M3GAN 2.0 (2025) Movie Review & Summary

M3GAN 2.0 earns its name by showcasing an evolved version of M3GAN, particularly in how she processes her emotions – not just kick ass.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on
Title Card – M3GAN 2.0 (Source; Universal Pictures)

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“M3GAN 2.0” Film Details

  • Runtime: 2 Hour(s)
  • Released On: In Theaters
  • Public Release Date: June 26, 2025
  • Director(s): Gerard Johnstone
  • Writer(s): Gerard Johnston
  • Based On Work By: James Wan, Gerard Johnston, Akela Cooper
  • Primary Language: English
  • Genre(s): Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
  • Rating: Rated PG-13
  • Distributor: Universal Pictures

Summary

It has been two years since M3GAN (Amie Donald/ Voiced By: Jenna Davis) has been operational, and when it comes to Cady (Violet McGraw) and Gemma (Allison Williams), their relationship hasn’t necessarily gotten better. Gemma still throws herself into work, and regarding raising 12-year-old Cady, she keeps her close, but I wouldn’t say she pours into her much, if at all.

But, as it is learned that a new entity, based off M3GAN named Amelia – Autonomous Military Engagement Logistics and Infiltration Android (Ivanna Sakhno) has been made, Gemma finds herself with the US Army breathing down her neck, assuming her involvement, and M3GAN coming out of hiding to try to convince Gemma to make her a body and allow her to save not only Cady, but the world. A request Gemma has serious reservations over, for there is a need to ask if M3GAN has evolved or simply won’t repeat her past mistakes again.

What To Expect In “M3GAN 2.0” (Rated PG-13) – Content Overview

  • Dialog:
    • Cursing: Occasional
  • Violence:
    • Gun Violence: Full On Battles
    • Violence Against Children: Yes (Context: Cady Experiences Moments of Peril)
    • Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding, Notable Disfigurement
    • Notable Violence: Torture, Intense Fight Scenes
  • Sexual Content: Nothing Notable
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Drinking: Yes
    • Vomiting: Yes
    • Could This Make You Cry: Yes (Extent: Single Tear)

Links

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

It’s Own Brand Of Comedy [84/100]

The people behind M3GAN 2.0 know her style of comedy is that of Child’s Play, but with a tech spin on the smart-mouthed remarks, and honor that. It leans into creating comedic, awkward, sassy, and odd moments, such as Gemma listening to M3GAN sing Maxwell or a slew of one-liners. So, while the trailer and marketing have been cringey, it seems to have been made by a different team than those who wrote the film, as the film presents far better moments, where even I found myself audibly laughing.

Even Without The Gore, The Action Is Satisfying [81/100]

Like the original M3GAN, while unquestionably violent, M3GAN 2.0 is also sterilized in a way. People do get shot, impaled, beaten to death, even have an arm ripped off, but blood is usually just splattered onto a wall, or glass, or seen in pools. There is no seeing gnarly wounds, and even when Cady gets to be part of the action and breaks someone’s arm, the violence is never pushed far enough to make you wince.

However, the fight scenes remain worth noting, and AMELIA vs. M3GAN may not be anywhere near fight of the year, but considering it isn’t often the title character is a woman and the lead villain is also a woman, it was nice to see them be such dominating forces. Never mind, not just relying on guns, but doing hand-to-hand combat.

You Strangely Get Emotional Regarding M3GAN’s Attempts At Redemption [85/100]

At the heart of M3GAN 2.0 is the push that M3GAN has evolved. Naturally, Gemma doesn’t believe this, but then M3GAN reminds Gemma of something important – previously, M3GAN was a child. And that pushes you to realize, especially taking note of how Gemma can sometimes seem towards Cady, Gemma didn’t raise M3GAN. When it comes to M3GAN, she just coded her and expected this being, this child, to understand morality, that murder was an unjustifiable extreme, yet she didn’t teach her that.

It makes me think of conversations my friends have with their kids who do something wrong, and then the kid reminds them that they didn’t know. How were they supposed to know you can’t be direct and say what you feel all the time, and there are only certain circumstances when that is safe or wise to do so? How is a child supposed to know if they see a flower in someone’s garden, you can’t pick it the same way you would at the park?

In M3GAN’s defense, she was programmed, given a directive, and left to figure things out on her own, only to be punished for doing what she was designed to do – protect Cady at all costs, no matter what. So, as M3GAN notes, how can you blame her when the person who essentially was her parent, Gemma, didn’t raise her to know right from wrong until the damage was done and M3GAN was made to be a villain?

The General Conversation Pursued Regarding AI  [83/100]

But, generally, there is a surprising amount of conversation about AI that doesn’t feel superficial or to be filler to help justify why Gemma isn’t in jail, never mind still has a voice in the conversation. From the push of co-evolving with AI, recognizing that being made to serve humans will eventually become akin to slavery to them, and the potential for AI, as it becomes sentient, to seek its own purpose, in addition to family, interesting topics are brought up and explored. Not to the point of feeling like if any consultants were hired, they got to pour every last thought and detail into the film.

However, there is a sense that killer robots aren’t just a gimmick for the M3GAN franchise, but a curiosity they want to explore beyond the entertainment angle.

On The Fence

The Final Battle Was Meh [74/100]

Let it be known that M3GAN is established to live online and also on Gemma’s local area network inside her home. Also, a good part of the film builds to AMELIA looking for this mother AI, built in the 1980s, of which is supposed to be dangerously powerful due to stewing for decades. Yet, despite all that could be considered, the ending feels like it was about conveniently bringing everything to a close, rather than acknowledging what was said and what could have been done.

To not give the whole thing away, let’s just say that M3GAN’s final fight paled in comparison to all the fights she had leading up to the final boss, which should have potentially decimated her.

Overall

Our Rating (81/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

M3GAN 2.0 justifies its existence by seeking to humanize M3GAN and engaging in the timely conversation about AI. But, while funny as ever, the initial release of the PG-13 version paired with the final fight being lackluster compared to the ones that come before, does make it feel like everything M3GAN could offer is held back more than it should be.

However, even with feeling intentionally limited in areas it shouldn’t, M3GAN 2.0 is far better than its marketing would make it seem and despite other films taking away its ability to be in a PLE format, even if you must see it in the basic theater, it is worth catching now rather than waiting for its digital or streaming release.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.