3 Reasons Why You Should Buy M3GAN

The horror genre has seen a massive increase in popularity over the past few years. This could be attributed to a number of things, but personally, I think in the case of films like M3gan, Scream VI and Smile, it has to do with Tik Tok. M3gan possesses a memorable dance that sees the artificial intelligence robot M3gan dance, which became a viral TikTok craze, which saw kids and adults alike, from all around the world trying to replicate this dance on the popular social media platform. The film has grossed a massive $177 million worldwide, off a reported $20 million budget. This massive success has already seen a sequel greenlit for a 2025 slated release. The film isn’t all about the numbers though, at its core, it is an effective horror/comedy that perfectly blends the two genres, whilst also providing a satirical look at the corporate world of technological evolution along with biting social and political commentary on screen time. To celebrate M3gan’s release on both DVD and Blu-Ray, I will be breaking down 3 reasons why you need to have M3gan as part of your horror movie collection. So without further ado, let's get stuck into it.

I’m titaniummmmm – the character of M3gan –

We have seen plenty of dolls come to life in film, with the most notable being that of Chucky, a possessed doll that wreaked havoc for the best part of 4 decades. In 2019, the Child’s Play franchise received a makeover with a reboot simply titled ‘Child’s Play’. This saw the kids doll turned into a malfunctioning AI rather than a possessed doll. The film received mixed reviews and ultimately flopped at the box office; however, the general premise was there for the film to be taken in a vastly different direction. Producers James Wan and Jason Blum obviously saw the potential in this idea, using it as the base for Megan. What M3gan gets right, that so many others have got wrong, is the central, title character of M3gan. She is confused about her function, and upon gaining sentience, becomes enamored with the world around her, trying to find her place in a strange new world. The direction of this character is both nuanced and unnerving, and a lot of this has to do with the performance as well, with m3gan brought to life by actresses Amie Donald who does the physical movements of M3gan and Jenna Davis who provides the vocal performance for M3gan. Both of these actresses are in sync when bringing this character to life, which is to the benefit of the audience as M3gan is at times endearing, funny, menacing and downright terrifying. A tricky combination of emotions to evoke, but Donald and Davis do it seamlessly.

Where’s my Kombucha – mastering the horror/comedy genre –

One of the hardest elements for a studio to nail down with a horror/comedy, is finding the right blend between the two genres. Very few films manage to do it well, leaning too hard on either side. M3gan does a great job of finding the right balance of horror and comedy, poking fun at genre tropes whilst creating genuine tension in doing so. There are great moments of comedy in this film, with a few laughs sticking with me after the film had ended. A lot of the best comedic moments from the film come from Ronny Chieng’s turn as the CEO of the company responsible for M3gan. His arrogance is comical and the way he treats his staff is oh so relevant. It's satire done right! The horror elements here are also very well managed. There are genuine moments of tension throughout the film that will have audiences on the edge of their seat, with memorable death sequences sprinkled throughout the film, without ever feeling too violent or gruesome. It strikes the balance very well, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable time at the movies.

Let’s dance – M3gan, the pop culture icon –

As previously mentioned, before M3gan was even released into theatres, the title character had already become a pop culture mega hit on Tik Tok. M3gan’s dance went viral after the first trailer for the film debuted in October 2022. The sequence was brief, but memorable, sparking a worldwide phenomenon, which in turn saw M3gan become a massive box office hit. Whether you love or hate the popular social media platform, there’s no denying its impact on viral marketing. Without Tik Tok, it is hard to say if M3gan would have been the success it was. Its critical success of 93% certified fresh on rotten tomatoes, would have definitely had an impact on the positive word of mouth spread about the film, but it's hard to say whether the film would have been as big of a financial hit for the studio. Nevertheless, here we are. Halloween this season will definitely be filled with many kids and teens dressed as M3gan as she joins the echelon of modern horror icons.

M3gan is the perfect entry level horror flick for kids and teens, with the scares never being too full on, and the social messages prevalent in the film being relevant to audiences of all ages. It’s a testament to modern marketing tools and the power of social media. M3gan is a perfect example of modern movies.  Head to Sanity now to secure your copy of M3gan today on either DVD or Blu-Ray, you won’t want to miss this one. Shop here.

Christopher Pattison from Oz Movie Geek wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here