Every Mortal Kombat Movie, Ranked By Box Office

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For a long time, movies based on video games weren’t known for being good. While some have been successful, many have disappointed both regular moviegoers and fans of the original games. The Mortal Kombat films are a good example of this mixed record – some have been well-received, while others haven’t.

The 1995 film Mortal Kombat was one of the first truly successful video game adaptations. It appealed to both fans of the game and those new to the franchise, largely due to its strong cast and memorable action sequences that are still enjoyable today. After a long break of over twenty years following the second movie, the series returned in 2021.

The recent Mortal Kombat movies are essentially fresh starts, both using the same title as the 1995 film. A lot has changed in filmmaking since the 90s, and this new version really aims to be a strong, respected adaptation. Here’s a look at how both the original and the rebooted films have done in theaters as of June 2026. While the older movie had more time to earn money, the new ones are performing remarkably well.

4. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) – $51.3 Million

As a fan of Mortal Kombat, I remember Annihilation – the second movie – being… well, let’s just say it has its moments! It’s not exactly everyone’s favorite, but some of us enjoy it. The story picks up right after the first film, where Earthrealm actually won the Mortal Kombat tournament. This victory meant Outworld wasn’t allowed to invade, or so we thought!

Regardless of the tournament results, Outworld forces invade anyway, introducing audiences to fighters who were not in the first movie. There are several jarring differences between the 1995 offering and Annihilation almost immediately. The most obvious is the casting. Robin Shou is a superb Liu Kang and reprises his role as the Earthrealm hero. However, Christopher Lambert, Linden Ashby, and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras do not reprise their roles as Raiden, Johnny Cage, or Sonya Blade.

The villain in Annihilation, Shao Kahn (played by Brian Thompson), certainly looks the part. However, the movie’s plot feels fragmented without the structure of a fighting tournament, and many beloved characters have surprisingly small roles. The computer-generated effects, even for a film from the late 90s, aren’t very convincing, particularly in scenes where they’re used a lot.

The box office takings prove Mortal Kombat: Annihilation failed to resonate with fans of the source material or newcomers. The 1997 film made less than half of what the original did, likely contributing to the franchise’s extended break.

3. Mortal Kombat (2021) – $84.4 Million

The 2021 Mortal Kombat movie brought the popular fighting game series back to theaters with a new story and cast. The film explores the events leading up to the iconic Mortal Kombat tournament.

Satisfying newcomers and existing franchise fans is an unenviable task as it’s such a delicate balancing act. Fortunately, Mortal Kombat straddles the line with grace. Fans enjoyed seeing their favorite characters once again, and many have familiar backstories and motivations that humanize those fighters for a general audience.

Mortal Kombat also introduces Cole Young (Lewis Tan), an original fighter, to the cast. His prominence in the story drew ire from some fans, though he’s instantly relatable as he’s seeing much of the games’ established lore for the first time.

The special effects in the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie are a huge improvement over those in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero look fantastic, and the filmmakers clearly put a lot of care into the details – from the costumes to the special moves – staying true to the original game.

Both of the new Mortal Kombat movies are rated R, meaning they’re intended for mature audiences, while the original 90s films were rated PG-13. The game is known for its over-the-top violence and finishing moves, and the 2021 movie doesn’t hold back. It’s a strong reboot with a well-told story, good actors, and some funny moments thanks to Josh Lawson’s portrayal of Kano, who often pokes fun at the game’s absurdity.

2. Mortal Kombat (1995) $122.2 Million

The 1995 Mortal Kombat movie is a fan favorite and a standout among films based on video games. It follows a simple story from the games: Earth’s best fighters compete in a tournament to decide the fate of their world. But they face a tough challenge, battling incredibly powerful warriors from another realm.

Those Outworld fighters are, of course, from the video games, and the movie does a great job of translating beloved characters onto the silver screen. Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras are a charismatic trio. Christopher Lambert also plays a great Raiden.

On the villain’s side, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa deserves a special mention for his portrayal of Shang Tsung. His lines are endlessly quotable, and he carries himself like the deadly sorcerer and fighter his character should be.

The fight scenes are a major highlight of Mortal Kombat. While the 90s films are rated PG-13, the actors, particularly Shou, are very athletic, making the battles incredibly well-done and among the best in the series. Linden Ashby also stands out as a fantastic Johnny Cage, and his fight with Scorpion is a particular standout – it’s exciting even if you’re not familiar with the games, and it cleverly references the source material.

The 1995 film Mortal Kombat showed what video game movies could be, despite many others falling short. It was the highest-grossing video game movie for years, but a recent release has now taken that title.

1. Mortal Kombat II (2026) – $128 Million

The new movie, Mortal Kombat II, is set to release in May 2026. It’s already made history by earning more at the box office than the very first Mortal Kombat film – a record that stood for over 30 years! The story picks up right where the 2021 movie left off, and this time, it’s structured more like the classic fighting tournaments fans know and love from the video games.

The 2026 movie introduces us to a powerful antagonist from the games, Shao Khan (Martyn Ford), who was the villain in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. It also introduces Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, who was notably absent from the 2021 roster. Urban is charismatic and laugh-out-loud funny in Mortal Kombat II, as is Josh Lawson’s Kano. There are plenty of jokes and pop culture references in the 2026 film, but Mortal Kombat II knows when it should be serious to maintain tension and high stakes.

Audiences are also treated to some great backstory, including Kitana’s (Adeline Rudolph’s) origins and how she came to fight for Shao Khan. The strong marketing campaign undoubtedly helped Mortal Kombat II reach such a broad audience, but the movie stands on its own merit and likely flourished through word of mouth.

The 2026 film is R-rated like its predecessor, with some excessively brutal fatalities. The special effects are great, and the movie boasts a huge roster of fan-favorites, including Baraka and Jade. Kung Lao (Max Huang) returns and also treats us to arguably the finest fight in the new movies to date alongside Ludi Lin as Liu Kang.

Mortal Kombat II has become a hit with fans and newcomers. It respects the source material while also being mindful not to overwhelm general viewers. While it’s arguably worth watching Mortal Kombat 2021 for context, Mortal Kombat II is a solid video game adaptation and stands on its own merit.

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2026-06-09 23:08