The Wasteland Reviewer

M3GAN 2.0 (2025) Written Review

Are we ready for the return of Tik Tok’s favorite sassy killer robot? M3GAN took pop culture by storm with her murderous ways and her killer dance moves. So many memes were created and M3GAN became an unexpected hit at the box office. There was no surprise that a sequel was greenlit, but few would expect how big and ambitious this sequel would get. Instead of building on the horrors of M3GAN, this franchise goes full blown science fiction, action flick with two killer robots on a collision course. 

Does this new feel and approach pay-off for M3GAN 2.0? Director Gerard Johnstone takes bigger, bolder strokes with his approach to M3GAN 2.0. There are fleeting moments of horror elements (especially earlier in the film). There are some gory moments as well, but they are played more for over-the-top action instead of horror this time. One of the most enjoyable elements of M3GAN was the sassy and campy vibes channeled through the titular robot. M3GAN 2.0 is most fun and engaging when M3GAN is on screen (which is not as often this time around). The action in the film is rock solid most of the time and there are a few inspired action moments that really stand out. Most of the film’s tone is fun and campy which makes for a good time at the theater. But there are some more serious elements where this sequel tries to build on the last film and expand the relationships between the three main characters. This is not the deepest film out there but there is some heart to it and that is a nice addition to the wild ride that this film is. 

Does the script for this sequel do a good job of offering up a fun new entry while expanding upon the first film? Admittedly, M3GAN 2.0 is a bit of an overstuffed messy film. There are so many moving pieces with numerous subplots and characters that this could have easily been trimmed down. Anything involving law enforcement in this film feels clunky and uninteresting. There are a few returning characters from the first film who feel underutilized and lack serious purpose in the film. Gemma gets a love interest who becomes a large part of the plot and honestly might be one of the worst aspects of the film. This sequel is going bigger this time and some of the science fiction elements just feel so ridiculous and overly convoluted that it is not fun anymore. The film dedicates a decent amount of time to developing Gemma’ relationship with both Cady (her niece) as well as M3GAN. Both dynamics get some strong growth from the previous film, which is a welcomed addition. The new killer robot, Amelia, is honestly under-utilized by how the plot of the film evolves. The best parts of the film (and funniest) are still when M3GAN is on screen (and M3GAN 2.0 could have dedicated more screen time to her). 

Does the cast bring the energy to this bonkers sequel? This is certainly not the type of film that you expect to hone in on the actors but there are a few standouts. Like the rest of the film, the real standout is Jenna Davis…AKA M3GAN. She is sassy and fun and anchors so much of the film. The physical performances for both M3GAN and Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) bring the goods. Allison Williams is the biggest name in the film but her performance as Gemma is still quite hollow (like in the previous film). Violet McGraw is a strong element of the cast as Cady does get more to do this time around. Jemaine Clement is a hilarious addition as an Elon Musk type tech billionaire (except for being cooler and funnier). Aristotle Athari gets a surprisingly large role as Gemma’s love interest, but he feels quite flat in most of his performances. 

 Is M3GAN 2.0 a worthwhile sequel to this surprise hit film? There are some big swings in crafting this follow-up and many of them feel a little too big. M3GAN is still by far the best part of this film. The film is a little long and still not enough of that time is dedicated to the real star of the franchise. There are some good developments from the last film that keep these characters growing. Most importantly, this is still a fun time.