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A gay couple are trapped in a haunted Airbnb with their parents in an initially amusing but progressively exasperating genre mishmash

Writer-director Craig Johnson broke out with 2014’s spiky comedy drama The Skeleton Twins, a film that hit familiar Sundance indie beats but hit them better than most. He has struggled a little since, from annoying Woody Harrelson-led comedy Wilson to ho-hum gay high school romance Alex Strangelove, and so one can understand why Johnson might feel like a big swing in a different direction might make most sense.

It has led him to a script by Saturday Night Live writer Kent Sublette called The Parenting, a throwback supernatural comedy horror that tries to remind us of a time when these rambunctious concoctions were far more common. Think Beetlejuice in the 80s or The Frighteners in the 90s or the deeply underrated Housebound more recently, a high-energy rush of...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of last year, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. M3GAN 2.0 is set to reach theatres on June 27, 2025, and now we’be gotten our first official teaser, which you can watch embedded above. Recently, Entertainment Weekly unveiled a couple first-look images! You can check them out at the bottom of this article.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone returned to the helm for the sequel, and Cooper has written the script.

The first film has the following synopsis: She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family.

The killer AI-powered doll movie M3GAN (which gets its name from the fact that the doll is a Model 3 Generative Android) reached theatres back on January 6, 2023 – but months before the movie was even released, we were hearing that Universal Pictures was so pleased with it, sequel discussions were already underway. And less than two weeks after M3GAN made its way out into the world, Universal officially announced that we’ll be getting M3GAN 2.0 in 2025. The release date has changed a couple of times since then, moving from January 17 to May 16 to June 25, but the project has made its way through production and looks likely to stick with that June release date. In anticipation of the killer doll’s return, we have now put together a list of Everything We Know About M3GAN 2.0.

Creative Team

The story for the original M3GAN originated from producer James Wan, with Wan’s...

'M3GAN' star Allison Williams wants the horror franchise to "keep going" with more sequels and spin-offs.The scary flick – which follows the murderous robot doll M3GAN – will be expanded on with its sequel 'M3GAN 2.0', and the 36-year-old actress has said she's happy to keep coming back to the franchise so long as the stories are "interesting".Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Williams said: "Let's just keep going as long as they're interesting and each one has its own story to tell."As well as 'M3GAN 2.0' – which is slated to hit cinemas next year – the series is due to receive its first spin-off 'SOULM8TE', and Williams joked the series was slowly turning into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) thanks to its growing filmography.The actress – who is also serving as producer on 'M3GAN 2.0' – was asked what an Avengers-level threat...

When New Zealand-based writer, director, and producer Gerard Johnstone made his feature debut with Housebound in 2014, he'd only had one project under his belt. From 2008 to 2009, he worked with TV personality Jaquie Brown on her sitcom, The Jaquie Brown Diaries, as a director and writer on 14 episodes. Taking a sharp left turn, Johnstone later set out to make a horror film, admittedly choosing the genre because it was the only type of movie to be financially successful in Nz (and most other places) on a low budget.

With a shoestring budget of $250k (eventually ending up at $400k), Johnstone let circumstances dictate his creative direction, deciding to set his story in a single location to save on funds —ultimately landing on the idea of a haunted house. Choosing to make a bottle movie turned out to be a good idea, as even finding a suitable house to film in was financially tricky.

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of last year, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. M3GAN 2.0, which is set to reach theatres on June 27, 2025, has already wrapped production – and producer Jason Blum and returning star Allison Williams were both at the New York Comic Con to hype the sequel up a bit. During the Blumhouse panel at Nycc, Williams said M3GAN 2.0 is bigger and more expansive than its predecessor.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). Johnstone returned to the helm for the sequel, and Cooper has written the script.

The first film has the...

Dan Hamill joins ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ (Photo Courtesy of Starz)

Starz’s Spartacus: House of Ashur starring Nick Tarabay has added 12 guest stars to its cast. The much-anticipated new addition to the Spartacus franchise is in production in New Zealand, with Spartacus creator, writer, and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight guiding the series as showrunner.

“Spartacus: House of Ashur will be a history-bending, erotic, thrilling, roller-coaster experience that builds on everything that made the original series a colossal hit,” reads Starz’s synopsis. “The series poses the question: what if Ashur, played by fan favorite Nick Tarabay, hadn’t died on Mount Vesuvius at the end of Spartacus: Vengeance? And what if he had been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus and putting an end to the slave rebellion?”

In addition to Tarabay, the previously announced cast includes Lucy Lawless as Lucretia,...

Being married to a genuine bookworm, I know what it’s like to compete for attention with a mountain of thrilling page-turners. My wife has read an estimated 300 novels this year, so I sympathize with Elija Wood’s Strawn as he attempts to appeal to the mind of someone overflowing with information and imagination. In today’s Bookworm trailer, father and daughter embark on an epic journey into the wilderness in search of an elusive Canterbury Panther. However, neither came prepared to find love and the beginnings of forgiveness alongside danger and adventure.

Here’s the official synopsis for Bookworm courtesy of Vertical:

Bookworm follows 11-year-old Mildred (Nell Fisher), whose life takes a wild turn when her estranged father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), a washed-up Las Vegas illusionist, suddenly reappears. Years ago, after a magical encounter with the once-charming Strawn, Mildred’s mom moved back to New Zealand. Now, a...

Like Rian Johnson’s Knives Out Mysteries franchise, casting for Mike White’s The White Lotus is always an event. Fans love to speculate who could join the cast of White’s award-winning series, and now Conan O’Brien wants to put his fiery red quaff in the ring. According to legend, O’Brien bumped into White in a restaurant, and the two started talking about The White Lotus Season 3. O’Brien offered to appear on the show, wanting to be a part of White’s hit project, though his proposed role could raise an eyebrow or two.

Speaking with Walton Goggins for episode 19 of Conan’s podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, the former late-night host recapped his run-in with White, telling Goggins, “Before you guys started shooting The White Lotus, I ran into none other than Mike White in a restaurant. I said, ‘Hey, so the next season of The White Lotus,...

Plot: 11-year-old Mildred’s world is turned upside down when her estranged father, the washed-up magician Strawn Wise, comes to look after her and agrees to take her camping to find a mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

Review: I’m not sure what it is about films from New Zealand but they always impress. You could point to the wonderful geography, which adds so much to the look of the film. Or maybe it’s the talent both in front of and behind the camera. And Bookworm certainly isn’t lacking in either. Like Hunt For the Wilderpeople, this takes a whimsical approach that’s just as heartfelt as it is funny. While it’s certainly magical, everything is grounded and hardly ever crosses over into the absurd. And it’s really not afraid to go to dark places.

Bookworm follows Mildred (Nell Fisher) after something tragic happens,...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here, get a copy Here) was such a financial success when it reached theatres in January of last year, it didn’t even take Universal Pictures and production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster two weeks to announce that they’d be re-teaming for a sequel. We’ve known that M3GAN stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw will be reprising their roles in M3GAN 2.0, which is set to reach theatres on June 27, 2025 – and now, with filming underway, Deadline reports that Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps are also returning from the first movie. New additions include Ivanna Sakhno (Ahsoka), who recently landed a major part in the sequel, Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows), Timm Sharp (Blunt Talk), and Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live).

Based on a story crafted by produced James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone...

Exclusive: Signature Entertainment has picked up UK and Irish rights to Bookworm, the latest film from Kiwi filmmaker Ant Timpson (Come to Daddy) starring Elijah Wood.

Described as an “adventure comedy”, the film is produced by Emma Slade (Come to Daddy), Roxi Bull (Uproar), and Victoria Dabbs (Malevolent) of Firefly Films New Zealand and Mette-Marie Kongsved (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), Laura Tunstall (Nine Days) of Nowhere.

Timpson directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Toby Harvard (The Greasy Strangler). Starring alongside Wood are Michael Smiley (Free Fire), Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise), Morgana O’Reilly (Housebound), and Nikki Si’ulepa (Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story). The film’s plot tells the story of a 12-year-old whose life is turned upside down when her estranged, washed-up American magician father comes to look after her.

The deal was negotiated between Signature Entertainment’s Chief Commercial...

Ukraine is calling out HBO’s “The White Lotus” for casting Serbian actor Miloš Biković in Season 3, claiming that he is the “Kremlin’s foreign mouthpiece.”

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs took to X/Twitter, on Wednesday to express its disappointment over the casting.

“Miloš Biković, Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, is now set to star in HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3,” the post reads. “@HBO, is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide & violates international law?”

The post is accompanied by a video accusing Biković of supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The clip shows the actor receiving a medal of honor from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 for his contribution to Russian arts and culture. Biković has held Russian citizenship since 2021 and referred to himself as an “active member of...

Good lord, White Lotus. Save some actors for the rest of Hollywood. The third season of the HBO series is set to begin filming in Thailand next month with a massive ensemble cast, but hell, why not add a few more? The latest addition to White Lotus season 3 includes Walton Goggins, one of my favourite actors, as well as Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Sarah Catherine Hook (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It), and Sam Nivola (Maestro).

As with the previous cast announcements, there are no details on the character Walton Goggins and the rest will be playing in White Lotus season 3. The rest of the cast includes Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Leslie Bibb (The Babysitter: Killer Queen), Jason Isaacs (The Death of Stalin), Michelle Monaghan (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Parker Posey (Scream 3), Miloš Biković (The Challenge), Dom Hetrakul (Bangkok Dangerous), Christian Friedel...

“The White Lotus” Season 3 at HBO has added five new cast members, Variety has learned.

Miloš Biković, Christian Friedel, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, and Shalini Peiris have all joined the highly-anticipated new season of the series.

They join previously announced new cast members Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, and Tayme Thapthimthong. It was also announced that “The Gilded Age” star Carrie Coon is joining Season 3, while Natasha Rothwell will return to the show in a reprisal of her role from Season 1.

Biković is repped by Artist International Group and at Sv Casting. Friedel is repped by UTA, United Agents, Players Agentur Management, and Narrative. O’Reilly is repped by Link Entertainment and Johnson & Laird Management. Peiris is repped by Insight Management & Production.

The show is set to begin production in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok, Thailand, in February. Exact plot details...

One of the biggest horror hits in recent memory (and one of the biggest original hits of any kind for that matter) was "M3GAN." Produced by modern horror master James Wan and directed by Gerard Johnstone ("Housebound"), the film about an AI caregiver gone wrong captivated audiences in 2023, becoming the year's first bonafide blockbuster hit. Naturally, that means a sequel is on the way. Get ready for "M3GAN 2.0."

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions were quick to give the green light to a follow-up after the first movie had a massive opening weekend at the box office en route to a $181 million worldwide total. Not bad for a movie made with a mere $12 million budget. As is almost always the case in horror, a franchise has now been born. With development currently underway, we're here to give you all the details you need to know about the sequel. Here is...

There’s something inherently unsettling about inanimate objects that move on their own accord. Especially if they happen to resemble people. Which is what makes dolls so perfect for the horror genre; the uncanny valley of it all heightens the fear response in audiences.

This week’s streaming picks belong to the killer doll subgenre. These pint-sized homicidal maniacs deliver plenty of scares, heart, humor, and occasionally a great fashion sense.

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Asylum – Fandor, freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Screambox, Shout TV, Tubi

This Amicus Production feature sets its wraparound in an asylum, where a doctor arrives for a job interview. His interviewer subjects him to an unorthodox interview process, which entails four tales of terror. The final segment before the epilogue, “Mannikins of Horror,” introduces a mad scientist type in Dr.

The episode of Best Horror Movie You Never Saw covering Housebound was Written by Eric Walkuski, Narrated by Jason Hewlett, Edited by Paul Bookstaber, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

In January of 2023, cinemas were invaded by M3GAN, a horror-comedy about a feisty, and murderous, android companion that brought a fun new spin to the killer doll genre. While the film was a surprise hit at the box office, it had been in development for quite a while, dating back to the pre-pandemic days of 2018. Intriguingly, its director, Gerard Johnstone, had only one feature film under his belt up until that point. That feature was Housebound (watch it Here), a twisty, humorous thriller that deftly combined chills with laughs. M3GAN producers James Wan and Jason Blum were both thoroughly impressed by the tightrope the movie walked, and found Johnstone was perhaps...

Generally, moms and horror movies do not mix. The gore, the violence, the jumpscares – usually not mom’s cup of tea. But if there is anything all moms have in common, it’s wanting to spend more quality time with their grown, adult, weirdo children. (that’s us)

So invite Mom into your world by introducing us to some horror movies- that she’ll actually Enjoy.

You’ll probably have to convince her a bit, but I’m sure your mom will be eager to spend an afternoon with one of her favorite humans on the planet. Here are ten horror movies you can watch with your dear old mom, without fear of traumatizing her for life. Maybe this Mother’s Day?

Warner Bros.

1. The Others (2001)

Nicole Kidman stars in this psychological thriller about a woman who lives in a mansion with her two children who both have a rare photosensitivity condition.

The Wheel of Time has added four new cast members for season 2. The series, which premiered on Prime Video in 2021, is a fantasy epic based on the novel series of the same name by Robert Jordan. It follows Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), who is searching for the mythical figure The Dragon Reborn along with a wide ensemble of characters.

During a virtual panel on Saturday at JordanCon, Prime Video announced that they are adding four new cast members to The Wheel of Time season 2, all playing various characters from the novels. This includes Ragga Ragnars as Maiden of the Spear Bain and Maja Simonsen as her first-sister Chiad. Also on hand are Jay Duffy as Children of the Light officer Dain Bornhald and Rima Te Wiata as the powerful Aes Sedai Sheriam Bayanar.

Where You Know The New Wheel of Time Cast Members

The new cast member that is likely...

Exclusive: New Zealand has long been known as a prime destination for big budget films such as Avatar and The Lord of the Rings thanks to its enviable locations, skilled crew base and generous 40% tax rebate. But, earlier this year when Avatar: The Way of Water was on its way to breaking multiple box office records as it climbed to its $2.3Bn tally, there was another New Zealand-shot project that was making a dent in the global box office chart. Universal, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster’s killer doll hit M3GAN amassed an impressive $176M worldwide from just a $12M budget after its January release.

While the film was set in Seattle, it was, in fact, shot in Auckland in 2021 after the pandemic forced the project to pivot from a Montreal shoot to New Zealand’s relatively Covid-free shores.. The nation is home to director Gerard Johnstone and it would be where the project would ultimately would find its 12-year-old star, Amie Donald, who plays M3gan.

“The fact we were able to find her in the moment that we needed to cast someone to play that role is, I mean, I don’t even know what the odds are, but they are very long,” says producer Judson Scott. “And to be able to find someone that is as capable as she is to do what we need to do but then also be as good of an onscreen presence that she is, is something you can’t really teach. You know, you just point the camera at her and the physicality and her presence is there. It’s an X factor – she has it. We’re just incredibly lucky and fortunate enough to have found that person in the city we were filming in.”

Donald, an Auckland native and national dance champion (whose skills came in handy for the doll’s viral dancing), brought M3GAN to life with the help of VFX, puppetry and animatronics. “She reminds me of old movie stars,” says Scott. “She can dance, she can perform all of these incredible stunts. Our stunt coordinator and movement coach was like, ‘This is incredible – we’re seeing something a lot of these people haven’t seen before.’”

The low-budget production, says Scott, was able to benefit from a crew that had worked on some of the biggest films and television shows to come out of the region.

“When we started this film, we were working with a lot of individuals who had done productions that are much bigger than ours on a much grander scale in terms of budget and what’s required of them to do,” he says. “We were incredibly lucky to be making what you would consider a smaller movie at the studio level with people that have won Academy Awards for working on Avatar, working The Lord of the Rings, working on Cowboy Bebop, working on the Rings TV show. So, we’ve been able to have access to those people to work on our smaller movie. We’ve been incredibly lucky that they brought all that knowledge to it.”

Producer Adam Hendricks says Auckland reminded him “in a lot of ways” of Los Angeles. “It’s sprawling, which is nice and also you get a bunch of different looks.”

He adds, “One of the things that I loved about the experience [in New Zealand] is it’s a very holistic idea of working on a film set. In the U.S. and in other places, every one of their different departments feels like they’re part of their different little fiefdoms – they seldom interact, let alone pick each other’s equipment up. But here, when the dolly trucks get moved, everyone comes and helps and when something needs to get done, everyone comes to the aid of the person that needs it and pushes it along. It’s very collaborative.”

Reflecting on the experience, Screen Auckland manager Matthew Horrocks, says the group is “incredibly proud of the role the Auckland screen sector played” in the film.

“M3GAN was shot in Auckland, making the most of our city’s forests, suburbs and city-centre locations, using Auckland studios and Auckland crews. There is even a star in the making in Amie Donald, who plays the M3GAN doll. The film is also a remarkable achievement for our own director Gerard Johnstone.

“From twice wining the 48 Hour Filmmaking competition, through writing credits on Housebound and The Jaquie Brown Diaries to working as a director on The New Legend of Monkey, Gerard has long been recognised as one of our finest talents. M3GAN is a new milestone in what is shaping up to be a stellar international career.”...

The sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here) was cut down and had some moments reshot so it could achieve a PG-13 rating for its theatrical release, but the unrated cut of the movie has since been given a digital, Blu-ray, and DVD release (order a copy Here)… and during an interview with USA Today, star Allison Williams revealed there’s a certain unrated moment that makes her sick to her stomach.

Williams said, “The unrated version is a lot of fun, if you have the stomach for it.” When asked if there was a specific scene that makes her squirm, she replied, “Oh, my God. It should be when a child perishes, but at one point, someone’s face loses a fight with a pressure washer and it starts to peel off. Even though I know how it works behind the scenes and I watched all the tests they...

If you've listened to recent episodes of our Corpse Club podcast, then you know we're big fans of the the timely tech-centric horrors that director Gerard Johnstone and screenwriter Akela Cooper cooked up with M3GAN, so we were very excited when it was announced that an "UNRAT3D Version" of M3GAN was being released. Now available on Digital (including Peacock) and Blu-ray / DVD, I recently had a chance to catch up with director Gerard Johnstone to discuss the new version and his experience making the film.

From the Press Release: She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film,...

Brimming with even more gory and gut-wrenching moments from horror's newest deadly doll, the "UNRAT3D Version" of M3GAN is now on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital, and we have a look at a clip that goes behind-the-scenes of how the cast and crew pulled off the creative kills in the film.

You can watch the behind-the-scenes clip below, and in case you missed it, check out Heather Wixson's previous coverage of M3GAN, including her review and interviews with the cast and crew!

From the Press Release: Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film,...

You would have to be living under a rock to have not heard of M3GAN (check out our review Here). The killer doll has absolutely taken the world by storm and provided a horror villain for Generation Z. I can’t count myself amongst the fans of the film, but I understand why everyone seems so smitten over it. I was lucky enough to sit down with director Gerard Johnstone (who made the criminally underrated Housebound) as well as star Violet McGraw to pick their brains about the killer doll. We discuss Megan 2.0 as well as a certain parting gift that the filmmakers gave Megan herself, Amie Donald. Check out the interview above!

One of the interesting things about talking to Johnstone was the fact that you can get a real sense that he knows and appreciates what a bonafide cult phenomenon the character of M3GAN has become. While...

One of the surprise breakout hits of the year was the fun horror flick M3GAN, which puts a modern twist on a Child’s Play-esque concept with the doll having AI. Promotion of the movie went viral thanks in part to an eerie sequence of the M3GAN doll doing a TikTok dance down a hallway in an intimidating fashion. Not only did the movie score as a big hit for a modest-budgeted studio film, collecting $173.5 million at the box office, but there is now a sequel in development from the film’s director, Gerard Johnstone, that will be titled M3GAN 2.0.

Johnstone was gracious enough to sit with us for an interview, which will be dropping soon. However, here are some good tidbits he’s revealed to us to whet your appetite until then.

As M3GAN inevitably draws comparisons to Child’s Play, it was asked if there would be a M3GAN vs.

This year’s box office hit M3GAN will be released on Digital this Friday, February 24 from Universal, with both the Theatrical Cut and the brand new Unrated Cut being offered up.

The Unrated Cut will also begin streaming on Peacock on February 24.

While you wait, preview the bloody M3GAN Unrated Cut with a couple sneak-peek clips below, the first of which shows how much gorier some of the scenes originally were…

And yes, a sequel is on the way. It’s titled M3GAN 2.0, releasing in 2025!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the...

Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film, presented from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse and produced by Atomic Monster in association with Divide/Conquer, has crossed $167 million at the global box office. M3GAN is produced by masters of horror—Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum and directed by Gerald Johnstone (Housebound). The M3GAN UNRAT3D Version delivers more distressing violence and profanity and features never-before-seen bonus content including a breakdown of the creation of M3GAN and behind-the-scenes featurettes showcasing the film’s complex stunts and gory deaths.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence,...

Last week, we learned that an unrated cut of the sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here) – which was cut down and had some moments reshot so it could achieve a PG-13 rating for its theatrical release – will be included with the film’s digital release, which is scheduled for February 24th, and its Blu-ray and DVD release, which is scheduled for March 21st. (Order a copy Here.) Now a new M3GAN trailer has been cut together to promote the unrated cut, and you can check it out in the embed above!

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by director Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). The film has the following synopsis:

She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family.

From the most prolific minds in horror — James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises,...

The final full week of February is upon us, and with it comes seven more brand new horror movies – including the at-home releases of this year’s two big theatrical horror offerings.

And one of those movies will be a bit bloodier this time around…

Here’s all the new horror arriving February 21 – February 24, 2023!

M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest thriller, Universal’s Knock at the Cabin was released in theaters on February 3, and we’ve learned that the film is Now Available on PVOD at home!

You can rent Knock at the Cabin for $19.99 or digitally purchase the film for $24.99.

Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin has made $47.9 million worldwide in theaters these past several weeks, with $31 million of that worldwide total made here in the United States.

In Knock at the Cabin, “While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four...

If you've listened to recent episodes of our Corpse Club podcast, then you know we're big fans of the the timely tech-centric horrors that director Gerard Johnstone and screenwriter Akela Cooper cooked up with M3GAN, so it's especially exciting to share the news that an "UNRAT3D Version" of M3GAN is coming to Digital (including Peacock) on February 24th (followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on March 21st) with even more gory and gut-wrenching moments featuring horror's newest deadly doll.

We have the official press release with more details below, and in case you missed it, check out Heather Wixson's previous coverage of M3GAN, including her review and interviews with the cast and crew!

From the Press Release: Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year...

You know you want to have all your friends over for a M3GAN dance party. Here’s the very latest word on exactly when and where the hit horror flick will be streaming.

M3GAN hit theaters on Jan. 6 and generated a surprising 38.5 million (U.S.) with its opening weekend, making it the first film in over a decade to open to more than 30 million in the first week of a new year. As of Feb. 15, it has racked up a global box office of 168.1 million (against a ~20 million budget).

More from TVLinePoker Face Renewed for Season 2Vampire Academy,...

Released into theaters with a PG-13 rating, we had been hearing than an Unrated version of box office hit M3GAN was on the way, and indeed it has been officially announced today.

M3GAN arrives on Digital February 24 and on Blu-ray & DVD March 21 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, including the Theatrical Version and the Unrated Edition!

The Unrated Cut will also begin streaming on Peacock on February 24.

u watched the censored version the suits put in theaters, now watch what rly happened in the unrated cut. see u on @peacock next fri 2/24 pic.twitter.com/xTf03T8mrf

— M3GAN (@meetM3GAN) February 17, 2023

Writer Akela Cooper had revealed to Los Angeles Times last month that the original rated “R” incarnation of the film was a bit different. For starters, it was “way gorier.”

“No shade to Universal, love them, and I understand that once the trailer went viral, teenagers got involved and...

Created by writer Akela Cooper, M3GAN is on her way to becoming a bona fide horror icon, with her first movie making 125 million to date and a second movie already on the way. In the past few days alone, M3GAN has danced her way onto at-home PVOD platforms, and the killer doll was even featured in a spoof sketch on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.

Aubrey Plaza played M3GAN for the “Saturday Night Live” sketch, and Drew Barrymore just took over the creepy role for a segment on “The Drew Barrymore Show” this week!

Barrymore surprised guest/M3GAN star Allison Williams during their interview, showing up in full costume as the AI companion. Barrymore even nailed M3GAN’s viral dance moves.

Watch Drew Barrymore embody the role of M3GAN in the video below!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll...

This entire month has been loaded with fresh new nightmares, and we’re not slowing down in the final full week of January 2023. We’re getting Eight More new releases this week alone!

Here’s all the new horror releasing January 24-January 27, 2023…

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

First up, Universal and Blumhouse’s theatrical horror hit M3GAN is now available at home, the fan favorite film surprise-released for PVOD rental and/or purchase this morning.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece,...

Less than a month after being released in theaters, Universal and Blumhouse’s horror hit M3GAN is now available at home, surprise-released for PVOD viewing this morning (1/24)!

You can rent M3GAN now for 19.99, or digitally purchase the film for 24.99.

M3GAN has proven to be a massive hit in theaters, thus far scaring up 124.6 million at the worldwide box office. 74 million of that total was made in the United States alone.

And yes, a sequel is on the way. It’s titled M3GAN 2.0, releasing in 2025!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece,...

Even if you haven't seen "M3GAN," chances are, you've seen the meme of the killer A.I. doll dancing down the hall in the hit horror comedy from director Gerard Johnstone ("Housebound") and screenwriter Akela Cooper ("Malignant"). For better or worse, we're living in a time when movies are often reduced to memes, and the faces that hold sway over the box office belong to blue aliens and humanoid robot girls (as opposed to actual humans). It almost feels like something out of a "Black Mirror" episode, where the culture at large is filled with so much white noise that it takes a bizarre, out-of-context image like M3GAN dancing to hijack its attention.

When the first trailer for "M3GAN" dropped last October, the shot of the titular doll doing her self-possessed dance was soon memeified across Twitter and TikTok, with even celebrities like rapper Megan Thee Stallion getting in on the conversation.

In case you haven't heard by now, "M3GAN" is the moment. Even though the film was one of the first notable releases of 2023, this haunted doll take on the killer artificial intelligence film has been an internet sensation ever since the first trailer dropped. The smart marketing campaign of this film, coupled with the bountiful reaction images and memes of the titular doll dancing along to various songs, feels like a "lightning in a bottle" moment — leading to the relatively low budgeted flick making a killing in its box office debut. The film has now passed 100 million worldwide, and is still going strong.

If you're a real bestie and have been following this film's production, however, you could have probably guessed that the forces of producer James Wan, "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone, and "Malignant" writer Akela Cooper combined are a horror dream team, and that the internet's obsession with "M3GAN" was only inevitable.

This article contains major spoilers for "M3GAN."

If you couldn't already tell, the world has been set ablaze with "M3GAN" fever. Not only has the sophomore effort from "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone earned nearly 100 million at the box office against a 12 million budget, but has earned plenty of critical acclaim, with /Film's Jeff Ewing calling it "a horror comedy blast" in his review. Whether it was the meme-worthy dance that led the marketing team to glory, or Akela Cooper's smart screenplay, "M3GAN" had all the makings of a hit. On top of having the involvement of James Wan, the Blumhouse flick also featured a pretty spectacular cast with Allison Williams ("Get Out"), Violet McGraw ("Doctor Sleep"), Brian Jordan Alvarez ("The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo"), and Ronny Chieng ("Crazy Rich Asians").

You also have Jenna Davis and Amie Donald, both of whom gave a considerable contribution to...

Last weekend's box office power couple are set to continue their reign heading into the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. James Cameron's venerable, undefeated sci-fi sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water," will easily keep its throne with a projected 36 million gross over the four-day weekend, per Variety. 

Meanwhile, our new queen, "M3GAN," is expected to hold strong in second place, adding another 20 million to her total between Friday and Monday. Of course, those projections should be taken with a grain of salt given that "M3GAN" was initially expected to gross 17-20 million in her opening weekend, but instead danced her way to a 30.2 million debut. The PG-13 horror film from "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone and "Malignant" screenwriter Akela Cooper has proven to be successful counter-programming against "The Way of Water," providing moviegoers with a choice between eye-popping sci-fi action and ear-ripping sci-fi horror.

Fortunately, there is still...

‘TÁR’, ‘Enys Men’ also starting in cinemas.

Sam Mendes’ Empire Of Light goes up against viral marketing success M3GAN at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, with cinemas searching for a January hit to match previous years.

Distributed in 690 sites by Disney, Empire Of Light is having the biggest-ever opening by number of locations for a title from the studio’s Searchlight Pictures banner, surpassing the 610 sites for The Menu from November.

Empire Of Light opened in cinemas on Monday, January 9; the film premiered at Telluride Film Festival in September, going on to play Toronto, the BFI London Film Festival and Red Sea.

Stars: Allison Williams, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Jen Van Epps, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Lori Dungey | Written by Akela Cooper | Directed by Gerard Johnstone

You really can’t go wrong with a killer robot movie, and this one delivers all the requisite robo-thrills. Produced by Blumhouse (another good sign), it’s directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and features Get Out star Allison Williams in the lead.

The film opens with a snowy car crash, in which 12 year old Cady (Violet McGraw) tragically loses both her parents. She’s sent to live with her tech genius single aunt Gemma (Williams), who’s just putting the finishing touches to her ambitious robo-project, code-named M3GAN (for Model 3 Generative ANdroid). Since M3GAN is designed to be a high-tech toy for children, she needs to be paired with a host in order to learn properly, so Gemma ropes in Cady...

A special episode of The Arrow in the Head Show has just arrived online, and in this one our hosts Lance Vlcek and Tyler Nichols (sitting in for John “The Arrow” Fallon) are sharing their thoughts on the sci-fi thriller M3GAN, which is currently doing very well at theatres. JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray gave M3GAN a 7/10 review (you can read that Here), but what did Lance and Tyler think of the movie? You’ll have to watch the video embedded above to find out!

Directed Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant), based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN has the following synopsis:

She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family.

From the most prolific minds in horror — James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises, and Blumhouse, the producer of the Halloween films,...

It may be only January, but a sci-fi-horror about a killer doll features an early frontrunner for the year's greatest needle drop. Gerard Johnstone's "M3GAN" comes from a script by "Saw" and "Insidious" franchise creator James Wan and "Malignant" screenwriter Akela Cooper, with Wan and Jason Blum producing, and the result is a box-office smash complete with a meme-worthy star, a teen-focused PG-13 rating, and the lore-building makings of a franchise.

It's all the product of spirited choices from the "Housebound" director, tasked with finding the medium between the terrifyingly self-aware robo-toy and the absurdity that innately arises from a killer doll picture -- a matter of instinct, Johnstone explains. The story concerns a life-sized A.I. doll with the title's name, directed to care for the physical and emotional well-being of the cherubic, traumatized Cady. Filled with advanced tech, M3GAN learns and adapts to her ward's sensitivities.

This post contains spoilers for "M3GAN."

When Blumhouse and Universal Pictures first released the teaser poster for "M3GAN" shortly before CinemaCon, the immediate buzz was about the uncanny valley resemblance the A.I. powered robot doll had to both the robot baby version of Renesmee Cullen from the "Twilight" franchise, and to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Little did anyone know that M3GAN would soon be the next horror icon.

Just before the winter holidays, the trailer for "M3GAN" dropped online and the landscape of horror changed forever. M3GAN had style, M3GAN had grace, M3GAN had a terrifying sprint on all fours, and M3GAN had some absolutely killer dance moves. The combination of M3GAN's otherworldly appearance and the unexpected fluidity of aerial flips in a hallway as a means of threatening a prospective victim was all anyone needed to completely give themselves over to begin worshipping at the altar of M3GAN.

Time and time again, horror has proven to be one of the most successful genres of them all, thanks in part to low budgets with big rewards. Case in point, look at "M3GAN," which raked in over 30 million in its opening weekend against a modest 12 million budget. If the killer AI wasn't one of Blumhouse's top priorities beforehand, it is now. How could she not be? Last October revealed the teaser that set the internet ablaze with the titular android dancing on the way to her next kill. "M3GAN" fever was in full effect.

On top of "Housebound" director Gerard Johnstone, the success of "M3GAN" can also be attributed to its screenwriter Akela Cooper. Her television work includes such shows like "Grimm," "Luke Cage," and "The 100," before making her feature film debut with the script for "Hell Fest." But everything changed once the bonkers ride that is "Malignant" came to the screen.

Way back in mid-November, it was said that Universal Pictures was so pleased with the sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review Here) and the response to the film’s trailer that sequel discussions were already underway. But producer James Wan, who also came up with the story for the film, felt that it was bad luck to talk with the press about a sequel before the first movie was even released. Made on a budget of 12 million, M3GAN just pulled in 45 million at the global box office over its opening weekend – so now Wan is ready to start working toward bringing us M3GAN’s Revenge!

A Deadline report on the film’s opening weekend box office mentions that “a sequel is already in early development.” And a post on Wan’s Facebook page indicates he’s anxious to push it forward: “Thank You to everyone who checked out M3GAN this...

This past weekend, a new horror icon arrived in the form of a sassy killer doll named M3GAN, who is brought to life in the film by Gemma, a determined purveyor of innovation who wants to push the boundaries of AI in our everyday lives by creating a best friend for kids that caters to their every need. Played by Allison Williams, Gemma is a character we don’t see a lot of these days in Hollywood, which was just one of the many aspects of M3GAN that this writer thoroughly enjoyed.

During the recent press day for the film, Daily Dead had the chance to speak with Williams about her involvement with M3GAN and how excited she was to be invited back to work on another Blumhouse project after Jordan Peele’s Get Out. Williams also discussed her thoughts on some of the themes that screenwriter Akela Cooper...

This year is off to one hell of a start with horror hit M3GAN, which is smashing expectations at the box office. The film opened to 30.2 million domestically and a whopping 45 million worldwide, all but ensuring that we haven’t seen the last of the AI doll that danced her way into our nightmares – and hearts. And it sounds like M3GAN 2 is already in early development!

Deadline reports in an article about M3GAN‘s box office success to kick off the week, “We heard on Friday, per sources, that a sequel is already in early development.”

Meanwhile, producer James Wan teases on Facebook..

“Jason Blum and myself are beyond thankful and grateful to see how much love M3GAN is receiving, and hopefully what all this means is that we get the chance to explore the bigger world of A.I. and perhaps witness — M3gan’s Revenge????”

Spoiler Warning:...

Haunted houses are a standard in horror for a reason. It’s not just the spectral invasion of our home that unnerves, but the unpredictability that comes with ghostly presences. A masked maniac can be stopped or temporarily subdued, but all bets are off in haunted houses.

This week’s “Stay Home, Watch Horror” streaming picks highlight the horror staple but not always in the way you’d expect. As always, here’s where you can watch them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Ghostwatch – Tubi

Upon initial airing, this made-for-tv movie stirred up controversy for the BBC, as its mockumentary style left viewers convinced what they’d just watched had been real. It plays like a live TV special with a camera crew on-site attempting to investigate the truth behind the most haunted house in the country. Neither they nor the viewer were prepared...