M3GAN 2.0 had an unexpected opening weekend, struggling to keep pace with its predecessor and drawing curiosity regarding its future. Released in 2023, the original M3GAN captivated audiences with its chilling yet humorous take on artificial intelligence, featuring roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams) who inadvertently programs an AI doll, M3GAN (Amie Donald and Jenna Davis), to fiercely protect her orphaned niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). That film proved a box office sensation, raking in approximately $180 million against a modest production budget of $12 million.
Fast forward two and a half years, and the follow-up has shifted gears towards a more action-oriented sci-fi narrative, introducing a formidable new threat in the form of a powerful robot named AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno). However, as Deadline reports, M3GAN 2.0 is projected to garner only $10.4 million over its opening weekend, a significant downturn compared to early estimates of over $30 million. This sequel’s debut notably trails behind the original’s domestic opening weekend of $30.4 million, which achieved that figure without any competing major releasesâ€â€unlike its sequel, which faced off against the high-profile Brad Pitt racing thriller, F1: The Movie.
What This Means For M3GAN 2.0
The Franchise’s Future Is In Doubt
Generally speaking, it’s a rare occurrence for sequels to underperform compared to their original counterparts at the box office. The revenue of original films is often driven by curiosity, while sequels benefit from established brand recognition and audience anticipation. M3GAN 2.0 may be falling short due to its mixed reviews, scoring a mere 57% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original’s Certified Fresh rating of 93%. This downgrade in critical reception could have a significant impact on its overall ticket sales.
To better understand M3GAN and M3GAN 2.0‘s performances, here’s a brief comparison with other Blumhouse franchises:
|
Part 1 |
Domestic Debut |
Part 2 |
Domestic Debut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paranormal Activity (2009) |
$21.1 million (wk 5 wide expansion) |
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) |
$40.7 million |
| Insidious (2011) |
$13.3 million |
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) |
$40.3 million |
| Sinister (2012) |
$18 million |
Sinister 2 (2015) |
$10.5 million |
| The Purge (2013) |
$34 million |
The Purge: Anarchy (2014) |
$29.8 million |
| Ouija (2014) |
$19.9 million |
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) |
$14.1 million |
| Unfriended (2015) |
$15.8 million |
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018) |
$3.6 million |
| Happy Death Day (2017) |
$26 million |
Happy Death Day 2U (2019) |
$9.5 million |
| Halloween (2018) |
$76.2 million |
Halloween Kills (2021) |
$49.4 million |
| M3GAN (2023) |
$30.4 million |
M3GAN 2.0 (2025) |
$10.4 million |
This dip in performance is not without precedent; the sequels of other Blumhouse films like Sinister, The Purge, and Halloween also faced similar downturns. Notably, only the Purge and Halloween franchises managed to secure third installments. While M3GAN 2.0 may still unlock a potential narrative sequel, the film’s future depends heavily on ticket sales consistent with its budgeted production costs.
Our Take On The M3GAN 2.0 Debut
It May Not Spell Doom For M3GAN
Despite the less-than-stellar debut, M3GAN 2.0 carries the potential for longevity in theaters. With a production budget of about $25 millionâ€â€roughly double that of the originalâ€â€the sequel’s break-even point likely hovers around $62.5 million. This is significantly less than what the initial film achieved, suggesting that if ticket sales can sustain momentum, M3GAN 2.0 might not be doomed after all.
In a surprising twist, if M3GAN 2.0 continues on its current trajectory, it could inch closer to its break-even target. Even though diminishing returns from reviews could present challenges, the manageable budget provides a cushion against catastrophic losses.
For fans of the franchise, the real question remains: can M3GAN evolve yet again? Only time will tell as we await the unfolding story at the box office.