By Matija Šerić
We live in a world of technological marvels where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly significant. It is undeniable that many jobs will be rendered obsolete by this new tool, and those that survive will need to adapt to new circumstances. The power of AI, which can already write, draw, act, and create new content, is visible today, so it’s no surprise that many fear the times ahead. Humanoid robots represent a certain type of future, and a film franchise that has brilliantly explored this theme is M3GAN.
A Combination of Multiple Genres
The franchise’s memorable title represents a mix of science fiction and horror, with elements of dark humor. In January 2023, the world saw M3GAN (the first film), followed by a sequel in July 2025, M3GAN 2.0. Soon, the third film, Soulm8te, will be released, and more movies may follow.
A Created Future Universe
This is likely to continue because the franchise’s creators, James Wan and Jason Blum, have built a universe that can be continuously expanded. Equally important, they created a fictional world capable of generating millions of dollars. Wan conceived the idea while working as a producer on Annabelle (2014), which was a commercial success. While that film introduced the concept of a killer doll, Wan upgraded the idea in M3GAN by turning the doll into a humanoid robot powered by AI. Wan and Blum were joined by director Gerard Johnstone and screenwriter Akela Cooper. The four of them created a remarkable film. Filming was carried out under the production companies Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Productions, with Universal Pictures as the distributor.
Noble Intentions Create a Morally Questionable Being
The story begins with robotics engineer Gemma (Allison Williams) becoming the guardian of her niece, Cady (Violet McGrow), after Cady’s parents die in a tragic car accident. Since Gemma is inexperienced in parenting and has devoted her life primarily to her career, she decides to help Cady by creating the humanoid child robot M3GAN (played by Amie Donald, with the voice of Jenna Davis). Although this initially seems like an excellent idea, as M3GAN is equipped with advanced AI, it soon becomes clear that it was a very dangerous move. Cady forms an emotional bond with M3GAN, who gradually “breaks free” and begins performing morally questionable actions, including murder, to satisfy both Cady and itself. When Gemma and her team attempt to dismantle the creation, major problems arise, leading to a conflict between AI and humans.
Mega Success of the First Film
The first film was extraordinarily successful at the box office. Made on a $12 million budget, it grossed $181.8 million. It was released at the perfect time, just as people were increasingly using AI tools online. Many began to wonder about the future of artificial intelligence. According to the film’s storyline, we should all be concerned because AI could take control of humans if allowed to act freely.
The mix of sci-fi, horror, and comedy was a winning formula. If the film had fit into only one of these genres, it would not have achieved the same impact, as it would not have elicited the strong reactions it did. The film simultaneously shocks, scares, and entertains viewers through dark humor and satire. Brilliant performances by Allison Williams (known for Girls, Get Out, etc.) and Violet McGrow, combined with top-notch visual effects (animatronic doll, CGI) and an excellent musical score, created a first-rate cinematic work that earned applause from both critics and audiences. Overall, the film received ratings between 80% and 90%.
The Less Successful Sequel Is Still Quality
When a film is this successful, a sequel is almost inevitable. Last summer, M3GAN 2.0 was released, featuring the same production and cast. The budget was about $25 million, and it earned around $40 million. Although profitable, the smaller revenue indicates a somewhat weaker reception. Indeed, the sequel is less captivating than the first film, but that does not mean it is bad. On the contrary, the concept of a humanoid AI robot has been expanded.
The story takes place two years after the first film, when a military-grade humanoid named AMELIA, equipped with high-level AI (built from stolen M3GAN technology), goes rogue and threatens to take over the world. Gemma is forced to reactivate her former adversary, M3GAN, to counter this even greater threat. The film is entertaining, with a strong dose of humor and adventure, well-developed character relationships, memorable dialogue, and excellently choreographed action scenes. Critics and audiences responded with mixed opinions. Many expected more and were confused by the complicated plot with spy elements. According to some critics, the storyline was convoluted and the purpose somewhat lost. Nonetheless, the film is good, with ratings around 60%.
A Promising Future for the Franchise
It will be interesting to see how the third film, Soulm8te, and potential future installments unfold. They will likely continue to explore themes such as AI taking over the world and a dystopian future. How long the M3GAN universe will last remains to be seen, but its potential is enormous. We live in advanced times in which AI truly poses a threat to humanity. Humanity must learn to control AI tools and must not allow AI to control us, as the consequences could be disastrous. We hope that future installments maintain quality, encouraging viewers to critically reflect on technology use—a necessary addition to everyday life. Unfortunately, technology can dull many minds.
