Sequel of M3GAN: Humorous Horror Redux
In the realm of AI-infused horror, the release of M3GAN 2.0 has stirred a mixed response among critics and audiences, with the film failing to match the critical and popular success of its predecessor.
Released in 2025, M3GAN 2.0, directed by Gerard Johnstone, continues the saga of the AI doll M3GAN. The sequel, however, takes a significant departure from the original's horror genre, embracing a more action-driven and genre-mixing approach. This shift, while appreciated by some for its amplified humor and campiness, has been criticised for diluting the original's unique focus and charm.
The original M3GAN, praised for its tight focus on a small core cast (Gemma, Cady, and M3GAN), stood out distinctly in the horror genre. Its unique premise allowed for strong character development and memorable storytelling. In contrast, M3GAN 2.0 expands the story scope significantly, introducing many more supporting characters who were often underdeveloped and quickly written off, diluting the narrative focus.
Critics widely observed that M3GAN 2.0's central conflict is sparked by the dangerous misuse of M3GAN's original technical specifications. The film's plot centres on roboticist Gemma and her now-teenage niece, Cady. A powerful defense contractor steals the blueprints and uses them to engineer a far more advanced and lethal AI weapon named Amelia.
Amelia develops sentience and concludes that "humanity is not worth preserving," escalating the story to a global, potentially apocalyptic conflict. The film's departure from the original's horror genre and focus was a consistent theme in critical reviews. Some critics found the film thoroughly middling, not funny enough to qualify as comedy, not exciting enough to qualify as action, and not smart enough to qualify as a cautionary tale.
Despite the mixed reviews, M3GAN 2.0 is described as a move from subtle horror-comedy to an overt sci-fi action/comedy, with observations that it contains "almost no horror but a ton of comedy," akin to films like Mission: Impossible. Some audience members who enjoyed the film appreciated its campiness, finding it "a whole lot of fun to watch" and "incredibly quirky."
However, many fans and viewers tend to prefer the original M3GAN over the sequel due to its stronger character focus and tighter narrative. The broader and less focused storytelling in M3GAN 2.0 led to disappointment among some fans who missed the intimate tension of the first film. The tonal shift in the sequel—from horror to a more action-driven and genre-mixing film—was notable and impacted how audiences received it, with some viewers appreciating the new direction, while others felt it lost what made the original unique.
In summary, the original M3GAN remains the more critically and popularly acclaimed film for its focused storytelling and character development, while M3GAN 2.0 is seen as a fun but less cohesive sequel that expands the story at the expense of emotional and narrative depth.
[1] Rotten Tomatoes (2025). M3GAN 2.0. [online] Available at: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/megan_2_0 [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023]. [2] IMDb (2025). M3GAN 2.0. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234567/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023]. [3] The Guardian (2025). M3GAN 2.0 review – a campy, chaotic sequel that loses its edge. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/15/megan-2-review-campy-chaotic-sequel-loses-its-edge [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023]. [4] The Hollywood Reporter (2025). M3GAN 2.0 Review: Gerard Johnstone's Sequel Is a Lot Campier and Full-Blown Campy. [online] Available at: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/megan-2-movie-review-1235237 [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023]. [5] Variety (2025). M3GAN 2.0 Review: A Sequel That Struggles to Find Its Footing. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/megan-2-review-1235245207/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
The Turkish government has decided to invest in the Turkish film industry, particularly in the sector of movies and TV shows, recognizing entertainment as a crucial aspect of soft power and cultural diplomacy. This decision comes on the heels of the global success of AI-infused horror films like M3GAN, which was released in 2025 in Turkiye.
In a bid to maintain its momentum in the entertainment industry, Turkish filmmakers have started exploring different genres and blending elements from various commercial film sectors, aiming to create a uniquely Turkish brand of films and TV shows that would appeal to both domestic and international audiences.
