When the original M3GAN broke out a couple of years ago, a sequel was almost immediately green-lit. This weekend, M3GAN 2.0 will face off at the box office against the Brad Pitt-led sports drama F1. But the horror sequel is expected to tank in its domestic debut, unlike F1, which is exceeding expectations. The movie received mixed critical reviews, but the folks that caught it on opening day were satisfied. M3GAN 2.0 earned a surprisingly solid CinemaScore grade from opening day audiences, especially for the horror genre, which is typically quite underwhelming on the polling platform.
Establishing the franchise’s popularity, M3GAN 2.0 earned a B+ grade on CinemaScore. This is about as high as these things can get for a horror movie. By comparison, Sinners earned an A grade, while Five Nights at Freddy’s and A Quiet Place: Part II scored an A- grade. M3GAN 2.0‘s B+ puts it above the first film’s B, and also above fellow horror movies 28 Years Later, Abigail, Nope, and Candyman. The worst-rated post-pandemic horror release is The Exorcism, which earned a D CinemaScore.
Released in 2022, M3GAN earned over $180 million at the worldwide box office, against a reported budget of $12 million. The movie was directed by Gerard Johnstone and written by Akela Cooper, both of whom returned for the sequel. M3GAN marked the exciting union of horror specialists Jason Blum and James Wan, and earned an excellent 93% Rotten Tomatoes score. By comparison, M3GAN 2.0 is currently sitting at a “rotten” 57% on the aggregator website, although its audience score is far higher, at an encouraging 84%.
‘M3GAN 2.0’ Is Expected to Underperform at the Box Office
The site’s consensus reads, “M3GAN 2.0 swaps the original’s horror software for a more action-leaning programming that doesn’t prove to be an upgrade, although the quippy A.I. remains an amusing mascot of slay.” In her review, Collider’s Emma Kiely described the movie as “equal parts charming, ridiculous, and compelling.” M3GAN 2.0 reportedly cost between $15 million and $25 million to produce, and is expected to underperform this weekend with a projected $10 million three-day haul. By comparison, the original film made more on its first day alone. You can watch M3GAN 2.0 in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
