When M3GAN debuted to $30 million back in January 2023, it seemed like a new horror icon had been born. The killer doll’s debut movie went on to scare up $180 million worldwide on a reported production budget of just $12 million, seemingly cementing M3GAN’s status as a modern fan favorite who could go on […]
As always, a combination of factors is likely to blame for M3GAN 2.0‘s surprisingly weak debut – the reviews didn’t help and many were turned off by the trailers, for starters – but there’s one primary question at the forefront of my mind today. And it’s a question that everyone at Blumhouse must also be pondering: Was it premature to consider M3GAN a modern icon?
The box office success of M3GAN back in early 2023 seems to have been largely driven by organic, viral curiosity, and the opening weekend of M3GAN 2.0 seems to suggest that audiences are largely not that interested in the doll’s continuing adventures. It takes time and often several movies for horror icons to become horror icons, of course, but a new character flopping at the box office in only their second movie isn’t a great sign for that character’s future. And if audiences aren’t showing up even for the first mainline sequel to the original, what hope do in-universe spinoffs including next year’s SOULM8TE have of turning a profit? The question behind the question there? Is the M3GAN Cinematic Universe dead on arrival?
Gerard Johnstone told The Hollywood Reporter last week, “I would not be surprised if there’s another five of these movies.” We would’ve said the same thing at the time of that interview.
This morning, however, we’re not so sure anymore.
