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Companion vs M3GAN: Which Horror-Comedy Did The AI Robot Villain Better

By Dani Kessel Odom

Updated Apr 18, 2025

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This article contains mentions of animal harm, attempted sexual assault, and body horror.

SPOILERS for Companion are ahead!Although M3GAN (2023) have been compared frequently because of their AI robot storylines, one of the horror-comedy films offers up a much better villain. The 2024 film follows a subservient AI robot named Iris, who becomes violent while on a getaway weekend with her boyfriend, Josh. While Josh acts more like a villain than Iris, the AI robot is still presented as the villain during the previews and the film synopsis, and the story certainly explores the fear of AI. For this reason, Iris can be viewed as the protagonist, the villain, and the hero.

Since Companion was released in theaters, critics and viewers have taken to comparing the film with the hit 2023 film M3GAN since they touch on the very relevant topic of AI, blend together genres, and were highly rated by viewers. Because of these comparisons, it’s worth examining the AI robot villains against one another to determine which film does the trope better.

M3GAN’s Main Character Is Funnier Than Companion’s Iris

M3GAN Has An Unforgettable Villain With A Wicked Sense Of Humor

In a typical horror movie, the villain being funny wouldn’t matter. However, both Companion and M3GAN have been praised for their humor, meaning this must be considered when comparing the villains. Although Iris does get a few witty lines, most of the comedy in Companion is situational shock humor. The biggest moment where Iris is the prime source of comedy occurs when Iris changes her language to German so that the cop can’t understand her.

On the other hand, both the movie and the character M3GAN are supposed to be funny, with the titular AI robot offering quippy responses. She’s also the center of the campy humor, dancing and strutting as she wields a guillotine paper cutter. Because of this, M3GAN’s eponymous villain has one up on Companion’s Iris.

M3GAN Has A Higher Kill Count Than Companion's Iris

M3GAN Is A Deadlier Villain With A Vengeful Spirit

Ronny Chieng in M3GAN

While a high body count isn’t inherently necessary for a horror movie’s success, the number of kills and the flair for the dramatic certainly contribute to a horror villain’s impact. They can have the best motive and backstory, but horror villains won’t have the “it factor” if they don’t leave a trail of blood behind them. The movies M3GAN and Companion have 6 and 7 kills, respectively; however, most of the deaths in the latter film aren’t at the hands of the character Iris, making her less effective as a villain.

The fact that the stylish AI robot murders a dog is all that’s necessary to recognize her as a truly evil villain.

Over the course of the movie, Iris kills three humans, one against her will and another in self-defense. The only kill with a distinct style is the most brutal death in Companion, Josh’s brain getting scrambled by a mechanical wine bottle opener. Meanwhile, M3GAN kills four humans and Dewey the Dog throughout the film. The fact that the stylish AI robot murders a dog is all that’s necessary to recognize her as a truly evil villain. Plus, she’s the queen of overkill, possessing an almost theatrical style. These factors further M3GAN’s claim to the title of the better AI robot villain.

Companion’s Murders Feel More Satisfying

Iris' Kills Are More Enjoyable To Watch Than M3GAN's Kills

Sophie Thatcher as Iris being attacked in Companion

Some of the best horror movies make viewers root for the villain rather than the protagonist because of their charisma, their righteous motivation, or their dedication to their moral code. Both M3GAN and Companion’s Iris have some of these components.

M3GAN is easy to root for because of her personality and her dedication to protecting Cady. Despite this, it’s hard to side with the young AI robot on some kills, most notably the neighbor and the dog, because they stretch the logic and moral code too far.

imagery-from-Companion-1

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On the other hand, Companion’s Iris is charismatic, stays true to her moral code (even if her idea of right and wrong shifts throughout the film), and has a righteous motivation. She’s desperate to be free, which is an understandable driving force. All three of the men she kills also hold her down against her will at some point. Sergey tries to sexually assault her, Eli lies to her, and Josh gaslights her and uses her. Between her positive traits and their negative ones, Iris’ kills feel more satisfying than M3GAN’s, giving a point in the direction of Companion’s villain.

M3GAN’s Villain Is More Memorable Than Companion’s Villain

Iris Doesn't Have A Distinct Personality Throughout Most Of Companion

M3gan the doll hooked up to some kind of machine in M3gan

Looking at the villains in M3GAN and Companion side-by-side, one very obviously stands out as more memorable – M3GAN. end of Companion.

However, the character M3GAN has an unforgettable, dynamic quality from the beginning. Even when she’s taking care of Cady at the beginning, she has a human-ness to her. Over the course of the film, she becomes more snarky, savage, and intelligent. If Iris had more time to show her personality in a sequel film, she could easily rival the sassy young AI robot. As it stands, the titular character wins in this category, though.

Iris’ Ending In Companion Is Better Than M3GAN’s Ending

Iris Achieves Her Goal By The End Of Companion

Towards the end of M3GAN and Companion, the AI robots try to gain autonomy over themselves so they can achieve their own goals. In the case of M3GAN, that’s taking care of Cady. Meanwhile, Iris hopes to escape Josh and live her own life. This leads to climactic endings for both AI robots, with vastly different outcomes.

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The 2022 film leads to M3GAN fighting against Cady, Gemma, and Bruce. Ultimately, she gets torn in half, stabbed in the head, and defeated. However, Iris gets a much better ending in Companion. She goes up against her ab, fights him, and stabs him in the head with an electric corkscrew. The moment when she peels off her damaged skin to reveal her mechanical endoskeleton is a moment of triumph for the AI. For this reason, Companion’s robot gets credit where M3GAN’s doesn’t.

M3GAN Has The Better AI Robot Horror Villain

Iris Doesn't Rise To The Level Of M3GAN

M3GAN waiting at an elevator

Taking all categories into consideration, M3GAN cumulatively has the better AI robot villain. Although Companion’s Iris has satisfying kills and a better ending, M3GAN simply has the gravitas, hilariousness, and viciousness that weighs out. The fact that she’s more of a traditional villain certainly helps as well. It will be interesting to see if this comparison lands the same way after the release of M3GAN 2.0, which comes out in 2025. The story could change the impact and reputation of the iconic AI robot, since the synopsis of the sequel teases M3GAN being the hero instead of the villain.

Iris Isn't Actually A Villain

She's The Hero Of Her Story

Sophie Thatcher as Iris looking curious in Companion

The argument for Iris vs. M3GAN actually comes down to which AI robot is more powerful or smarter rather than who is the better villain. While both are the protagonists of their films, M3GAN goes on a rampage and, at times, takes out innocent people. Iris is the one who is being wronged in Companion. Josh programmed her to commit her first kill and from there, she's mostly just out to protect and save herself, which is understandable to the audience.

When Iris gets her vengeance, the audience is meant to cheer, which is a far cry from what they're meant to do when M3GAN murders someone.

That helps Companion stand out as a film because it's a twist on a tried-and-true formula. For so long, AI, robots, and things of that nature have been the villains and the humans are the heroes. Here, Josh is the antagonist and when he regains control of Iris, he tortures her in horrific fashion. When Iris gets her vengeance, the audience is meant to cheer, which is a far cry from what they're meant to do when M3GAN murders someone.

The debate on Iris vs. M3GAN in of intellect and capabilities is a worthy conversation because both are impressive. However, when it comes to being an AI robot villain, M3GAN wins handily since Iris is actually something of a hero.