specific safeguards to prevent her from going rogue. Iron clad protocols that cannot be circumvented or bypassed. Or can they? And how does M3GAN fit into all of this?
My Take: I was a bit surprised by the overall negative reaction that this movie provoked when it hit theaters. Having watched it, I’ll attribute it to a case of missed expectations. The first movie was a small, clever horror/thriller built around the risks of AI, as represented by a doll who has a few programming issues. The sequel largely changes paths, dumping almost all of the horror and thriller aspects and turning into a techno/action/espionage tale, with mixed results. Think less Chucky and more Mission Impossible.
Writer Akela Cooper returned for this installment along with director Gerard Johnstone (getting a cowriting credit this time) with a goal of amping up the story. Broader plot, grander sets, abundant action, more characters, and lots of exposition. But bigger isn’t always better. There is so much story here, that it’s hard to contain within the movie’s two-hour run time. That’s in sharp contrast to the first film’s comparatively breezy 102-minute run time.
That larger story requires more exposition, some of it quite clunky. For example, the movie catches the audience up by sitting in with young Cady as she recounts what has happened since the first movie. This could have worked well, except this isn’t the first meeting with her court-appointed therapist, so the dialog is both unrealistic and superfluous in the context of the story. The scene is intercut with TV coverage of the first incident, which worked much better. Sub in a new therapist, and the exposition would have felt natural rather than awkward. Later, in a well-worn trope, the movie’s adversary takes the time to explain his grand plans to Gemma and the audience.
The cast from the earlier movies have been brought back for this one, easily picking up from where the original left off. Allison Williams gives Gemma a newly found maturity, with a keen focus on the hazards of AI while maintaining her passion for new technology. Aligning with her views on AI governance is Christian, played by Aristotle Athari, injecting both a love interest and professional bond for Gemma. Jemaine Clement hams it up as megalomanic and tech giant Alton Appleton, who would love to join forces with Gemma, as her work on M3GAN could be a valuable addition to his Neural Chip brain interface. Ivanna Sakhno is chillingly effective as AMELIA, almost reminiscent of Robert Patrick’s portrayal of the T-1000 in T2 but with a feminine touch.
On the production side, the film is well-crafted. The sets are fun and look great on screen, with secret labs, underground bunkers, a convention setting, and luxurious homes. Costumes lean toward the realistic, with some of the sets being decorated with interesting bits and pieces that add just the right flavor. The special effects for both M3GAN and AMELIA are as surprisingly effective as they were in the first.
Visuals: While almost all of the movie happens indoors, even low-lit scenes are clear, making it easy to discern the surroundings, but it did seem that the overall look of the movie was on the softer side, rather than some of the ultra-sharp digital offerings we are accustomed to seeing. Camera motion is often fluid, switching to plentiful fast cuts during action scenes.
Comparing the 4K disc to the standard Blu-ray, whites are much brighter, and colors appear more saturated. There’s a scene inside of a covert van, where the red lights feel both deeper and brighter than the HD counterpart. I searched for specific instances where the 4K was noticeably more detailed than the plain BD but failed to find any. I’ll say that’s more of a testament to the BD looking great than the 4K being a disappointment.
Audio: The Dolby Atmos soundtrack (included on both the 4K and HD Blu-ray discs) is satisfyingly enveloping. While there weren’t enough outdoor scenes for my classic bird chirp test, both wides and tops make themselves known almost as soon as the film starts. Composer Chris Bacon has fashioned a score that fits well with the espionage themes of the movie. While not plentiful, the bass channel comes through with authority when called upon. A few pop tunes are thrown in, including the almost ubiquitous techno-dance music that seems to be a requirement in action movies these days.
Special Features: The extras included on the disc are well worth the watch for anyone interested in seeing how the movie came together.
- UNRATED VERSION – Upgraded with enhanced kills, deleted scenes and more blood & carnage, see the unrated version that was too gruesome for theaters!
- Total Upgrade: Making M3GAN 2.0 - Equipped with some killer upgrades, the team that unleashed M3GAN returns. Cast and crew take you through the artistry and craftsmanship that went into building a bigger, badder, and bloodier sequel.
- Droid DNA - Unveil M3GAN 2.0 as she prepares to tackle rogue military asset Amelia. Go behind the scenes and see the puppetry, technology, and animatronics that brought these deadly droids to life.
- The Art of Slaying - The cast and stunt team discuss creating and executing the film’s most explosive and gruesome action sequences. Special effects and prop teams go into the gory details that make up the guts of the film.
- Scene Breakdown: Embrace AI Convention - From a dance battle to a blood fest, this breakdown will show how each department worked together to create this epic and deadly sequence.
Final Verdict: The first M3GAN movie arrived as a pleasant surprise, with a tight, witty script built around a killer doll, a genre that felt a bit played out with the multiple Chucky movies we’ve seen over the past few decades. It did it with verve and style that lifted it above most entries in the genre.
As a follow up, M3GAN 2.0 goes in a different direction, which could leave some fans disappointed. Ditching any semblance of horror, the film turns into a blend of Mission Impossible and T2. The shift to an action-based movie comes at the cost of the black humor and sharp dialog that helped shaped the original. There are still some good lines to be found, but they feel more derivative rather than snappy and fresh. Other touches, like the sly toy commercials, are also missing here. Thematically, it’s a mixed bag as well. Some of the same issues relating to AI are discussed, but on a shallower level leaving much less for the audience to ruminate on.
Still, it’s just slightly above average for this different genre, and was entertaining overall. If you saw the first one, just go into it understanding that it has a completely different feel to it. I didn’t watch the entire unrated version, but the difference appears to be violence and gore related. For example, the PG-13 version shows the shadow of a beheading against a wall, while the unrated version adds a closeup of the head landing. Even so, the unrated version should qualify as a tame R.
The franchise will continue early next year with the release of SOULM8TE. This will be yet another drastic change in direction, as it’s being described as a science fiction erotic thriller, featuring a man that replaces his dead wife with an AI substitute.
Fun Meta Credit Reference: The final line in the ending credits is, “This work may not be used to train AI.”
My Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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