The upcoming horror movie M3GAN may not be a total gorefest if its PG-13 rating is any indication, but its filmmakers are standing by it. Previously, it was reported that M3GAN had been rated PG-13 for "violent content and terror, some strong language, and a suggestive reference." Because there seems to be a portion of horror fans uninterested in seeing anything less than an R rating, however, there have been some who've already written off seeing M3GAN in January.

But if you ask producers Jason Blum and James Wan, the PG-13 rating is what's best for M3GAN. For his part, Blum says in a new interview with THR that a PG-13 rating hasn't stopped some of horror history's best films from being great. He also wants people to wait and see the movie before they get too far into their "bellyaching." As Blum explains:

"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."

As someone who's done a lot with horror with both ratings, Wan adds that each movie should be given a rating that works best rather than trying to shoehorn it one way or the other. With something like M3GAN, Wan notes that they feel teenagers will especially enjoy the horror film, and going PG-13 was a way to get more teens watching.

"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 added:

"Yes, that’s right. We wanted teenagers to be able to see the movie, ultimately."

Related: Could M3GAN Beat Annabelle? Film's Creators, Star Weigh In

M3GAN Is a Cautionary Tale

m3gan
Universal Pictures

The filmmakers have described M3GAN as a "cautionary tale" as well, showing what could theoretically happen if humans go too far down the rabbit hole with artificial intelligence. The film tells the story of a killer doll whose AI makes her a bit too protective of a young girl she swears to be best friends with forever. Officially, the synopsis for the movie reads:

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

Gerard Johnstone directs M3GAN using a screenplay by Akela Cooper. James Wan and Jason Blum produce. The film stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Lori Dungey, and Stephane Garneau-Monten.

M3GAN will be released in movie theaters on Jan. 6, 2023. You can watch an official trailer for the film below.