Mortal Combat II: This time, the fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Directed by: Simon McQuoid
Starring: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks
Budget: $80 Million
Opening Weekend: $38,501,177 (North America)
Score: 65% Tomatometer (Based on Critics’ Reviews) | 89% Popcornmeter (Based on Audience Scores)
Critics Consensus: A self-aware slugfest that plays directly to those who know the difference between Fatalities and Babalities, Mortal Kombat II may not be a flawless victory but it’s likely the most roundly enjoyable entry in the franchise yet.
Audience Says: Karl Urban as Johnny Cage alone is worth the price of admission in this second installment of Mortal Kombat, a gleefully gory victory that delivers faithful lore and bone-crunching fatalities.
Was It a Success? It is a little early to make a call on this one yet, but the domestic tally of $38.5 million from the first weekend looks pretty good, and it has brought in $75 million globally so far. Its $80 million production cost counts it as a medium-to-high budget entry, and with a good start at the Box Office, it appears to be on track for a successful theatrical run.
Should You See It in Theaters? Critics seem to be somewhat lukewarm on this film, but the audience is responding favorably so far, so fans of the franchise should certainly plan on making a trip to their local cinema to catch this one. I don’t consider myself among the Mortal Kombat legion, but I am a big fan of Karl Urban, so I may end up giving this one a try before the Summer season gets too busy (you can see our full preview for Summer 2026 at this link).
You can see our rundown of all the upcoming sci fi and fantasy movies at this link.
