M3GAN 2.0’s Genre Shift And Fatal Mistakes: A Sequel’s Downfall

by

The first M3GAN movie was a big hit, earning almost $200 million despite only costing $12 million to make, so a sequel seemed likely. However, M3GAN 2.0 received mixed reactions and didn’t do well in theaters, bringing in only $39 million. While its short run in cinemas also contributed, the film’s performance was a significant letdown.

There are a few possible reasons why the movie didn’t do as well as expected. Some believe the shift in genre – from a sci-fi horror to a sci-fi action film – played a role. While this was a daring decision for M3GAN 2.0, it wasn’t the only factor influencing its performance.

Honestly, the idea of a sequel to M3GAN wasn’t bad at all! But looking back, I think the film really stumbled because of two major issues. These weren’t just small flaws – they were pretty fundamental and, in my opinion, are the main reasons why the sequel didn’t quite live up to expectations.

M3GAN 2.0 Going From Horror To Action Was A Good Idea

Image via Universal Pictures

Switching from horror to action in M3GAN 2.0 was a smart move. The character’s appearance is genuinely creepy, and the idea of an AI-powered robot is particularly frightening in our current world.

While M3GAN isn’t a horror triumph, it became popular thanks to viral dance clips and its surprisingly funny moments. The film’s sci-fi base allowed it to succeed even without being truly scary, as sci-fi can blend well with action and other genres.

Focusing on action helped M3GAN 2.0 avoid simply repeating the first film. Movie franchises often succeed when they refresh themselves and explore new directions, so a change of pace should have benefited the sequel.

M3GAN 2.0 Suffered From Lackluster Action Sequences

One of the biggest problems with M3GAN 2.0 was its action sequences – they simply didn’t measure up to the first movie. If you’re going to shift the focus of a film to a different genre, you need to execute that change really well, and this sequel didn’t quite achieve that.

The idea of M3GAN facing off against another advanced AI robot was exciting, but the movie didn’t deliver on the action. While it tried to become more of an action film, the scenes weren’t memorable enough, and the change in focus felt unnecessary.

Many negative reviews of M3GAN 2.0 criticized the film’s underwhelming action sequences. The fight between M3GAN and the villain, AMELIA, had the potential to be a truly memorable highlight, but ultimately felt forgettable.

M3GAN 2.0 Tried To Force Things That Worked In The First Film

Another major problem with M3GAN 2.0 was its tendency to repeat elements that worked well in the first movie. The most obvious example is the dance sequence. M3GAN’s dancing was a huge part of the original film’s success, driving marketing and even becoming a popular TikTok trend.

It felt like the filmmakers really wanted to showcase M3GAN’s viral popularity, which led to a scene where she starts dancing and everyone else joins in. However, this moment felt unnatural and contrived, as if the movie was trying too hard to make the character seem popular instead of letting it happen naturally.

The sequel didn’t quite live up to its potential, much like the action sequences. When a follow-up film revisits elements from the original, it needs to significantly improve upon them. Unfortunately, M3GAN has fewer opportunities to sing and dance in this installment, and those moments aren’t strong enough to compensate for the reduction.

The single musical number feels forced and isn’t particularly noteworthy, preventing this sequel from having the lasting impact of the first film.

The Terminator 2 Style Story Was The Right Move

The setup of M3GAN 2.0 was similar to Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a classic sequel. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in that film, M3GAN shifted from being a villain to an ally, completely changing how audiences saw her.

The sequel, M3GAN 2.0, cleverly positioned M3GAN as a kind of anti-hero. She teamed up with the human characters to fight a villain determined to control everything with AI. This approach was effective because audiences already enjoyed M3GAN and her memorable, shareable moments from the first film.

Audiences were drawn to M3GAN despite her being a villain, which is why making her a hero (or at least a more sympathetic character) in the next movie is a smart idea. It opens the door for a series of sequels, as a flawed but heroic M3GAN is someone people would enjoy watching in multiple films.

Unfortunately, the movie didn’t do well at the box office, so it’s unclear if there will be any future M3GAN movies. This is especially disappointing because this new version of the character had a lot of promise.

Read More

2025-11-12 22:29