Thankfully “M3GAN” has managed to live up to the hype it built throughout 2022, and has managed to also accumulate a strong slew of positive reviews and quite the profit at the box office. With a sequel underway, you probably can’t wait until the follow up. So if you have an appetite for more robots gone amok entertainment, here are five great movies that feature killer robots, haywire AI, and deadly androids that will keep you comfy until M3GAN 2.0 (?).
Child’s Play (2019)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Redbox, Vudu
Lars Klevberg’s loose remake of the original 1988 slasher film is a high tech reworking that turns Chucky in to Buddi. Buddi is an AI child’s toy programmed to connect with its owner. But after a computer virus turns the program rotten, Buddi turns in to a murderous machine intent on killing anyone who hurts his owner Andy. Voiced by Mark Hamil, Buddi is a fun horror villain for the modern age, and garners some great performances. If you’re willing to divorce yourself from the original Tom Holland film, this take on “Child’s Play” is quite an entertaining tech run amok horror tale.
Ex Machina (2014)
Streaming on HBO Max
Alex Garland’s science fiction thriller is a masterful tale about the idea of playing god, and what happens when our creations take on a mind of their own. Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) a programmer at a huge Internet company, wins a contest that enables him to spend a week at the private estate of Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), his firm’s brilliant CEO. He becomes the test subject for an experiment to work with Nathan’s robot named Ava. Before long, Caleb begins to realize Ava is smarter than she lets on, and havoc ensues. “Ex Machina” is a brilliant, cerebral science fiction thriller packed with sharp suspense and a great bit of brain candy.
Man’s Best Friend (1993)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
John Lafia’s horror entry is a mix of a killer animal movie and tech gone awry. This time we center on a Tibetan Mastiff who is saved from an animal testing lab by reporter Lori (Ally Sheedy). Little does she know that the dog is a genetically advanced super dog capable of learning, packs a horrible taste for vengeance. When he falls for Lori, he begins knocking off her enemies, and now Lori has to figure out how to put the dog down before it keeps killing. It’s a fine genre outing with a good performance by Sheedy and Lance Henriksen.
Deadly Friend (1986)
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
It’s the classic tale. Boy Meets Girl. Girl Meets Boy. Boy and Girl like one another. Boy turns Girl In to a murderous zombie robot. We’ve heard it all before. Wes Craven’s science fiction horror film is a great precursor to “M3GAN” where a young robotics engineer meets and falls for his next door neighbor. When she’s killed by her dad, he installs a chip in to her brain turning her in to an undead robot hybrid with a thirst for blood. Starring a young Kristy Swanson, this Wes Craven entry has become a considerable cult classic.
Chopping Mall (1986)
Streaming on Tubi, Redbox, Crackle, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV
Jim Wynorski’s schlocky classic is a great bit of fodder for a late Friday Night with some beers and popcorn. Set in a high tech mall, a group of employees decide to have a party after hours. But when lightning strikes the high powered AI that controls the mall’s security robots, chaos ensues. Now with the deadly robot drones on patrol and ready to kill, the employees have to do battle, and fight to live to see the morning. “Chopping Mall” is a blast especially if you want to see Barbara Crampton and Kelli Maroney in their primes.