Mortal Kombat 2 vs. Devil Wears Prada 2 Box Office Showdown Finally Has Clear Winner

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Following successful spring releases like Project Hail Mary, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Michael, the summer movie season began strongly. While The Devil Wears Prada 2 isn’t a typical summer blockbuster, it earned an impressive $76.7 million domestically during its opening weekend. It aimed to stay at the top of the box office, but faced strong competition from the new video game adaptation, Mortal Kombat II. Predictions suggested a close race for the number one spot, but one film has now clearly come out on top.

As reported by Deadline, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is expected to remain the top movie this weekend, earning around $41 million in the US. It’s predicted to outperform Mortal Kombat II, which is projected to make $38.7 million during its opening weekend.

Will Mortal Kombat II Have Legs at the Box Office?

Before its release, experts predicted that Mortal Kombat II would earn between $40 and $45 million domestically during its opening weekend. Reaching the higher end of that range would have meant it outperformed the total domestic earnings of the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, which was released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming. However, Mortal Kombat II didn’t even reach the lower end of those predictions. While movies often surprise with better-than-expected results, this one went the other way, demonstrating that predicting box office success is rarely straightforward.

Early positive buzz likely wasn’t enough to sustain Mortal Kombat II’s initial box office projections. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score has dropped from 73% to 65% as more reviews have come in, indicating a shift towards more negative opinions. While 65% is still a respectable score, it suggests the film isn’t resonating with a wide audience. Mortal Kombat is a well-known game series with dedicated fans, but to be a major success, a movie needs to attract people beyond its core fanbase. The mixed reviews may be keeping more casual moviegoers from seeing the sequel in theaters.

The box office performance of Mortal Kombat II isn’t looking strong for the long term. Films in this genre often rely on enthusiastic fans rushing to see them when they first come out, with ticket sales dropping quickly afterward. Project Hail Mary had a successful run because critics and audiences widely praised it as an exceptional sci-fi film, creating a sense of urgency. While Mortal Kombat II is enjoyable for fans of the games, it doesn’t seem to be generating the excitement needed for sustained success in theaters.

The fact that Mortal Kombat II struggled to beat the earnings of Michael—which made $36.5 million in its third weekend—suggests that many moviegoers aren’t rushing to see it in theaters. However, Mortal Kombat II has an advantage because it doesn’t have much competition for its target audience, potentially allowing it to benefit from the space between it and The Mandalorian and Grogu. Even if ticket sales decrease soon, Mortal Kombat II is still likely to be profitable. With a production budget of $80 million, it doesn’t need to be a massive hit to make money.

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2026-05-10 21:19