Universal might be celebrating the massive opening ofJurassic World Rebirththis weekend, not to mention the sustained success ofHow to Train Your Dragon, but there’s no denying that the studio’sM3GAN 2.0is possiblyone of its biggest recent disasters. The film suffered a monumentally huge second-weekend drop, as it barely managed to retain a spot on the domestic top 10 list. The movie hails from the same creative team that made the originalM3GANa breakout blockbuster only a few years ago, but it’s shaping up to be more of aJoker: Folie à Deuxsituation than aConjuring 2.
With only $18 million domestically and another $12 million from overseas markets, the film’s cumulativeglobal box office haul stands at $30 millionafter 10 days of release.M3GAN 2.0will likely be removed from hundreds of theaters next week, and, in keeping with Universal tradition, will be made available on home video not too long afterward. Produced ona reported budget of $25 million, the movie isstruggling to break even, which is rather surprising, considering what a breakout hit the first film was only a couple of years ago. The movie’s performance (and the studio’s overestimation of the brand’s popularity) also raises doubts aboutthe spin-offthat has already been announced.
Also directed byGerard Johnstone, written byAkela Cooper, starringAllison Williams, and produced byJames WanandJason Blum, the firstM3GANreceived excellent reviews and grossed nearly $100 million domestically and over $180 million globally. It cost half of the sequel, and earned a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. By comparison,M3GAN 2.0holds a rough 57% scoreon the aggregator website, where the critics’ consensus reads, “M3GAN 2.0swaps 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.”
Blumhouse Has Been Having a Difficult Run
The sequel continues Universal and Blumhouse’s rather disappointing recent run, which has lasted over a year at this point. In 2024, the horror specialists releasedNight Swim,Imaginary,Afraid, andSpeak No Evil. Of these titles, onlySpeak No Evil, with its $77 million global haul, can be classified as a bona fide hit. This year, Blumhouse deliveredWolf Man,The Woman in the Yard, andDrop, all of which underperformed likeM3GAN 2.0. The movie is now set to overtake the $32 million lifetime global haul ofMegan FoxandAmanda Seyfried’s comedy-horror cult classicJennifer’s Body.
you’re able to watchM3GAN 2.0in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
