After the explosive debut of the original CUBRA (2023), which introduced audiences to a cyber-assassin caught between loyalty and rebellion, the long-awaited CUBRA 2 (2025) returns with more firepower, deeper worldbuilding, and surprising emotional weight. Directed once again by Lucien Yao, the sequel elevates the franchise into a full-fledged dystopian epic.
CUBRA 2 picks up one year after the first film's shocking finale, where rogue operative Kara “Cubra” Myles (Zendaya) took down the corrupt tech overlords of HelixCorp but vanished after the final battle. Now, cities are burning, AI factions are at war, and the resistance she helped spark has begun to fracture.
Rumors swirl that Cubra is alive, hiding deep in the lawless “Grid Zones” beyond the reach of satellite control. But when a mysterious assassin begins targeting resistance leaders using Cubra’s exact combat signature, a new rebellion recruit, Ash Renner (Jacob Elordi), is sent to find the truth. Is Cubra alive… or has someone rebuilt her?
This time, the story blends more psychological tension with its action-packed plot. As Ash tracks Cubra through underground data-markets and collapsing neon cities, the film raises powerful questions: What makes someone human? Can a weapon reclaim their soul? And if Cubra has become more machine than person, can she still be saved?
The film’s action sequences are among the most stylish of the year. High-speed fights are laced with digital overlays, augmented-reality chaos, and slick hand-to-hand choreography. A standout moment includes a zero-gravity ambush in an orbital memory vault that’s both visually stunning and emotionally charged.
Zendaya returns with a fierce yet more haunted performance. Her Cubra is less the untouchable super-soldier from part one and more a woman tormented by what she’s become. Her scenes with Elordi’s Ash create an unexpected dynamic—a reverse mentor-student relationship layered with distrust and quiet vulnerability.
The visual design of CUBRA 2 is stunning. Picture Blade Runner meets Ghost in the Shell—cities rain electric colors, AI spirits flicker in broken glass, and warbots patrol ruins of old world capitalism. Composer Ramin Djawadi delivers a synth-heavy score that pulses with danger and despair, yet finds softness in the rare moments of human connection.
The final act pulls no punches. Cubra faces off against a twisted clone of herself—programmed with her darkest memories and unleashed by a surviving HelixCorp director. The showdown is brutal, poetic, and forces Cubra to literally destroy her past to move forward. The ending, set on a shattered skybridge, offers closure while setting the stage for an even more ambitious third chapter.
CUBRA 2 is bigger, deeper, and bolder than its predecessor. It’s not just a cyber-thriller—it’s a thoughtful, emotionally layered journey into identity, rebellion, and redemption. Fans of sci-fi action will find plenty to love, but it’s the film’s heart that makes it truly unforgettable.
