Mortal Kombat II, a sequel to the 2021 reboot, is all set to hit the big screen in the U.S. on May 8, 2026. The first live-action Mortal Kombat film was released in 1995 and went on to earn $122.2 million worldwide. The second film, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, grossed $51.4 million, and the 2021 reboot finished its global run at $84.4 million.
Mortal Kombat II – Projected Earnings
Now, it remains to be seen if Mortal Kombat II can surpass the global earnings of its predecessors. According to a recent report by Variety, the Warner Bros. sequel is tracking to earn between $40 million and $45 million from 3,400 North American locations. If the film generates an equal amount from international markets, it looks on track for an $80 million global debut. So, the Karl Urban starrer appears to be in a good position to become the highest-grossing installment in the live-action Mortal Kombat film series.
However, that would depend on whether it meets its projections, receives strong support from overseas markets, receives positive reviews, and how well it holds during the first few weeks of its release. Now that Mortal Kombat II’s Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score has been revealed, let’s take a look at how it compares to the earlier live-action installments.
Mortal Kombat II vs. Earlier Live-Action Films – Rotten Tomatoes Scores
At the time of writing, Mortal Kombat II holds a solid critics’ score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 81 reviews so far. In comparison, here’s how the previous installments fared with critics on the site.
- Mortal Kombat (1995): 44%
- Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997): 4%
- Mortal Kombat (2021): 55%
From the above ratings, it is clear that Mortal Kombat II (74%) is currently the highest-rated film in the live-action franchise. The next-best-rated installment was the 2021 reboot, with a 55% critics’ score, while the lowest-rated film was Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, which earned just a 4% rating from critics. Considering the sequel’s encouraging critical reception, it looks like it has the potential to perform well at the global box office.
What Is Mortal Kombat II All About?
Directed by Simon McQuoid, the film is expected to focus on how Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) and fan-favorite champions are pitted against one another to ultimately defeat Shao Kahn and his brutal warriors. It also features Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, and Tati Gabrielle, among other cast members.
Mortal Kombat II – Trailer
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