Universal/Blumhouse

The first "M3GAN 2.0" trailer teases an epic robot showdown

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Apr 3, 2025 3:54 PM ET

"M3GAN" was the "Dumpuary" gem of 2023. Released at the beginning of the year, the film crushed the competition at the box office and pulled in $181 million off of a budget of $12 million. It was also received quite well as a winking, fun horror film. Basically the "M3GAN" folks said, "What if we just skipped to the part of the 'Child's Play' series where it was self-aware and campy?" That worked!

It's zero-percent surprising that "M3GAN" got a sequel, but the Universal folks are betting big on "M3GAN 2.0" (quality sequel title, by the way). The movie is being released on June 27. Instead of going up against all the films studios dump into theaters in January and February to get them off their hands, "M3GAN 2.0" will be hitting cinemas in the dead center of summer blockbuster season. That is the same day as "F1" starring Brad Pitt, and just a week before "Jurassic Park Rebirth" drops.

"M3GAN 2.0" better be up for a fight for eyeballs, and the first full trailer for the movie has now arrived.

When one speaks of "understanding the assignment," one speaks of things such as the "M3GAN 2.0" trailer. It feels like this movie is leaning into what people liked about "M3GAN" without pushing it too hard. You know, like a less gory "The Monkey" perhaps.

Unsurprisingly, M3GAN is now a full-on anti-hero, because people just like that darn murderous robot girl too much. The M3GAN tech has been stolen and used to create a military weapon called Amelia. Now, reluctantly, Gemma must unleash M3GAN back into the world to protect herself, and Cady, from Gemma. Because, of course, nobody messes with Cady when M3GAN is in town.

It does feel like "M3GAN 2.0" could serve as fine counterprogramming to movies like "F1" or the latest attempt to do anything (anything) interesting with the "Jurassic Park" franchise. We'll get more of the same in slightly-different packaging. Some of it will feel warmed over. Some of it will be appreciated fan service. People will say, "It wasn't as good as the first one, but I liked it."

Now, this spinoff "SOULM8TE" coming out next year? That's the one we're skeptical of.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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