M3GAN 2.0’s Poor Box Office Performance Threatens the Franchise’s Future

The horror franchise that once seemed unstoppable has hit a serious bump. M3GAN 2.0, released on June 27, failed to replicate the breakout success of the original, raising doubts about whether a third installment will ever see the light of day.

In its opening weekend, M3GAN 2.0 managed to pull in just over $10 million domestically and roughly $17 million worldwide, including a dismissal showing in the UK where it debuted 6th taking a measly £509K. With a production budget close to $25 million, double that of its predecessor and a significant marketing push, these numbers look underwhelming. Especially when compared to the original M3GAN, which debuted with a strong $30 million weekend in January 2023 and went on to gross over $180 million globally on a modest $12 million budget.

The original M3GAN became a viral hit, spawning memes and turning its titular killer doll into a modern horror icon. Expectations were high for the sequel to kick off a franchise in the same vein as Chucky, and Blumhouse even announced a related spin-off titled SOULM8TE. But with M3GAN 2.0 struggling to capture attention, the future looks uncertain.

When asked about the possibility of a third M3GAN movie, lead actress Allison Williams told GamesRadar+, “Hmm, I guess everyone will have to go support the second movie.” That support, unfortunately, has yet to materialize in any significant way.

So, what went wrong? Suggestions that the shift from horror into sci-fi and action didn’t sit well. Director Gerard Johnstone explained his reasoning, saying he “didn’t want to do anything that would adversely affect” the first film and believed “a great way to do that is just not do the same thing again and not even stay in the same genre.” The inspiration from Terminator 2 pushed the film toward big set pieces and effects but away from the horror roots that made M3GAN a sensation.

Timing may have also played a role. Releasing a horror sequel in the summer is a gamble at best, with audiences generally more drawn to scary movies in the fall. Plus, M3GAN 2.0 faced stiff competition from blockbuster releases like F1—which dropped the same weekend—and Jurassic World Rebirth just a week later, making it easy to get lost in the crowd.

Despite the disappointment, the sequel isn’t without merit. It delivers surprising entertainment and humor, earning a respectable 3.5-star review from our critic. But for now, the dream of M3GAN becoming a long-running franchise could be on pause.

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