10 Horror Movie Sequels That Killed Franchises
3. M3GAN 2.0
After the killer android horror-comedy M3GAN became a surprise box office smash in 2022, it was simply expected that the bigger-budget sequel would repeat a similar level of success.
To the surprise of many, M3GAN 2.0 flopped at the box office, grossing just $39.1 million globally, a mere fraction of the first film's $181.8 million, while being produced on roughly double the budget, no less.
The big issue was that the filmmakers decided to shift the series' tone towards goofier sci-fi action comedy at the expense of the horror aspect that made the first movie popular in the first place. And so, the great many who made M3GAN a hit didn't bother turning up for the sequel, in turn ensuring that Blumhouse is extremely unlikely to move forward with a third.
The decision to not merely repeat the same movie again is admirable to a point, but by straying so far from the essence of the original they also poisoned the well. To make matters more awkward, an erotic thriller spin-off, SOULM8TE, has already been shot and is due for release early next year, though it'll likely be the last we see of this frustratingly short-lived IP.