M3GAN 2.0

What started as one of my least anticipated movies of the year ended up being a surprisingly fun, franchise-worthy action flick. M3GAN 2.0 is-and trust me, it pains me to say this-this generation's Terminator 2.

In what feels like a deliberate attempt to gender-flip and modernize the Terminator formula, director Gerard Johnstone actually pulls it off. Like T2, this sequel manages to outshine the original by embracing action over horror, bringing back a former villain as a reluctant hero, and somehow making us root for them by the end.

The film hits almost every beat of T2-genre shift, character arcs, even the structure-yet it does it with enough style and self-awareness to feel fresh. It's not subtle about its inspirations, but it doesn't need to be. It's fun, sharp, and unapologetically over-the-top in all the right ways.

M3GAN 2.0 is definitely an improvement over the first, and now I'm genuinely curious to see where the series goes next. If we keep following the Terminator roadmap, I fully expect the next installment to be M3GAN: Rise of the AI, featuring a male M3GAN model named Mark-X hunting a now-off-the-grid Cady.

Don't get me wrong. The first movie was great but it's not something I'd watch again. Number two I definitely would rewatch. Turning Megan into a protagonist was the best thing they could do. There's only so far she could have gone as a villian (like terminator and chucky) but making her an anti hero like Venom has made her a lot more likeable. Now she has a personality, she's funny and you root for her to win. I was super impressed with the second movie and I actually think the direction they took it in made it 10x better than the first one. Not many movies can pull off a sequel that ends up being just as good or better than the first installment. As long as they do it right, I'd watch another couple of movies with her in it! Very entertaining.

Too many times in horror movie sequels, it attempts to just rehash the exact same movie as the first one. But M3GAN 2.0 takes a letter from two other great horror franchises. Like Terminator 1 to Terminator 2, and Alien to Aliens, M3GAN 2.0 deviates from the horror formula and injects action and comedy blended with horror elements. It's nothing new, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing and psyched up for many moments of the film. The tone was much more about the action and fighting than jumpscares and thrills, which I found myself enjoying, otherwise it would've felt too much like a clone of the first one.

Also, the theming of this movie really compliments many real world discussions and dilemmas about AI and its involvement in our lives. So there were many moments where it hit a little closer to home, maybe too close at some points, actually putting a quiet sense of dread in my mind about a possible AI revolution.

The movie wasn't perfect, and there were a few moments that I cringed, however, I can absolutely say that enjoyed so many more moments that I left the movie feeling satisfied and thrilled with the assortment of fist fights, gun fights, thrashed metal and bloody messes.

She's back - smarter, sassier, and somehow even more unhinged than before.

M3GAN 2.0 is everything you want in a sequel like this. It's fun, it's chaotic, it's completely self-aware - and it knows exactly what kind of film it is. No pretence, no filler, just pure killer doll camp with a glossy finish and razor-sharp one-liners.

The plot? Honestly, barely matters. You're here to watch M3GAN wreak havoc in style - and she absolutely delivers. Think TikTok-era Terminator, but with better outfits and even more attitude. The dance moves are back (of course), but so is the biting satire, the tech paranoia, and the kind of crowd-pleasing gore that has you grinning one moment and gasping the next.

One unexpected standout? Ukrainian-American actress Ivanna Sakhno, who plays AMELIA, a military-grade android. She's stunning, has incredible screen presence, and honestly gives off major Elizabeth Olsen vibes. Like... twin-level resemblance. More of her in everything, please.

Is it high art? No. But it never pretends to be. It's campy, clever, and completely entertaining from start to finish. If you loved the first, you'll be living for this one. And if you didn't? Well... M3GAN doesn't care. She'll come for you anyway!!

The first MEGAN movie was silly fun, but not very good sci-fi. Heavy on the silly. But still, entertaining.

This sequel is far more interesting. A meaty story with new backstory and real detail. However, I feel it was around 20 minutes too long. There were plenty of peripheral parts that could have been omitted. If this was around an hour and 30 or 40 minutes I think I would have rated it an 8. FX were great, acting was great, casting was great.

If you're very precious about your sci-fi and/or you're a run of the mill misogynist who knee-jerk hates on films led by women, you may find reason to be contrarian and look down on this.

But if you enjoy sci-fi and action because they're fun and you also appreciate some good story and world building without prejudice, you'll surely enjoy this one.