Every Mortal Kombat Movie, Ranked Worst to Best

The new Mortal Kombat movie continues the modern trend of doing video game adaptations justice and is well on its way to becoming the most successful adaptation of the series. Interestingly, the history of Mortal Kombat movies dates back to the very beginning of video game adaptations, when they were still a bold move, with the first one in 1995.

Since then, there have been four live-action movie adaptations, including the new reboot series. And while none of them is exactly a critical darling, as they still possess some of the issues common with game adaptations, some are definitely better than others. Here’s an overview of all the live-action movies, ranked from worst to best.

4 Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

The sequel that no one asked for, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, is not only the worst of the bunch but is also often cited as one of the worst game adaptations of all time.

A direct sequel to the 1995 cult classic, it immediately picks up after the events of the first movie, which sees Liu Kang and his allies attempting to prevent Shao Kahn from merging the Earthrealm and Outworld. While it can be unintentionally hilarious at times, thanks to its cheesy lines, including the infamous exchange between Kitana and her mother, for the most part, it’s a dull invasion movie that bears little resemblance to the games’ charm.

Coupled with some weak performances, dated CGI, and underwhelming fight choreography, it’s no surprise that it is considered the worst MK movie of all time.

Movie	Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
Director	John R. Leonetti
Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (as of May 9)	4% | 24%
Where to Watch	HBO Max

3 Mortal Kombat (2021)

To clarify, the 2021 reboot is leagues above the 1997 movie, and it did a pretty good job at reigniting general interest toward the IP on the big screen.

Instead of positioning a fan-favorite figure from the game as the protagonist, the movie is told from the perspective of Cole, an original character, who finds himself in the midst of a high-stakes battle to prevent Outworld’s invasion of Earth. While it has some impeccable choreography and fan service moments, including the Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero sequence, the overall plot and the main character act to its detriment.

The decision to not even tackle the tournament aspect was a controversial one, but nevertheless, it laid the groundwork for its much better sequel.

Movie	Mortal Kombat (2021)
Director	Simon McQuoid
Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (as of May 9)	55% | 85%
Where to Watch	HBO Max

2 Mortal Kombat (1995)

Mortal Kombat was the first major video game adaptation that was not only commercially successful but also proved that movies based on games can thrive on the big screen.

The movie follows Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade, who are summoned by Lord Rayden to compete in the interdimensional tournament to stop Shang Tsung from conquering Earthrealm. Even though it’s very much a product of its time, fans of the games will likely enjoy it, and to its credit, it retains the campiness of the games and is very self-aware.

While far from a great movie, it works as a time capsule for the video game movies of that era, and certainly has more heart than its sequel.

Movie	Mortal Kombat (1995)
Director	Paul W.S. Anderson
Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (as of May 9)	44% | 58%
Where to Watch	HBO Max

1 Mortal Kombat II (2026)

The latest installment and a direct sequel to the 2021 movie, Mortal Kombat II, successfully avoids many of its predecessor’s pitfalls by placing a charismatic lead, Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, at the forefront.

After sidestepping the tournament format in the first movie, the sequel returns to the games’ roots by centering on a high-stakes interdimensional tournament amid the looming threat of invasion by the tyrannical emperor Shao Kahn. While far from perfect, the emotional core remains somewhat thin, it stands as the strongest Mortal Kombat movie yet in terms of lore accuracy and exhilarating action.

Movie	Mortal Kombat II (2026)
Director	Simon McQuoid
Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (as of May 9)	65% | 90%
Where to Watch	Theaters

With the new installment setting new heights for the IP on the big screen, it’ll be interesting to see how things unfold for the next potential entry in the franchise.

Rank	Movie
1	Mortal Kombat II (2026)
2	Mortal Kombat (1995)
3	Mortal Kombat (2021)
4	Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

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