ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — “M3GAN 2.0,” the sequel to “M3GAN” (2023), dances into theaters this weekend with AI-plomb.

“M3GAN 2.0” (2025, 120 min., directed by Gerard Johnstone)

The comparison to “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” might be an easy download, but with “M3GAN 2.0,” Gerard Johnstone has successfully updated the model of his first killer robot flick in the same way James Cameron upped the ante of the action with his 1991 sci-fi sequel.

M3GAN is voiced by singer Jenna Davis and embodied by New Zealand dancer Amie Donald.

The first “M3GAN” film, released in January 2023, turned out to be a surprise hit, grossing over $180 million on a $12 million budget and spawning a viral sensation in its title character, an artificial intelligence-endowed doll styled with the fashion sense of a 1960s Mod, the sardonic personality of a middle school mean girl and dancing skills to put TikTokers to shame. Despite those camp factors, that movie was firmly designated in the horror genre. The first film is a straight-forward slasher with an iconic character and a couple of interesting ideas about the role of technology and AI in parenting: M3GAN, designed as a companion and protector for her designer’s niece, Cady, played by Violet McGraw, takes her programming a step too far when she starts killing those who threaten her charge.

“M3GAN 2.0” is a major departure from that source code. Just as “T2” flipped “The Terminator” on its head, making Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 the hero and pitting the character against an evil version of himself, “M3GAN 2.0” turns M3GAN into an action heroine. Gone are the knives and garden-variety poison sprays. In are wing suits, tactical outfits and a new villain, Amelia, an altered version of M3GAN’s source code stolen for use by the United States military.

To that effect, “M3GAN 2.0” is not scary in the slightest, despite a couple grisly PG-13 kills and creepy robots. In fact, the new movie is often quite silly, allowing M3GAN – voiced by singer Jenna Davis and embodied by New Zealand dancer Amie Donald – to amp up her quips, jabs and slay factor as she jumps, kicks and, of course, dances through her sequel. I found the performances of the human cast hilariously pitched, particularly the always-gonzo Jemaine Clement as a skeevy billionaire tech guru and comedian Aristotle Athari as a lowkey AI activist. Ivanna Sakhno is a threatening hoot as Amelia, while Donald and Davis continue to consecrate their character as a signature mascot of 2020s pop culture.

Yet, surprisingly, even with the escalation of the irreverent attitude of the first film, “M3GAN 2.0” manages to continue its conversation about the ways AI fits – or doesn’t – into modern life. The movie rests heavily on the journey of M3GAN’s designer, Gemma, played amusingly straight by Allison Williams, as she grapples with the consequences of her innovation. As AI becomes more and more prevalent, especially in the film industry, I appreciate that a modern sci-fi franchise was bold enough to make its drawbacks and its benefits the center of its story.

“M3GAN 2.0” will not be for everyone, especially horror fans hoping for a scarier sequel. The film is a muscular, ambitious two hours, packing in sci-fi plot twists and robotics jargon amid the robot-on-robot warfare. However, for aficionados of sci-fi action movies, there is a lot of familiar territory here to like. I mean, come on, there’s even a goofy lightning effect on the machines during the climax. It may not be intellectual, but this is the kind of artificial intelligence romp I can get down with.

Rating: 4/5