Horror Sequel Box-Office Bomb ‘M3GAN 2.0’ Becomes the Streaming Hit It Deserves to Be

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Despite flopping in theaters, the horror movie M3GAN 2.0 is now a big hit on streaming. As of today, it’s the third most-watched movie on HBO Max worldwide. Surprisingly, it’s performing better than some films that did well in cinemas, including Superman and 28 Years Later. Despite being one of the most talked-about—and divisive—horror movies of the year, it’s found a new audience online.

The recent movie M3GAN 2.0 didn’t perform well at the box office, earning only $39 million. It also didn’t receive the same positive reviews as the first M3GAN film, which has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the sequel’s 57%. Despite the critics’ opinions, audiences seemed to enjoy M3GAN 2.0, giving it an 81% approval rating.

The movie picks up after the events surrounding M3GAN, the killer robot who nearly harmed Gemma and her niece, Cady. While everyone believed M3GAN was destroyed, Gemma discovers that the technology behind her was used to create a new military project called AMELIA. Surprisingly, M3GAN wasn’t actually gone – she was secretly in a dormant state as a conscious AI. With her signature snark, M3GAN offers to help stop AMELIA, who has also turned rogue and is now trying to take over everything.

Funnier, Edgier, Nastier: ‘M3GAN 2.0’s Tone Shift Was Too Bold for Fans of the Original

After the success of M3GAN in 2022 – the film earned $181 million and positive reviews – Universal Pictures started planning a sequel. While many of the original creative minds returned, including producers James Wan and Jason Blum, the new movie would be quite different. Director Gerard Johnstone focused more on action and intense violence, moving away from the original’s serious themes, and showcased a new, more aggressive side to the killer doll, complete with deadly dance sequences.

The sequel takes a big turn in tone, moving away from horror and embracing action-comedy much more than the first film. While M3GAN 2.0 has some scary moments, it mostly focuses on a battle between dolls, with a lot of over-the-top action. The story does slow down around the middle, but after a weak start, it becomes clear this movie is all about delivering simple, entertaining fun.

‘M3GAN 2.0’ Was Not a Bad Movie – It Was Just Misunderstood

The idea that AI can be dangerous was central to the first film, but now those fears feel more real with a more sophisticated villain. M3GAN’s popularity confirms James Wan’s observation that the sequel intentionally echoes Terminator 2. While it still has the same witty dialogue, this movie is fundamentally different, yet still enjoyable on its own.

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While not groundbreaking, M3GAN 2.0 is a fun and engaging movie. It leans into campy humor and features impressively filmed action scenes. It definitely takes some unexpected turns with horror tropes, but it still captures what made the first M3GAN so memorable as a ‘killer robot’ film. Like the Child’s Play franchise with Chucky, M3GAN offers a witty, quick-witted robotic character that appeals to horror fans.

It’s not uncommon for movies that didn’t do well in theaters to find success on streaming. However, M3GAN 2.0’s continued popularity is surprising, considering the strong negative reaction it initially received. This raises the question: was the film always intended for streaming release? Or is this a signal to Universal Pictures that a spin-off could still be viable? As producer Jason Blum told Variety a few months ago, the film’s disappointing box office performance won’t be the end of the M3GAN story: he’s determined to find a way to continue the franchise.

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2026-02-17 23:14