There’s something oddly satisfying about a sequel that doesn’t bother playing it safe. M3GAN 2.0 doesn’t just change lanes from the 2022 original. It builds an entirely new vehicle, straps a rocket to the roof, and takes off in the opposite direction.
The creepy satire on screen-time and parenting is long gone. What we get instead is a slick, self-aware sci-fi action film that wears its inspiration on its sleeve. And yes, let’s not pretend otherwise, this is a modern retelling of Terminator 2. Think about it. The original killer machine becomes the protector. The upgraded villain android is faster, deadlier, and practically unstoppable. There’s a teenager who holds the key to the future, a traumatised guardian figure, a doomsday-level AI threat, even a hideout used to regroup for the final showdown. Every major T2 beat is echoed here.
M3GAN is the T-800. AMELIA, the soulless upgrade, is the T-1000. Cady is John Connor. Gemma stands in for Sarah. Christian Bradley steps into that uncomfortable Skynet role. And the whole thing plays out like a high-stakes remix with a glossier coat of paint. Honestly, it’s kind of brilliant.
M3GAN, once the pint-sized assassin with eerily graceful dance moves, returns as something closer to a reluctant hero. She still moves like no one else, still delivers lines with that strange mix of cheer and menace, but there’s purpose behind her this time. She's not just back for the ride. She’s trying to do the right thing. Somehow, the shift works.
Allison Williams slips comfortably back into the role of Gemma, who’s now become a high-profile advocate for AI regulation, carrying guilt from the first film like an old injury. Violet McGraw’s Cady, no longer a grieving child, now has teenage spark and attitude. Their relationship feels more complicated and real this time, and it gives the film something grounded to play against all the tech-fuelled chaos.
The chaos itself? Pretty well handled. AMELIA is the new creation, all steel and silence. Played by Ivanna Sakhno, she never raises her voice or makes a show of her power. She's just colder than everyone else in the room, and that’s enough. She feels less like a villain and more like a logical conclusion to unchecked ambition. Jemaine Clement, meanwhile, brings a laid-back menace to Alton Appleton, a smug billionaire with more influence than sense. He’s the kind of character that doesn’t need exaggerating, he already exists in the real world.
Amie Donald returns as M3GAN’s physical presence, and Jenna Davis once again delivers the voice work with that perfectly unnatural charm. The film gives them enough space to let the character evolve, rather than just plugging her back in for fan service. And somehow, even with the world on the line, it finds moments of lightness. There’s humour, warmth, and the occasional knowing wink without tipping into parody.
It’s a clear tonal shift from the first film. Horror has taken a back seat. This is action, clean and stylised, with ideas about power, control, and what it actually means to coexist with machines. That change won’t be for everyone. If you came looking for another creepy doll horror, you’re probably going to be annoyed. But if you’re up for something that moves fast and thinks bigger, this one delivers.
The pacing holds up. For something that runs close to two hours, it never feels bloated. The plot moves, the stakes escalate, and there’s always something just a little strange happening around the edges.
Not every decision will land for every viewer, but for a sequel that takes a proper risk, M3GAN 2.0 deserves credit. It’s bold, oddly emotional in places, and not afraid to reinvent itself.
Score: 9 out of 10.
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