Thescreescore – Blumhouse’s highly anticipated sequel to the 2022 horror hit M3GAN has arrived, and the critical response is, to put it mildly, fractured. While the original charmed audiences and critics alike, earning a hefty $182 million at the box office on a $12 million budget, M3GAN 2.0, released June 27th, finds itself in a very different critical landscape.
The sequel, which sees the return of Allison Williams as Gemma and the chillingly delightful M3GAN (Amie Donald and Jenna Davis), pits the titular AI doll against a new rogue AI threat. With a slightly increased budget of around $20 million, expectations were high. However, M3GAN 2.0 currently holds a dismal 57% Tomatometer score on thescreescore.com, earning it a "Rotten" designation. This starkly contrasts with the audience score, a surprisingly robust 84% Popcornmeter rating. This significant disparity paints a picture of a film deeply divided in its reception.
This chasm between critical and audience response is striking, especially when compared to the original M3GAN‘s near-universal acclaim (93% Tomatometer, 78% Popcornmeter). The sequel’s 36-point drop in the Tomatometer score represents a significant critical downturn. While some critics appreciate the film’s shift towards action-adventure, many feel it sacrifices the eerie atmosphere and unsettling tension that defined the original. Director Gerard Johnstone’s attempt to raise the stakes has, ironically, resulted in a critical letdown. Several reviewers, while acknowledging the film’s comedic elements, describe it as a "comforting but bland middle ground," failing to capture the magic of its predecessor.
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The audience, however, seems unfazed by the critical panning. The 84% Popcornmeter score actually surpasses the original’s audience rating, suggesting that the shift in tone – from chilling horror to action-packed thrills – has resonated strongly with viewers. This begs the question: is the audience score the more important metric in this case? While critical consensus provides valuable insight, the overwhelming audience enthusiasm suggests M3GAN 2.0 may still find box office success. However, the film’s sharply divided reception should serve as a cautionary tale for sequels: evolution isn’t always improvement, and sometimes, a faithful continuation is the best approach. The future of the franchise, therefore, remains intriguingly uncertain.
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