Mortal Kombat 2 Producer Reacts To Negative Reviews; Says They Are “Cracking Him Up”

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The producer of Mortal Kombat 2 responded to negative reviews, finding them amusing. This article originally appeared on Game Empress, where you can find more gaming news at gameempress.com.

Mortal Kombat 2 premiered in theaters on May 8, 2026. As of a recent report, the film received a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 48 on Metacritic. Critics’ opinions are mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a more favorable response than Metacritic. Despite this, the film’s producer, Todd Garner, expressed his disappointment with the negative reviews and voiced his criticism of those reviewers on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The film’s producer felt some critics hadn’t fully understood the source material, suggesting they hadn’t played the original game and therefore didn’t grasp what fans were hoping for. Todd Howard echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules/ canon of Mortal Kombat.”

He also shared that one reader objected to a character having a laser eye, saying the reviewer was upset by it.

The producer appeared confused and frustrated, exclaiming, “I don’t understand why we let people who don’t even enjoy these kinds of movies review them! It’s really strange.”

Todd expressed his frustration on X, saying some reviews of the movie were hilarious because they clearly came from people who hadn’t played the game and didn’t understand what fans expect or even the basic rules and storyline of Mortal Kombat. He was particularly annoyed that one reviewer complained about a character having a “laser eye,” and questioned why people with no interest in the genre are allowed to review these films. He found the whole situation baffling.

I’m really amused by some of these reviews – it’s obvious the reviewers haven’t actually played the game or understand what Mortal Kombat fans expect, or even the basic rules and established story. One reviewer was upset about a character having a “laser eye”! Honestly, I don’t understand why we’re letting people review things when they clearly don’t care about the source material.

— Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) May 6, 2026

According to a movie critic, you don’t need to be familiar with the game or the original story to enjoy or evaluate the film. He thinks a movie should be judged on its own merits as a film, not just on how well it caters to fans.

Okay, so I read this review and honestly, it hit the nail on the head. This person was saying they’re tired of creators getting mad at critics. They pointed out the movie’s doing well – 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and still climbing! – so it’s clearly connecting with people. What really resonated with me is they think you can make something fans will love and still let critics give their honest opinions. It shouldn’t be a rule that you need to be a hardcore fan or know all the backstory to be able to review a movie. It should be judged as a film, period, not just whether it pleases the existing fanbase.

Honestly, I’m getting tired of this pushback against criticism. Your movie is doing well – it has a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is still climbing. You’ve already succeeded! You can create something fans will love while still considering the opinions of those who aren’t already familiar with the source material. It shouldn’t be necessary to have played the game or know the backstory to have a valid opinion.

— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) May 6, 2026

Todd believed that reviewers who didn’t like the basic ideas of the series couldn’t give the film a fair assessment. He thought they should remember that the movie was primarily intended for people who already enjoyed the franchise.

Todd explained he was sorry some people disliked the movie, but clarified his original comment was aimed at reviewers who didn’t appreciate core elements of the Mortal Kombat franchise, like zombies and a character with a laser eye. He feels these elements are essential to the IP, and that those reviewers couldn’t fairly judge the film because of their dislike for these foundational parts. He wishes critics would remember a movie’s roots when writing reviews, especially when it’s clearly made for fans.

Todd explained to his followers that he wasn’t bothered by negative reviews in general, but he was annoyed that some reviewers didn’t seem to understand Mortal Kombat.

Someone commented that the movie was ‘just for the fans,’ jokingly asking who else it could be for. Todd responded by pointing out the title: ‘It’s called Mortal Kombat 2 for a reason…’

Responding to a fan comment that said critics don’t matter anymore and that audience excitement is what truly counts – with the commenter sharing their anticipation for a film – the producer agreed, stating that the way movie reviews are treated has become ridiculous.

After a user noted a negative review criticizing the movie as being solely for fans, despite mostly positive feedback and a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Todd confirmed that he intentionally made the movie with fans in mind.

Despite the criticism he was receiving, Todd seemed to find it funny. He responded to one fan by saying he was ‘genuinely laughing,’ indicating he wasn’t taking the backlash seriously.

The upcoming Mortal Kombat II features returning cast members Lewis Tan (Cole Young), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Josh Lawson (Kano), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), Mehcad Brooks (Jax), Tadanobu Asano (Lord Raiden), and Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion). Joining them are new characters from the video game, played by Karl Urban (Johnny Cage), Adeline Rudolph (Kitana), Tati Gabrielle (Jade), Martyn Ford (Shao Kahn), Damon Herriman (Quan Chi), and CJ Bloomfield (Baraka).

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2026-05-09 00:29