Horror film directors James Wan and Jason Blum defend M3GAN's PG-13 rating

M3GAN producers Jason Blum and James Wan discuss why the upcoming Blumhouse horror flick isn't R-rated, and defend the decision to make it PG-13.

M3GAN producers Jason Blum and James Wan discuss why the upcoming AI horror film didn't get an R rating. M3GAN is expected to kick off another exciting year of horror releases when it hits theaters next month and will introduce audiences to its titular AI doll. Allison Williams plays Gemma, a roboticist who becomes her new guardian after the parents of her niece Cady (played by Violet McGraw) are killed. Gemma invites the M3GAN she created to come to her home to look after Cady, however, the pair's new friendship soon reveals some dire problems with Gemma's prototype.

M3GAN will debut with a PG-13 rating, a move that has some wary that the latest Blumhouse release will be full of horror. Against this hesitation, M3GAN producers Blum and Wan defended the film's rating in a recent interview with THR. Blum confidently stated that some of the scariest horror films of all time are PG-13 rated, and then pushed audiences to see the film for themselves. Wan then also pointed out how the ratings have opened up M3GAN to teenagers, a demographic he believes will "really enjoy" the film. View the discussion of the two the following.

Blum: Some of the scariest movies of all time are PG-13, so I don’t put too much stock in the bellyaching. Go see the movie, and then tell me about it. Wan: Listen, I’ve done PG-13 films and I’ve done R-rated films. So I think it’s about whatever is most suitable for the film, and even though M3GAN is a scary movie, teenagers will really dig this. They’ll really like it, and I think it will speak to them in a big way. Blum: Yes, that’s right. We wanted teenagers to be able to see the movie, ultimately.

How M3GAN's PG-13 Rating Could Help Blumhouse Secure Its Next Big Franchise

M3GAN's promotional campaign is unique to say the least, as the anticipation surrounding the film will only continue to grow as its release date draws closer. The debut of the first M3GAN trailer became an immediate sensation online, with one particular clip in which M3GAN performs an almost comedic dance before brutally attacking one of her victims, quickly establishing the AI ​​doll as a Icon on multiple social media platforms. According to reports, this unprecedented response to the movie trailer has sparked discussions around M3GAN 2, which is still some time away from its release.

Although opening up more possibilities in the film's content, the R rating may be somewhat restrictive in its release, as it naturally narrows the audience. With M3GAN garnering the attention of social media users, it's clear that the movie has a better chance of becoming a box office hit by giving teens the chance to see it in theaters, which Blumhouse no doubt hopes will happen in droves. Talk about M3GAN 2 is already underway, and Blumhouse is likely already eyeing their next major franchise, but for now, M3GAN's box office release may Be the next big hurdle in getting a full-fledged M3GAN franchise.

Both Blum and Wan seem confident in the decision to make M3GAN a PG-13 film, and judging by what has been revealed in the various trailers and teasers so far, it seems likely that the film may even break out of those to a large extent limit. With the film about to hit its highly anticipated theatrical release, the exact content of the M3GAN runtime will be revealed when it hits theaters. At the same time, however, Blum and Wan's comments are sure to reassure those who may be a bit concerned about M3GAN's rating.

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