Successfully blending the genres of science fiction and horror, M3GAN had a significant impact not only at the box office but also on social media with its first film. The production, which particularly drew attention with its messages about the uncontrolled use of artificial intelligence, received great attention from both critics and audiences, and earned over $180 million worldwide. However, the second film in the series could not continue the same success.
The new M3GAN film fell short of expectations
Director Gerard Johnstone’s attempt to continue the momentum he gained in the first film, M3GAN 2.0, was released on June 27, but failed to meet expectations in the eyes of viewers. The film, which only grossed $10.2 million in its first weekend in the US, fell well short of its predecessor’s $30.4 million opening performance. The picture did not change globally either; while the first film achieved a first-week gross of $45 million, M3GAN 2.0 remained at $17 million, approximately one-third of this figure.
The film also failed to receive the expected support from critics. While the first film stood out with a 93% approval rating on the Rotten Tomatoes platform, the second film only remained at 58%. A softer picture emerged in the audience comments. Despite receiving a lower score than the first film, the audience ratings were measured at 83%. This rate was recorded as 78% in the first film.
The failure of the second film made the future of not only the M3GAN brand but also other projects set in the same universe uncertain. One of the most notable of these projects was the previously announced side story SOULM8TE.
Kate Dolan is the director and screenwriter of SOULM8TE. The film’s cast includes Lily Sullivan, David Rysdahl, Oliver Cooper and Claudia Doumit. SOULM8TE is about a man who suffers an emotional breakdown after losing his wife and tries to cope with the mourning process by purchasing an android.
The story, which progresses in the horror genre, aims to preserve the dark atmosphere of the M3GAN universe. However, the box office performance of M3GAN 2.0 has raised questions about the fate of SOULM8TE.
The brand perception, which strengthened after the first film, seems to have weakened with the second film. This decline has brought up a re-evaluation by the studio in terms of both the continuation of the main series and the affiliated projects. No official statement has been made by the producers and distributors so far.
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