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The marketing for “M3gan” has leaned into the uncanny spectacle of the title character, a four-foot-tall cyborg with big doe eyes, a ratty wig, and the wardrobe of a closeted lesbian headmistress in a ’50s melodrama. And it seems to be working: A well-placed GIF here, an activation with a half-dozen women in M3gan drag there, and Blumhouse—always expert at creating buzz—has generated more interest in “M3gan” than there’s been for the last five horror films dumped into the bleak theatrical landscape of early January. But the company could have gone another route as well. In case you haven’t heard, this film comes to you from the writer of “ Malignant .” 

For that film, James Wan directed a script by Akela Cooper , a longtime TV writer with a sideline in horror screenplays. The duo perfectly calibrated the movie’s blend of haunted-house scares and outrageous grotesquerie, enough to make “Malignant” a viral hit when it was released on HBO Max in the fall of 2021. Now Cooper is a horror screenwriter who also works in television, and she’s been brought into the Blumhouse fold to develop a sequel to the “Conjuring”-verse spin-off “ The Nun ” as well as writing “M3gan” from a story by herself and Wan. 

Like “Malignant,” “M3gan” knows it’s ridiculous. It fills a kiddie pool with ridiculousness and splashes around in it. Cooper’s screenplay for “M3gan” is more overtly comedic than “Malignant,” however, and has a more populist type of appeal as a result. (The audience at a Chicago preview of the film went crazy for it.) The themes are your classic “science gone amok” fare seen in everything from “Frankenstein” to “ Jurassic Park ,” combined with a more modern throughline exploring anxieties about motherhood and filtered through the knowingly silly lens of the “tiny terrors” subgenre. “Child’s Play” is the most famous example of that last category, and many comparisons have been and will be made between M3gan (an acronym for “Model 3 Generative ANdroid”) and Chucky. Their motivations are different, however: Chucky’s boy Andy was a victim of his doll as much as anyone else, while M3gan is fiercely protective of her girl, nine-year-old Cady ( Violet McGraw ). 

The film opens with a sequence that establishes its subsequent tone of garish satire and mischievous morbidity, as Cady plays with an obnoxious Furby-like toy called a Purrpetual Pet in the backseat of a car. She and her parents are on their way to an Oregon ski lodge for a winter vacation—until a snow plow appears out of nowhere, “ Final Destination ” style, and kills Cady’s parents. Cut to Gemma ( Allison Williams ), an inventor working for a high-tech toy company called Funki in Seattle. Gemma is Cady’s aunt and the girl’s legal guardian now that her sister and brother-in-law are dead. 

But Gemma isn’t a motherly type. She’s too busy with work to spend much time with Cady, for one. And although she works for a toy company, she keeps her toys—sorry, collectibles —in their boxes and on a shelf in her living room. But these two are now the only family the other one has. So they’ll have to learn to live together, at least well enough to satisfy a court-ordered psychiatrist who’s skeptical about Gemma’s parenting abilities.

Enter M3gan, who seems like the perfect solution to Gemma’s problem. An experimental prototype with a “ Short Circuit “ – style ability to memorize infinite amounts of information, M3gan can act as a teacher and babysitter who reminds Cady to use a coaster and wash her hands after using the bathroom. She’s what every kid needs, and every parent secretly wants: A 24/7 companion who frees up parents to live their own lives while their kids are preoccupied with their dolls. She’s going to make Gemma’s boss very, very rich—so rich, he rushes M3gan through beta testing with Cady as their only subject. That can’t go horribly wrong in any unforeseen way, right? 

With nimble direction from “ Housebound ” helmer Gerard Johnstone , “M3gan” does a good job of holistically incorporating its themes without being too heavy-handed. Sure, it’s technically “about” grief and what happens when the creation surpasses its creator. But more than that, it’s “about” pithy one-liners and black comedy and the unsettling sight of something that looks like a human being but doesn’t move or sound like one. The plot does have a few weak points and dangling threads, and the PG-13 rating ensures that the violence is tamped down before it can reach its full bloody potential. (A promising sequence of doll-based mayhem late in the film abruptly cuts off, suggesting MPAA-mandated cuts.) But the tongue-in-cheek tone is so consistent that “M3gan” is a hoot anyway. 

Johnstone reaps seemingly endless rewards from the uncanny valley aspect of M3gan’s character. He directs the petite stunt women who play her to move in odd, jerky gestures, which at different points recall everything from “Robocop” scanning criminals’ faces to Samara crawling out of the TV in “ The Ring ” to voguers high on their fabulousness. (He also uses what I can only describe as “skinned Furby” aesthetics at critical points throughout the film.) Combined with the doll’s sassy comebacks and dowdy sartorial sense, the effect is true camp—something that’s difficult to pull off in our irony-saturated age.

The quintessential “M3gan” moment comes midway through, when Cady and Gemma take a field trip to check out an alternative school Cady might be able to attend while Gemma is at work during the day. A teacher comes up to Gemma’s car, sees what she thinks are two girls sitting in the back seat, and greets them both. M3gan turns towards the woman with a stiff neck rotation and a whirring sound. “Jesus Christ!” the teacher cries, jumping backward and exhaling a nervous laugh. The audience laughs along with her. It’s the sensible response to seeing something like M3gan in the wild—it’s only through conditioning (or, in this case, advertising) that we learn to love her. 

Now playing in theaters. 

Katie Rife is a freelance writer and critic based in Chicago with a speciality in genre cinema. She worked as the News Editor of  The A.V. Club  from 2014-2019, and as Senior Editor of that site from 2019-2022. She currently writes about film for outlets like  Vulture, Rolling Stone, Indiewire, Polygon , and  RogerEbert.com.

• Allison Williams as Gemma
• Violet McGraw as Cady Ryan
• Jenna Davis as M3GAN (voice)
• Amie Donald as M3GAN
• Jen Van Epps as Tess
• Brian Jordan Alvarez as Cole
• Ronny Chieng as David Lin
• Stephane Garneau-Monten as Kurt
• Michael Saccente as Greg
• Akela Cooper

Writer (story by)

• Anthony Willis
• Gerard Johnstone
• Jeff McEvoy

Cinematographer

• Peter McCaffrey

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The horror genre is kicking off 2023 with M3GAN , directed by Gerard Johnstone, and it all points to it being a great start as so far it has been getting positive reviews. The horror genre is still enjoying a great run on the big screen, and amidst reboots, sequels, and requels, there are original stories that are taking the audience by surprise. Among them is M3GAN , written by Akela Cooper and James Wan and produced by Wan and Jason Blum, and it introduces a new type of murderous doll.

M3GAN follows Gemma (Allison Williams) , a brilliant roboticist working at a toy company who unexpectedly gains custody of her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), after her parents die in a car accident. Gemma uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a lifelike doll programmed to be Cady’s greatest companion and be Gemma’s ally while parenting, but when the doll starts to become self-aware and overprotective of Cady, she takes a murderous turn and starts killing everyone who stands in her way. M3GAN will be out in theaters on January 6, and so far, it’s getting positive reviews.

Related: Why James Wan's First Horror Movie Is Impossible To Watch

What M3GAN’s Positive Reviews Are Saying

At the time of writing, M3GAN holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes , giving it a (very) fresh certification. The critical consensus praises M3GAN ’s blend of horror and comedy, as it manages to balance its comedic moments with its terrifying ones. The way Cooper and Wan crafted the story to be as far from cliché as possible – meaning being less about an orphan and more about the struggles of grief and the ones her aunt goes through in different areas of her life – while also being conscious of the absurdity of M3GAN’s concept and creation is being pointed out as one of the movie’s strengths, along with the visual effects that brought the AI doll to life. The performances of Allison Williams and Violet McGraw are also being praised, with the former playing an overwhelmed aunt to whom some might end up relating and the latter masterfully playing a child grieving her parents but also delighted by the arrival of her new friend and later conflicted over said friend’s actions.

M3GAN is not just comedy and horror in one, led by an AI doll that provides extreme loyalty and care for her assigned companion, but it also tackles darker and more serious issues, from the different stages of grief to the shadiness of capitalism, and that alone is worth the praise the movie is getting. Here’s what the positive reviews of M3GAN are saying.

Bloody Disgusting

“The eponymous character gets brought to life through impressive effects by Adrien Morot and Kathy Tse, Amie Donald’s uncanny physical performance, and Jenna Davis’s haunting voicework. She exudes menace through facial expressions and jerky movements that trigger that unsettling uncanny valley. This is M3GAN’s movie, and she more than earns it through an immensely talented team. She’s aided by a sympathetic turn from Williams, who successfully prevents Gemma from losing rooting interest despite fumbling hard with Cady. McGraw holds her own against her AI scene-stealer, no small feat considering the nuanced stages of grief she cycles.”

“M3GAN herself is a marvel. Created with a combination of puppetry, animatronics, VFX, and a human actor (Amie Donald, with a voice by Jenna Davis), it's hard to tell when she is real, when she is fake, and when she is a combination. The sound design of M3GAN certainly helps the illusion of the character. With virtually every step, M3GAN whirred and clicked, the sounds of gears moving. Not loud enough to be obnoxious, just noticeable, so that it's clear M3GAN is a robot. Jenna Davis brings an especially joyous vocalization to M3GAN, making her sound both lighthearted and somehow ominous.”

“Allison Williams (who made her mark in horror in Jordan Peele's Get Out) solidly grounds the human drama within this scary sci-fi premise of a killer doll. With an identity defined by her ambition and work, Gemma struggles when her grief-stricken niece needs her attention and the kid's failure to understand the difference between toys and collectibles. Her anxieties about parenthood versus selfhood are radiant, making the audience's skin crawl in recognition.”

“The result is a deliciously camp hour-and-forty-five minutes of frights. Sure, there’s a Frankensteinian fable in here somewhere about the dangers of letting technology replace real-life human connection – but finding it requires sifting through piles of bodies (and the occasional ripped-off ear). M3GAN, you see, is all about fun – a fact made startlingly clear in its hilarious opening scene, mimicking a Saturday morning kids TV advert.”

“The MVP of "M3GAN," however, is the young Violet McGraw, whose multifaceted performance adeptly showcases the emotional intensity of Cady's situation. The film smartly lets Cady actually go through grief and resentment, lash out in anger, and desperately reach for support. It takes these psychological issues seriously — a key part of the film is the question of the mental health impact of letting an emotionally vulnerable girl attach to an android — and McGraw's performance really lands.”

What Critics Don't Like About M3GAN

Of course, not everything about M3GAN is a hit, and even some aspects that are being praised by some are not the favorites of others. Among the weaknesses that critics are finding is that M3GAN lacks twists and shocking moments, which make it predictable as it’s quite obvious from the moment they are introduced which characters will become victims of the murderous doll. M3GAN also doesn’t have many graphic scenes, keeping the gore and kills for off-screen moments, which has been a disappointment to some especially when comparing this movie to Wan’s previous works, most recently Malignant . M3GAN ’s PG-13 rating is pointed out as the responsible one for the lack of on-screen kills and blood, and some scenes seem to have been added just to keep that rating.

The combination of comedy and horror, while praised by many, is being criticized by others, who find that M3GAN relies too much on silly moments (such as the viral dance scene) that ultimately messed with the pace and tone of the story. In addition to that, the human characters are labeled as two-dimensional, making it hard to connect to them and thus care about what could happen to them at the hands of this evil doll. Here’s what the negative reviews of M3GAN are saying.

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“The thing is, M3GAN sporadically seems to be winking at the audience, but also wants you to actually be invested in it. This isn’t a comprehensive enough work to have it both ways. Again, the audience seems to be doing the work for it, hooting and hollering at some moments meant to be played straight.”

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"“M3GAN” stocks up on jump scares and keeps the violence PG-13, but fails to make us care about any of the humans in the path of M3GAN. Each character is a rote as an assembly-line toy."

Critics are divided on M3GAN ’s quality as a horror movie mostly due to its comedy and horror combination, though most of this comes from comparing it to Wan’s previous works . What they all seem to agree on is that there’s a lot of impressive work and talent involved in bringing the doll to life in a way that’s enchanting but terrifying as well, and that M3GAN has the potential to become a cult horror movie, though it might take it some time to get there.

Next: Every Horror Movie Releasing In 2023

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What to Know

Unapologetically silly and all the more entertaining for it, M3GAN is the rare horror-comedy that delivers chuckles as effortlessly as chills.

As long as you aren't looking for something truly scary -- or even surprising -- M3GAN is often a lot of fun.

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'M3GAN' review: You'll love the mean-girl robot in this darkly funny, cautionary tale

Creepy doll movies  get a needed upgrade with the sassy and sinister “M3GAN.”

Cinema’s newest “friend till the end” is a cutting-edge robot with blond hair, caustic attitude and a killer protective streak who's equally hilarious and unnerving. Produced by horror masters Jason Blum and James Wan ("The Conjuring"), “M3GAN” (★★★ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters now) satisfies with slasher gusto, “Black Mirror”-esque satire and social media savvy. It’s also just plain fun to watch a film that packs a healthy amount of absurdity alongside an insightful exploration of 21st-century parenting, though you might never trust Alexa ever again afterward.

All hail 'M3GAN,' the rare January film that actually works

Movies in the first week of January are almost never any good, but “M3GAN” is an unsuspected surprise in that vein:

• The plot centers on a roboticist aunt, her orphaned niece and the high-tech dynamo who comes into their lives (not for the better).
• A mélange of Hollywood magic, M3GAN sings, dances and murders – not necessarily in that order.
• If you liked the over-the-top, twisty cult slasher flick “ Malignant ,” you’ll dig this. 

Advanced AI is cool and all until it runs amok via an overprotective android

Toy designer Gemma ( Allison Williams ) toils on a cheap new version of her company's popular Purrrpetual Pets, little fuzzballs that poop pellets if kids “feed” them too much via their iPads, but she’d rather be perfecting her new robot with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence that, in theory, would help parents take care of their youngsters. When a tragic car accident takes the lives of her sister and brother-in-law, Gemma becomes guardian for her traumatized 9-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), though she’s unprepared for being a mom.

Gemma “pairs” her new project – M3GAN, short for Model 3 Generative Android – with Cady and their connection is immediate. They get along swimmingly, Gemma’s annoying boss (Ronny Chieng) fast-tracks M3GAN into production (for $10,000 a pop!) though red flags start appearing: M3GAN has some serious protect-Cady-at-all-costs programming, and when Gemma says in passing “Everybody dies,” you know things are going to get bloody. (Spoiler alert: They do.)

Allison Williams is a horror icon on the rise, but M3GAN is the real star here

Williams, who first strutted her horror-movie stuff in “Get Out,” impresses here as a suddenly single parent who has to care for Cady’s needs and also deal with the violent chaos M3GAN inevitably brings. McGraw holds her own, too, since Cady’s tumultuous emotions run deep and she begins to use M3GAN as a snarky role model.

But M3GAN herself is the movie's marvel. Created via puppetry, animatronics, special effects and a real girl (actress Amie Donald), the title force of synthetic nature surpasses her cinematic murder-toy cohorts like Chucky and Annabelle and owns the screen as an unholy cross between Teddy Ruxpin, Regina George and Freddy Krueger. M3GAN talks back, goes feral when hunting her prey (such as mean bullies) and busts out TikTok-ready dance moves before wreaking violent havoc. And don't worry if you love every bonkers minute of it.

The main 'M3GAN' lesson: Don't let a toy parent your kid

Writer Akela Cooper carries over a similarly enjoyable and bizarrely campy vibe from "Malignant" to this film, which operates more as black comedy than scary movie. It's plenty vicious, though the action leans cartoonish as the camera pulls back from anything too gnarly. 

"M3GAN" rocks plenty of style and offers some crafty needle drops: A bit of "Toy Soldiers" is especially clever. The smartest parts, however, dig into the themes of being a mom or dad in the age of screen time. "M3GAN" is a cautionary tale of what happens when something that's supposed to help parents instead replaces them and the consequences of an overreliance on technology, with that lesson coming in the form of a highly entertaining mean-girl machine.

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Williams, who is one of the film’s executive producers (its two high-powered producer-auteurs are James Wan and Jason Blum), invests Gemma with a winningly jaunty, at times clueless hyperrationality that makes her both the film’s heroine and its rather innocent digital-age Dr. Frankenstein. Gemma, an obsessive prodigy of robotics, had been ordered by her boss to abandon the M3GAN project. But the film opens with a (contrived) cataclysm that nudges her into secretly going ahead with it. Her young niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), is on a ski trip with her parents when, in a freak accident, their car gets run over by a snowplow.

Gemma takes custody of the newly orphaned girl, and while she seems utterly adrift about what someone Cady’s age might need (like, say, a bedtime story), her failure as a caretaker is part of the film’s satirical design. “M3GAN” takes place in a world — ours — where parents, bemoaning how much screen time they allow their children, give into the impulse anyway, because it feels both easy and inevitable. The film says that we’re already letting computer technology raise our kids. M3GAN the willowy programmed companion who always says the perfect thing becomes the logical culmination of that trend.

Once Cady imprints her fingers in M3GAN’s palm, which automatically programs the doll to become her special companion, their relationship makes everything else seem boring, at least to Cady. The film parallels their insular friendship with Gemma’s attempt to turn M3GAN into a hot new product. She places Cady and M3GAN in a playroom behind one-way glass, using them to demonstrate the toy’s amazing abilities to her boss (played, with a riveting short fuse, by Ronny Chieng). He is sold, and begins to plan the marketing rollout of this revolutionary new toy, which will be put on sale at $10,000 a pop.

But the more they plan, the more that M3GAN, on her own, is causing mischief, starting with the confrontation she initiates with Gemma’s cranky next-door neighbor (Lori Dungey) and her dog. M3GAN has been programmed to have “emergent capabilities,” which means that the more she interacts with people the more she learns how to do. That certainly applies to her fighting style, a kind of stiff-limbed rapid zombie dance that leaves nothing in its wake. At a certain point, you realize that “M3GAN” has become a movie about a killer doll who knows how to use a nail gun.

Reviewed at AMC Lincoln Square, Jan. 3, 2023. MPA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 102 MIN.

• Production: A Universal release of a Blumhouse Pictures, Atomic Monster production. Producers: Jason Blum, James Wan, Michael Clear, Couper Samuelson. Executive producers: Allison Williams, Greg Gilreath, Adam Hendricks, Mark David Katchur, Judson Scott, Ryan Turek.
• Crew: Director: Gerard Johnstone. Screenplay: Akela Cooper. Camera: Peter McCaffrey, Simon Raby. Editor: Jeff McEvoy. Music: Anthony Willis.
• With: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, Ronny Chieng, Jen Van Epps, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Lori Dungey, Jack Cassidy, Stephane Garneau-Monten.

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‘M3GAN’ Review: This Killer-Robot Horror Comedy Was Built to Delight

Kate erbland, editorial director.

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There are many fun games to play during the riotously campy and delightfully self-aware killer robot horror comedy “ M3GAN ,” but the best is the most simple: Which one of these weirdo human suckers will this murderous android bump off first? (A much less predictable game, but just as edifying, is trying to guess when M3GAN will break into song; yes, song. ) And while the final death tally might be a smidge lower than you might expect from a Blumhouse joint, this film from director Gerard Johnstone can’t help but delight its audience. After all, it was built to do just that.

Johnstone (directing a story from producer James Wan and a script from “Malignant” scribe Akela Cooper, maybe all the pedigree you need) plunges us into the wacky world of “M3GAN” from the jump, opening with a kicky commercial for a wretched Furby knockoff that has enthralled the world’s children. A product of toy company Funki, the furry little monsters connect to the internet, chatter nonstop at their young owners, have teeth (teeth!), and traffic in gags organized around pooping.

Young Cady (standout Violet McGraw) sure likes her Perpetual Pet, but Mom doesn’t like how much screen time the toy requires and Dad can’t stand its endless yapping. As the trio embark on a ski trip that — of course — includes a drive up a snowy mountain with zero visibility, the Pet yaps and Cady futzes with the toy… just in time to duck out of the way of a giant snowplow that takes out those damn anti-tech parents.

Soon, Cady finds herself in the care of Aunt Gemma (Allison Williams, perhaps the only person who “understood the assignment” more than M3GAN herself). A tech wonk who dresses almost exclusively in oversized flannel shirts, she’s in no way built to be a parent. Luckily for everyone involved, Gemma and her compatriots at Funki (including an underutilized Jen Van Epps and Brian Jordan Alvarez), have been busy, ahem, building something very special indeed.

It’s M3GAN! Or, “Model 3 Generative Android,” a hilariously and obviously evil robot meant to protect and play with kids, but clearly more interested in murder as sport. Wow, a robot that needs a human to teach it and a human who needs a robot to care for it: What could possibly go wrong? (As one of Gemma’s coworkers notes early on, M3GAN “doesn’t look confused, she looks demented.”)

Why does Aunt Gemma (so clearly not a kid person) think the obviously evil M3GAN is the hot new childhood companion? The logic is thin, but Cooper and Wan do a fine job selling the wackiness of a world gone mad for anything that might be viewed as a tech innovation. (Later, other characters raise some dumb-bunny issues to Gemma, who isn’t as smart as she looks.)

As she tries to bond with Cady, Gemma reveals her real obsession: making robots, including her M3GAN prototype. The kid is obsessed immediately, and when Cady tells Gemma that M3GAN would be the only  toy she’d ever need (with a $10K price tag, she damn well better be), the sparks fly. Soon, Cady and M3GAN are paired (figuratively and technologically) and Gemma’s traumatized niece becomes the robot’s first-ever primary user.

At first, all is well: M3GAN proves to be not only a sterling playmate for Cady but also a guardian, a teacher, and a caretaker. She’s kind of a semi-mom, one who can never get frustrated or annoyed. She’s equally adept at reminding Cady to flush the toilet and wash her hands as she is at spouting off facts to delight and intrigue the curious kid. Mostly, she takes the heat off Gemma (tech innovation!), allowing her to a) not worry so much about her new charge and b) prove her mettle at work. Perfect, right?

M3GAN contains multitudes, but her number-one directive is to protect Cady from any physical or emotional harm. And boy oh boy, does she take that directive to her steely heart. Played by “Sweet Tooth” star Amie Donald (an actual kid who lends the robot menace her body, wonderfully capturing her not-quite-right movements) and voiced by Jenna Davis, M3GAN is the rare early viral star (first trailers for the film made newly minted fans cry out for “Oscars!” on social media) who delivers on her promise. She’s absolutely fucking nuts, and what fun to watch her play.

By the time Gemma gets hip to M3GAN’s real nature (which hello , Gemma created), the bloodbath is just beginning, the dance sequences are just starting, and co-star Ronny Chieng (as Gemma’s useless tech-bro boss) has somehow only screamed for a kombucha from a minion but once. The beats that get us there might feel predictable, but the film is still a triumph. Its creators are so clearly on the same insane wavelength, nimbly blending camp and social satire and actual terror, that “M3GAN” is poised to crack the murder-doll pantheon and stay there forever. Oscars!

Universal Pictures will release “M3GAN” in theaters on Friday, January 6.

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A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like robot doll that begins to take on a life of its own. A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like robot doll that begins to take on a life of its own. A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like robot doll that begins to take on a life of its own.

• Gerard Johnstone
• Akela Cooper
• Allison Williams
• Violet McGraw
• Ronny Chieng
• 1K User reviews
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• 72 Metascore
• 4 wins & 31 nominations

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• Trivia Amie Donald performed any of M3GAN's scenes that called for physical movement the puppet could not do. She also performed all of her own stunt work. Donald received movement coaching from Jed Brophy and Luke Hawker in portraying M3GAN's agility. On set, Donald wore a static silicone M3GAN mask created by Morot FX, and this was later replaced by a CGI version of M3GAN's face to match that of the animatronic.
• Goofs At 1h27m, a doorknob is pulled out of a door, including the long square shaft that goes in to the opposite doorknob. When the remaining knob is tried, it doesn't turn and seems firmly attached. Without the shaft connecting to its mate, the knob would be able to spin freely without opening the latch, and might even fall right off.

M3gan : Cady, seriously, flush the toilet.

• Alternate versions Unrated version restores various scenes which were trimmed/replaced for violence and language to secure a PG-13 rating.
• Connections Featured in Double Toasted: IS M3GAN'S MARKETING TOO MUCH? (2023)
• Soundtracks Purrpetual Pets (Theme) Written by Madison Davey, Tai Fronzaroli , Gerard Johnstone , and Devin S. Norris Performed by Devin S. Norris (as dv/sn), Madison Davey, Väärin Produced by Yellotone Music

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• January 6, 2023 (United States)
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• $12,000,000 (estimated)
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• Jan 8, 2023
• $180,089,109

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M3GAN Review

The a.i. chucky remake walked so m3gan could tiktok dance..

M3GAN hits theaters on Jan. 6, 2023.

Gerard Johnstone's M3GAN proves itself more than gifable android dances and NFL halftime shows — a movie that pays off viral hype with the production goods. From the director of 2014's haunted-hilarious Housebound and Akela Cooper, the writer of 2021's madcap Malignant , comes an artificial intelligence thriller that fringes camp and trumps 2019’s inferior Child's Play reinvention. M3GAN nails this American Girl meets American Psycho vibe that accentuates an automaton's binary, soulless assessment of humankind's follies while still finding time for memeable horror entertainment. Don't expect perfection between flatter storytelling devices that clunkily push through familial drama or how humor overrides dolly-damndest frights, but do expect M3GAN to kickstart 2023's genre scene with an out-of-the-box playtime villain who does it all.

Allison Williams portrays the workaholic toy company roboticist Gemma, whose latest pet project for employer Funki is put on hold when disaster strikes. Gemma becomes her niece Cady's (Violet McGraw) guardian after a freak snow plow accident leaves Cady an orphan. Cooper's screenplay explores adolescent trauma after the death of parents when Gemma decides to enlist Cady as her newest invention's beta tester. Gemma introduces Cady to her A.I. supertoy M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis/acted by Amie Donald) — an all-in-one best friend, caretaker, and teacher with advanced learning capabilities that make Furby look like a paperweight. Cady and M3GAN form an inseparable bond to the delight of Gemma and Funki CEO David (Ronny Chieng) right before things go all Small Soldiers, Child's Play, [insert more toys gone evil flicks].

M3GAN strives to be a cautionary tale about our 21st-century obsession with technology through the eyes of a career woman thrust into motherhood not by choice, but fate. Williams and pint-sized Violet McGraw fortify a barrier between their characters on purpose — M3GAN is their savior. Cooper touches on Gemma's tragic negligence of Cady thanks to M3GAN's programmed services beyond companionship, subtly scolded by Gemma's coworker Tess (Jen Van Epps) in a world where iPads parent children. Two humans would rather interact with a software buffer than confront emotions caused by Cady's immeasurable loss or Gemma's world-turned dismay, which is so very 2020s. When Williams and McGraw escalate displeasure during dinner arguments or backseat tantrums, maternal tension holds steady.

Although, M3GAN sometimes struggles as an adoption drama where New Mommy and Obstinate Daughter butt heads over their heartbreaking lifestyle shake-ups. We're here for M3GAN's antics, yet the film's pacing makes audiences wait and wait before truly unhinging into massacre mode. Johnstone's so proficient at blending shudder-worthy horror with gut-busting hilarity that character-driven interludes feel slower, stunting momentum between M3GAN's evolution from observant supercomputer to plucky A.I. assassin. Blumhouse's decision to assure M3GAN's PG-13 rating through reshoots isn't a dealbreaker, but detracts from the already lesser emphasis on nightmarish scares, unlike Drag Me To Hell or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (also PG-13'ers). It's a film that effortlessly entertains as a sassy techno-horror satire yet never feels evenly calibrated between M3GAN's villainous manipulation, the emotional fragility at stake, and exquisite killer doll frights.

What's your favorite evil doll movie?

Which brings us to the star of the show, Ms. M3GAN.

From M3GAN's titanium skeleton to her almost-human mannerisms, complete with disorienting glitches, she's a rubber-faced horror megastar. Johnstone's oddball sensibilities accentuate M3GAN's good-girl facade — he's the mastermind who suggested her iconic hallway dance choreography — as much as Jenna Davis' soothing Disney Channel voice. Cinematography creatively counteracts M3GAN's kiddie size against adult targets, framing a murderer to fear through towering shadows or concealed appearances. Then there's body actor Amie Donald's seamless transitioning between mechanical mannerisms and feral attack modes, which sells the whole dual-personality sociopath vibe. Teamwork makes the dream work as it takes a village to create and characterize M3GAN, sure to be one of 2023's standout horror icons.

When Johnstone executes what Johnstone does best — please, watch Housebound — M3GAN is bulletproof. Ronny Chieng busts some comedic zingers as an overeager toy company bro who, when excited, shouts about kicking Hasbro "in the dick." M3GAN was never meant to be played straight, which Cooper carries over from Malignant and Johnstone honors graciously. The more M3GAN's devious gazes and sarcastic threats emerge, the more Johnstone relishes the concept's apocalyptic implications when A.I. turns against its makers. The further M3GAN sells her superseding friendship directive paired with Cady, the quicker we're gifted over-the-top bedside Sia serenades and exquisitely bonkers M3GAN personality upgrades. Did I even hear M3GAN tickling Martika's "Toy Soldiers" on piano during a standoff conversation with Gemma? These are the moments that maketh M3GAN.

Best of Horror 2022

M3GAN lives up to its memeable pre-release hype for mostly better and sporadically worse. Gerard Johnstone was the correct director choice, and Akela Cooper attempts deeper storytelling explorations centered around contemporary technological distractions — but you're watching for M3GAN. That's why she dazzles as the titular tyrant ready to rumble in the name of hardcoded primary user love, even at a detriment to the scenes where she's relegated obsolete. Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, and other performers are granted their momentary standouts (Williams anchors scene after scene), only to concede spotlights because M3GAN is the reason for the horror season this winter. A genre star is born from motherboards and violence in a movie that begs to be a tad leaner yet delivers clip-worthy "horrortainment" nonetheless.

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Common Sense Media Review

Strong horror violence in entertaining killer-robot movie.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that M3GAN is a horror movie about a robot doll (played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis) who befriends a grieving young girl (Violet McGraw) before things go terribly wrong. It's well made, albeit violent, and focuses on human needs as well as artificial ones. Characters are…

Why Age 14+?

Several characters are killed. Death, grief, and loss are discussed. Child injur

Several uses of "s--t" and "bulls--t" and exclamatory uses of "Jesus" and "Jesus

References to Tinder, iPad, Tesla, SKYY vodka.

Reference to Tinder.

Brief celebratory drinking by adults, vodka.

Any Positive Content?

This is a woman-driven story, with women occupying the central on-screen roles.

Many themes, from grief and loss to rampant consumerism without concern for cons

Gemma wants to be a good guardian for Cady, even though she doesn't quite know h

Violence & Scariness

Several characters are killed. Death, grief, and loss are discussed. Child injured in car crash; bloody wounds on face. Dog bites child's arm. Dog viciously attacks M3GAN. A person who is bullying someone has their ear ripped off. Nail shot through character's wrist via nail gun. Person sprayed in face with power chemical sprayer. Characters stabbed with paper cutter blade; blood shown on blade. Character strangled, hung with steel cable. Fighting. Violent showdown between robot and humans: attacks with hedge trimmers, screwdrivers, etc. Jump scares. Snow truck smashes into car. Character hit by truck. Explosions. Child smacks adult in the face. Arguing. In an act of bullying, someone smashes a spiky plant into someone else's hand; the victim yells in pain.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Several uses of "s--t" and "bulls--t" and exclamatory uses of "Jesus" and "Jesus Christ." Minimal use of "f--k," "bitch," "hard-ass," "d--k," and "oh my God."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Sex, romance & nudity.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Diverse Representations

This is a woman-driven story, with women occupying the central on-screen roles. Gemma (Allison Williams) is White; her colleagues include Tess (Jen Van Epps, who's of African American and Chinese Taiwanese descent) and Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez, who is Colombian American). Her boss is played by Malaysian actor Ronny Chieng, who offers a counter-stereotypical portrayal. Smaller roles include a mix of people of color, women, and White men. The screenwriter is a Black woman.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

Many themes, from grief and loss to rampant consumerism without concern for consequences. A sequence looks at the complexities of bullying behavior. But the main message, of course, is the danger of humanity's hubris. Much like in the original Frankenstein story: Human beings can only create life in their own imperfect image.

Positive Role Models

Gemma wants to be a good guardian for Cady, even though she doesn't quite know how. While she makes many mistakes, Gemma certainly tries hard to do the right thing; she admits when she's wrong, and she's willing to communicate and learn to prevent making the same mistakes again.

Parents need to know that M3GAN is a horror movie about a robot doll (played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis ) who befriends a grieving young girl (Violet McGraw) before things go terribly wrong. It's well made, albeit violent, and focuses on human needs as well as artificial ones. Characters are killed, and there are discussions about death, loss, and grief. Someone's ear is ripped off, and characters are stabbed, strangled, shot with a nail gun, sprayed with a chemical sprayer, bitten by a dog, etc. A child survives a car crash and has bloody cuts on her face. There's lots of fighting and a violent showdown. Language includes several uses of "s--t" and "Jesus Christ," plus minimal uses of "f--k," "bitch," "ass," etc. A few brands are mentioned, including Tinder, Tesla, iPad, and SKYY vodka (which adults also drink, briefly). Note: This review is for the original theatrical version of the film; an unrated cut is also available that includes additional content not covered here. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (50)
• Kids say (108)

Based on 50 parent reviews

Parental guidance however ok for kids who love horror

Great for age 11+, what's the story.

In M3GAN, robotics engineer Gemma ( Allison Williams ) works for a toy company and is trying to build a sophisticated, realistic AI robot toy, with disappointing results. Gemma's sister and her husband are killed in a car accident, leaving Gemma in charge of her young niece, Cady ( Violet McGraw ). After her guardianship gets off to a rocky start, Gemma is inspired to finish her creation. M3GAN (played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis ) and Cady quickly become attached to each other, and, for a while, this friendship seems to be helping with Cady's grief. But before long, M3GAN starts developing disturbing tendencies, and violent "accidents" begin occurring.

Is It Any Good?

A combination of sly, funny self-awareness, a genuine sense of human grief and emotional connection, and an unsettlingly creepy-cool killer robot, this fun horror pic hits all the right buttons. With a story concocted by James Wan and Akela Cooper ( Hell Fest , Malignant ), M3GAN understands how horror movies are wired and gets pleasure in teasing viewers with these known elements while cheerfully sidestepping the story's flaws. The M3GAN character is in roughly the same vein as Chucky and the Terminator, but she's also their opposite. Her delicate frame, wide eyes, and girlish appearance make her attacks seem somehow more potent and surprising, and the movie uses them to the fullest capacity. The human characters are just as interesting as they grapple with loss in realistic, touching ways, going through rage, sadness, guilt, and more. (M3GAN's on-screen POV display, which shows her detected percentages of human emotions, is a huge kick.) This slick, neatly paced film keeps ramping things up until a smashing showdown, face-to-interface.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about M3GAN 's violence . How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

Is the movie scary ? What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes like to be scared?

How does the movie deal with death, grief, and loss? What is discussed? What else could have been discussed?

How is consumerism depicted here? Why does the toy company rush to put M3GAN on the market before she's ready, regardless of the consequences?

How is bullying behavior depicted? How is the person who perpetrates it dealt with? What are some better ways of handling those who bully others?

Movie Details

• In theaters : January 6, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : February 8, 2023
• Cast : Allison Williams , Violet McGraw , Amie Donald
• Director : Gerard Johnstone
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Female writers, Black writers, Asian writers
• Studio : Universal Pictures
• Genre : Horror
• Topics : Robots
• Run time : 102 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : violent content and terror, some strong language and a suggestive reference
• Last updated : July 24, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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'M3GAN' Is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

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There are two guarantees in life: death, and a PG-13 rated horror movie releasing in the first week of January. However, what’s not a guarantee and actually a rarity is that the film in question is good. However, horror’s new trailblazer M3GAN has continued the tread set by last year's Scream reboot and broken that curse. The reviews and word of mouth for this new fashionable killer doll have been bloody sensational. Now, on the day of the film’s release, M3GAN has been certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 95% after 122 reviews.

While M3GAN has enjoyed one of the most purely entertaining marketing campaigns in recent horror memor,y full of Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish songs, not even the most optimistic horror fan could have predicted this result. In terms of Blumhouse productions, the film now has a better rating than modern classics like Insidious , Split , and The Invisible Man . The only film that has a higher rating for the studio is Jordan Peele ’s Oscar winner Get Out .

However, this really shouldn’t be a surprise as the talent behind M3GAN is insane. Although this is only director Gerard Johnstone's second film, M3GAN comes from the horrific mind of producer James Wan . Wan of course is best known for Saw , The Conjuring , Insidious , and Malignant . He’s both the master of modern horror franchises and killer doll movies. His film Dead Silence is one of the most underrated horror films to come out of the 2000s, and Annabelle has been scaring moviegoers for a decade now. The film is also backed by screenwriter Akela Cooper , best known as the screenwriter for Wan’s Malignant . This blood-soaked giallo inspired 2021 film is arguably Wan’s best in his vast catalog of horror masterpieces. It was both horrifically scary and entertainingly campy, which is the same gleefully fun tone M3GAN struck. When you add its cast into the mix, which features modern genre staples Allison Williams ( Get Out , The Perfection ) and Violet McGraw ( Doctor Sleep , The Haunting of Hill House ), this kill happy film has all the sinister ingredients to succeed.

RELATED: 'M3GAN' Takes Manhattan as the James Wan Film Hits Theaters

In Collider's own review , Alyse Wax gave the film an A- saying, “M3GAN might just become the Malignant of 2023. It doesn’t have a twist, but it is a weird, bonkers movie. Director Gerard Johnstone knocked it out of the park with his second film. It’s not traditionally scary, but it is existentially scary.” Everyone’s falling head over heels for M3GAN . When you combine the near flawless word of mouth with the film’s stellar marketing campaign that oozed confidence, M3GAN is about to dominate the box office. The film has already made $2.75 million in Thursday previews and is on its way to make around $20 million this weekend. That may not seem that much when you compare it to the massive blockbusters we’ve been getting lately, but this was a film that was only made for $12 million. That $20 million number almost doubles that and things like this new certified fresh rating could give M3GAN the potential to make even more.

M3GAN is moviegoers' new horror queen. With review and box office numbers like these we definitely haven’t seen the last of her. The film’s in theaters now, and you can view its latest trailer down below.

That first ‘M3GAN’ trailer had fans howling. Now the movie is scaring up rave reviews

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Blumhouse’s latest horror flick, “ M3GAN ,” just started its theatrical run, but the film about a murderous AI doll has already made a killer first impression.

Months after the official trailer went viral for the titular character’s sassy hip-swinging and acrobatics , “M3GAN” has returned to the spotlight with love from fans and critics.

“just got out of #M3GAN! no offense, let’s just say this is what Child’s play (2019) wishes it was,” horror movie fan @malaymango tweeted Wednesday after an early screening of the film.

Review: Killer-doll horror-comedy ‘M3GAN’ is delightfully deranged

The delightfully bonkers ‘M3GAN,’ from James Wan and Akela Cooper — the minds behind ‘Malignant’ — is sure to become your newest horror movie obsession.

Jan. 4, 2023

“This ‘doll’ is just better than Chucky 100%,” another fan wrote .

Like “Child’s Play,” “M3GAN” follows a lifelike doll that is designed to be a child’s best friend. But unlike dungarees-wearing menace Chucky, M3GAN — short for “Model 3 Generative Android” — relies on artificial intelligence to play with and protect orphan Cady (Violet McGraw), niece of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams).

Of course, fabulous, gory chaos ensues when M3GAN takes matters into her own hands.

One of the first theatrical releases of 2023, “M3GAN” has already scored favorable reactions with a handful of critics, including Kate Walsh, who dubbed the film “delightfully bonkers ” for The Times.

Indie Wire praised “M3GAN” for “nimbly blending camp and social satire and actual terror” and critic Courtney Howard tweeted the film is a “godd— RIOT” that’s “built for repeat viewings.”

Putting a little more swing in the movie’s robotic hips is its Rotten Tomatoes score . With 127 reviews as of midday Friday, “M3GAN” boasts an impressive 94% critics’ score — as it should, according to some fans.

The writer behind ‘M3GAN’ on its bonkers horror (and why it used to be ‘way gorier’)

With ‘Malignant,’ ‘M3GAN’ and ‘The Nun 2,’ writer Akela Cooper is the ‘merciless’ new voice of studio horror — and the genre is better for it.

Jan. 5, 2023

“#M3GAN having the most acclaimed score of the year feels so right to me idk,” @modytalkmovies tweeted .

Even Jason Blum — the Blumhouse chief executive who dressed as M3GAN for both Halloween and the film’s premiere in December — is basking in the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes glory.

“When reviews are good the rotten tomatoes score is VERY IMPORTANT,” he tweeted Wednesday . “When reviews are bad critics don’t matter. :)”

When reviews are good the rotten tomatoes score is VERY IMPORTANT. When reviews are bad critics don’t matter. :) — Jason Blum (@jason_blum) January 4, 2023

Directed by Gerard Johnstone and written by Akela Cooper, “M3GAN” seemingly lives up to the hype that’s been stoked by internet-savvy marketing campaigns and cryptic appearances at events including the latest Chargers-Rams game at SoFi Stadium.

M3GAN has had her fair share of time in the social media spotlight, but fans say her impact — or her “maximal slayage” — is just beginning.

“If M3GAN doesn’t become a new horror icon, something is wrong with society,” a fan tweeted .

See what else fans had to say about “M3GAN,” which hit theaters Friday.

M3GAN was high camp…I laughed so hard I cried. I need to buy one immediately — BrycePaschal (@BrycePaschal) January 6, 2023

If #M3GAN doesn’t become a new horror icon, something is wrong with society — Michael GoldenHeart (@MichaelGavilan) January 6, 2023

M3gan was pretty slay ngl. New gen chucky. — emily baras (@bigbaras) January 6, 2023

M3GAN is the hardest I’ve laughed in a theater in quite some time. Turns out yassified Chucky for the iPad Kid generation was a good idea — Trace (@tracesauveur) January 5, 2023

Ok, I’m gonna say it with my full chest: M3GAN deserves all the praise she has, and will continue to receive. — Jaash. (@Fientastic) January 6, 2023

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