M3GAN 2.0 is now in theaters with Thursday previews, but critics say this upgrade comes with bugs. The killer doll is back with bigger action and a bolder tone, but the sequel isn’t landing as cleanly as the original. Some are calling it a chaotic pivot, others a campy good time, but most agree it’s not quite the same M3GAN that first shocked audiences.
What is the M3GAN 2.0 score?
With 107 reviews now published, M3GAN 2.0 sits at 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, a major drop compared to the first film’s strong 93% rating. While some praise the sequel’s campy energy and genre shift, others call it an unoriginal, unfocused downgrade.
Check out what the reviews have to say below. The fan score will become available this weekend.
What the reviews say
The negative
Many critics point to the film’s genre shift from horror to action-comedy as a major issue. They say M3GAN 2.0 lacks the tension and originality of the first film and instead leans into chaotic spectacle and scattered tone. Common complaints include shallow characters, clunky exposition, and an overstuffed plot that borrows too heavily from Terminator 2 and Mission: Impossible without adding anything new.
“M3GAN 2.0 is kind of a disappointment, especially in regards to how genuinely surprising and entertaining the original proved to be.” – Auteurist Class
“In its aping of Terminator 2, M3GAN 2.0 mostly says, “Hasta la vista, baby” to new ideas as it trades the kitschy horror vibe of the original for an action spy-thriller feel.” – Richard Crouse
“Like most upgrades, it’s full of bugs.” – North Shore Movies
“It’s a horrendous mishmash of ideas and influence — occasionally outrageous, but mostly derivative, bewildering, and bland.” – Mashable
The positive
Others appreciate the sequel’s willingness to pivot into absurd sci-fi satire. They praise the comedy, action choreography, and M3GAN’s continued presence as a cultural icon. While most agree it’s not as sharp as the original, fans of chaotic genre blends and camp will find plenty to enjoy.
“It’s a complete mess, but it was an enjoyable mess.” – Kermode and Mayo
“Johnstone confidently recycles decades of sci-fi ideas and formal choices in M3GAN 2.0, joyfully overstuffing his sequel with wild flourishes and an offbeat energy. The result is a blast.” – Deep Focus Review
“… a nicely nasty piece of work within the parameters of its PG-13 rating. Like ‘Alien’ (1979) and the tonally very different ‘Aliens’ (1986), this sequel is less sci-fi horror and more sci-fi action … but it works entertainingly well on its own terms” – MaitlandOnMovies
“It was technology and the social media extension of such that turned M3GAN into a camp icon, so why shouldn’t the message so many seemed to project around what they liked about the first film be answered any other way than amping that factor to 11?” – The AU Review
Release info
M3GAN 2.0 is directed by Gerard Johnstone and released in theaters on June 27, 2025. The film continues the story of the AI doll turned internet icon as she evolves from horror villain to unlikely protector. The cast includes Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, and Ivanna Sakhno in a new role as Amelia, M3GAN’s upgraded counterpart.
Set in a near-future where AI is both threat and savior, the sequel trades scares for spectacle, positioning itself as a wild new direction for the franchise — but one that isn’t landing with everyone.
