Mortal Kombat (film series)
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:29:58 PM Wikipedia source
Mortal Kombat is an American series of martial arts fantasy films based on the video game series of the same name. The first film, Mortal Kombat, was released in 1995 and its sequel, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, was released in 1997. After the two films, game publisher Midway filed for bankruptcy. Warner Bros. Pictures, having become the parent of New Line Cinema in 2008 (after over a decade of both operating as separate divisions of Time Warner), made a bid to purchase most of Midway's assets, including Mortal Kombat. In June 2009, Kasanoff and Threshold sued in bankruptcy court, arguing that they owned the copyright to many of the characters from the series. On July 1, 2009, the bankruptcy court approved the sale of most of Midway's assets to Warner Bros. subject to the intellectual property claims of Threshold Entertainment. After years of development hell, a reboot of the series was released in April 2021.
Infobox
Directed by
Paul W. S. Anderson (1) John R. Leonetti (2) Simon McQuoid (3–4)
Based on
Mortal Kombat by Ed Boon John Tobias
Distributed by
New Line Cinema (1–2) Warner Bros. Pictures (3–4)
Release dates
August 18, 1995 (1995-08-18) (1) November 21, 1997 (1997-11-21) (2) April 23, 2021 (2021-04-23) (3)
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
Total (3 films) $103 million
Box office
Total (3 films) $204 million
Tables
· Films › Animated
Original
Original
Film
Original
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
Film
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
U . release date
April 11, 1995
Director(s)
Joseph Francis
Screenwriter(s)
Kevin Droney
Producer(s)
Alison Savitch & Lawrence Kasanoff
Reboot series (Legends)
Reboot series (Legends)
Film
Reboot series (Legends)
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
Film
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
U . release date
April 14, 2020
Director(s)
Ethan Spaulding
Screenwriter(s)
Jeremy Adams
Producer(s)
Rick Morales
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
Film
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
U . release date
August 31, 2021
Director(s)
Jim Krieg & Rick Morales
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind
Film
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind
U . release date
October 11, 2022
Director(s)
Rick Morales
Screenwriter(s)
Jim Krieg
Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
Film
Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
U . release date
October 17, 2023
Director(s)
Ethan Spaulding
| Film | U . release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) | |
| Original | |||||
| Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins | April 11, 1995 | Joseph Francis | Kevin Droney | Alison Savitch & Lawrence Kasanoff | |
| Reboot series (Legends) | |||||
| Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge | April 14, 2020 | Ethan Spaulding | Jeremy Adams | Rick Morales | |
| Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms | August 31, 2021 | Jim Krieg & Rick Morales | |||
| Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind | October 11, 2022 | Rick Morales | Jim Krieg | ||
| Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match | October 17, 2023 | Ethan Spaulding | |||
· Films › Live-action
Original series
Original series
Film
Original series
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat
Film
Mortal Kombat
U . release date
August 18, 1995
Director(s)
Paul W. S. Anderson
Screenwriter(s)
Kevin Droney
Story by
Lawrence Kasanoff
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Film
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
U . release date
November 21, 1997
Director(s)
John R. Leonetti
Screenwriter(s)
Bryce Zabel & Brent V. Friedman
Story by
John Tobias, Joshua Wexler & Lawrence Kasanoff
Reboot series
Reboot series
Film
Reboot series
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat
Film
Mortal Kombat
U . release date
April 23, 2021
Director(s)
Simon McQuoid
Screenwriter(s)
Greg Russo & David Callaham
Story by
Greg Russo & Oren Uziel
Producer(s)
James Wan, Todd Garner, Simon McQuoid & E. Bennett Walsh
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II
Film
Mortal Kombat II
U . release date
May 8, 2026
Director(s)
Jeremy Slater
Screenwriter(s)
James Wan, Todd Garner, Toby Emmerich, Simon McQuoid & E. Bennett Walsh
Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3
Film
Mortal Kombat 3
U . release date
TBA
Director(s)
TBA
Screenwriter(s)
TBA
| Film | U . release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
| Original series | |||||
| Mortal Kombat | August 18, 1995 | Paul W. S. Anderson | Kevin Droney | Lawrence Kasanoff | |
| Mortal Kombat Annihilation | November 21, 1997 | John R. Leonetti | Bryce Zabel & Brent V. Friedman | John Tobias, Joshua Wexler & Lawrence Kasanoff | |
| Reboot series | |||||
| Mortal Kombat | April 23, 2021 | Simon McQuoid | Greg Russo & David Callaham | Greg Russo & Oren Uziel | James Wan, Todd Garner, Simon McQuoid & E. Bennett Walsh |
| Mortal Kombat II | May 8, 2026 | Jeremy Slater | James Wan, Todd Garner, Toby Emmerich, Simon McQuoid & E. Bennett Walsh | ||
| Mortal Kombat 3 | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
· Cast and crew › Recurring cast and characters
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
Characters
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
Characters
Mortal Kombat Legends
Animated films
Mortal Kombat
Animated films
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Animated films
Mortal Kombat
Animated films
Mortal Kombat II
Scorpion's Revenge
Scorpion's Revenge
Characters
Scorpion's Revenge
Characters
Battle of the Realms
Animated films
Snow Blind
Animated films
Cage Match
1995
1995
Characters
1995
Characters
2020
Animated films
2021
Animated films
2022
Animated films
2023
Animated films
1995
Animated films
1997
Live-action films
2021
Live-action films
2026
Liu Kang
Liu Kang
Characters
Liu Kang
Characters
Randy Hamilton
Animated films
Jordan Rodrigues
Animated films
Statue
Animated films
Robin Shou
Animated films
Ludi Lin
Sonya Blade
Sonya Blade
Characters
Sonya Blade
Characters
Jennifer Hale
Animated films
Jennifer Carpenter
Animated films
Bridgette Wilson
Animated films
Sandra Hess
Animated films
Jessica McNamee
Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage
Characters
Johnny Cage
Characters
Jeff Glen Bennett
Animated films
Joel McHale
Animated films
Joel McHale
Animated films
Linden Ashby
Animated films
Chris Conrad
Live-action films
Pictured
Live-action films
Karl UrbanIndy UrbanY
Raiden
Raiden
Characters
Raiden
Characters
Ron A. Feinberg
Animated films
Dave B. Mitchell
Animated films
Pictured
Animated films
Dave B. Mitchell
Animated films
Christopher Lambert
Animated films
James Remar
Live-action films
Tadanobu Asano
Hanzo Hasashi
Scorpion
Hanzo Hasashi
Scorpion
Characters
Hanzo Hasashi
Scorpion
Characters
Ed BoonU
Animated films
Patrick Seitz
Animated films
Chris CasamassaEd BoonVU
Animated films
J. J. PerryEd BoonV
Animated films
Hiroyuki Sanada
Live-action films
Hiroyuki SanadaEd BoonVU
Kuai Liang
Kuai Liang
Characters
Kuai Liang
Characters
Sub-Zero
Animated films
Jim Cummings
Animated films
Bayardo De Murguia
Animated films
Ron Yuan
Live-action films
Keith Cooke
Bi-Han
Bi-Han
Characters
Bi-Han
Characters
Steve Blum
Animated films
François Petit
Animated films
Joe Taslim
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung
Characters
Shang Tsung
Characters
Artt Butler
Animated films
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Animated films
Cary-Hiroyuki TagawaA
Animated films
Chin Han
Goro
Goro
Characters
Goro
Characters
Ron A. Feinberg
Animated films
Kevin Michael Richardson
Animated films
Tom Woodruff Jr Michael RichardsonVUFrank WelkerVU
Animated films
Angus Sampson
Kitana
Kitana
Characters
Kitana
Animated films
Grey DeLisle
Animated films
Talisa Soto
Animated films
Adeline RudolphSophia XuY
Jax Briggs
Jax Briggs
Characters
Jax Briggs
Animated films
Ike Amadi
Animated films
Gregory McKinney
Animated films
Lynn Red Williams
Animated films
Mehcad Brooks
Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn
Characters
Shao Kahn
Animated films
Fred Tatasciore
Animated films
Frank WelkerU
Animated films
Brian Thompson
Animated films
Pictured
Live-action films
Martyn Ford
Shinnok
Shinnok
Characters
Shinnok
Animated films
Robin Atkin Downes
Animated films
Robin Atkin Downes
Animated films
Reiner Schöne
Quan Chi
Quan Chi
Characters
Quan Chi
Animated films
Darin De Paul
Animated films
Damon Herriman
Kano
Kano
Characters
Kano
Animated films
Robin Atkin Downes
Animated films
David Wenham
Animated films
Trevor Goddard
Live-action films
Josh Lawson
Kung Lao
Kung Lao
Characters
Kung Lao
Characters
Appeared
Animated films
Matt Yang King
Animated films
Max Huang
Jade
Jade
Characters
Jade
Animated films
Emily O'Brien
Animated films
Deleted scene
Animated films
Irina Pantaeva
Live-action films
Tati Gabrielle
Cyrax
Cyrax
Characters
Cyrax
Animated films
Artt Butler
Animated films
J. J. Perry
Smoke
Smoke
Characters
Smoke
Animated films
Matthew Mercer
Animated films
Ridley Tsui
Reiko
Reiko
Characters
Reiko
Animated films
Robin Atkin Downes
Animated films
Nathan Jones
Kabal
Kabal
Characters
Kabal
Animated films
Keith Silverstein
Animated films
Daniel NelsonDamon HerrimanV
Reptile
Reptile
Characters
Reptile
Animated films
Appeared
Animated films
Keith CookeFrank WelkerV
Animated films
Keith CookeA
Animated films
CGI
Chan Kang
Chan Kang
Characters
Chan Kang
Animated films
Steven Ho
Animated films
Steven HoA
Sindel
Sindel
Characters
Sindel
Animated films
Musetta Vander
Animated films
Ana Thu Nguyen
Mileena
Mileena
Characters
Mileena
Animated films
Dana Hee
Animated films
Sisi Stringer
Baraka
Baraka
Characters
Baraka
Animated films
Dennis Keiffer
Animated films
CJ Bloomfield
Cole Young
Cole Young
Characters
Cole Young
Animated films
Lewis Tan
Harumi Hasashi
Harumi Hasashi
Characters
Harumi Hasashi
Animated films
Yukiko Shinohara
Animated films
Yukiko ShinoharaA
| Characters | Animated films | Live-action films | ||||||||||
| Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins | Mortal Kombat Legends | Mortal Kombat | Mortal Kombat Annihilation | Mortal Kombat | Mortal Kombat II | |||||||
| Scorpion's Revenge | Battle of the Realms | Snow Blind | Cage Match | |||||||||
| 1995 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 1995 | 1997 | 2021 | 2026 | ||||
| Liu Kang | Randy Hamilton | Jordan Rodrigues | Statue | Robin Shou | Ludi Lin | |||||||
| Sonya Blade | Jennifer Hale | Jennifer Carpenter | Bridgette Wilson | Sandra Hess | Jessica McNamee | |||||||
| Johnny Cage | Jeff Glen Bennett | Joel McHale | Joel McHale | Linden Ashby | Chris Conrad | Pictured | Karl UrbanIndy UrbanY | |||||
| Raiden | Ron A. Feinberg | Dave B. Mitchell | Pictured | Dave B. Mitchell | Christopher Lambert | James Remar | Tadanobu Asano | |||||
| Hanzo Hasashi Scorpion | Ed BoonU | Patrick Seitz | Chris CasamassaEd BoonVU | J. J. PerryEd BoonV | Hiroyuki Sanada | Hiroyuki SanadaEd BoonVU | ||||||
| Kuai Liang | Sub-Zero | Jim Cummings | Bayardo De Murguia | Ron Yuan | Keith Cooke | |||||||
| Bi-Han | Steve Blum | François Petit | Joe Taslim | |||||||||
| Shang Tsung | Artt Butler | Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa | Cary-Hiroyuki TagawaA | Chin Han | ||||||||
| Goro | Ron A. Feinberg | Kevin Michael Richardson | Tom Woodruff Jr Michael RichardsonVUFrank WelkerVU | Angus Sampson | ||||||||
| Kitana | Grey DeLisle | Talisa Soto | Adeline RudolphSophia XuY | |||||||||
| Jax Briggs | Ike Amadi | Gregory McKinney | Lynn Red Williams | Mehcad Brooks | ||||||||
| Shao Kahn | Fred Tatasciore | Frank WelkerU | Brian Thompson | Pictured | Martyn Ford | |||||||
| Shinnok | Robin Atkin Downes | Robin Atkin Downes | Reiner Schöne | |||||||||
| Quan Chi | Darin De Paul | Damon Herriman | ||||||||||
| Kano | Robin Atkin Downes | David Wenham | Trevor Goddard | Josh Lawson | ||||||||
| Kung Lao | Appeared | Matt Yang King | Max Huang | |||||||||
| Jade | Emily O'Brien | Deleted scene | Irina Pantaeva | Tati Gabrielle | ||||||||
| Cyrax | Artt Butler | J. J. Perry | ||||||||||
| Smoke | Matthew Mercer | Ridley Tsui | ||||||||||
| Reiko | Robin Atkin Downes | Nathan Jones | ||||||||||
| Kabal | Keith Silverstein | Daniel NelsonDamon HerrimanV | ||||||||||
| Reptile | Appeared | Keith CookeFrank WelkerV | Keith CookeA | CGI | ||||||||
| Chan Kang | Steven Ho | Steven HoA | ||||||||||
| Sindel | Musetta Vander | Ana Thu Nguyen | ||||||||||
| Mileena | Dana Hee | Sisi Stringer | ||||||||||
| Baraka | Dennis Keiffer | CJ Bloomfield | ||||||||||
| Cole Young | Lewis Tan | |||||||||||
| Harumi Hasashi | Yukiko Shinohara | Yukiko ShinoharaA | ||||||||||
· Cast and crew › Crew
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat
Occupation
Mortal Kombat
Film
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Film
Mortal Kombat
Film
Mortal Kombat II
Director(s)
Director(s)
Occupation
Director(s)
Film
Paul Anderson
Film
John R. Leonetti
Film
Simon McQuoid
Producer
Producer
Occupation
Producer
Film
Lawrence Kasanoff
Film
James Wan
Todd Garner
Simon McQuoid
E. Bennett Walsh
Film
James Wan
Todd Garner
Toby Emmerich
E. Bennett Walsh
Simon McQuoid
Writer(s)
Writer(s)
Occupation
Writer(s)
Film
Kevin Droney
Film
Screenplay by
Bryce Zabel
Brent V. Friedman
Story by
John Tobias
Joshua Wexler
Lawrence Kasanoff
Film
Screenplay by
Greg Russo
David Callaham
Story by
Greg Russo
Oren Uziel
Film
Jeremy Slater
Composer
Composer
Occupation
Composer
Film
George S. Clinton
Film
Benjamin Wallfisch
Director(s) of photography
Director(s) of photography
Occupation
Director(s) of photography
Film
John R. Leonetti
Film
Matthew F. Leonetti
Film
Germain McMicking
Film
Stephen F. Windon
Editor(s)
Editor(s)
Occupation
Editor(s)
Film
Martin Hunter
Film
Peck Prior
Film
Scott Gray
Dan Lebental
Film
Stuart Levy
Production company(s)
Production company(s)
Occupation
Production company(s)
Film
Threshold Entertainment
Film
New Line Cinema
Atomic Monster
Broken Road Productions
Film
New Line Cinema
Atomic Monster
Broken Road Productions
Fireside Films
Distributor(s)
Distributor(s)
Occupation
Distributor(s)
Film
New Line Cinema
Film
Warner Bros. Pictures
| Occupation | Film | |||
| Mortal Kombat | Mortal Kombat Annihilation | Mortal Kombat | Mortal Kombat II | |
| Director(s) | Paul Anderson | John R. Leonetti | Simon McQuoid | |
| Producer | Lawrence Kasanoff | James Wan Todd Garner Simon McQuoid E. Bennett Walsh | James Wan Todd Garner Toby Emmerich E. Bennett Walsh Simon McQuoid | |
| Writer(s) | Kevin Droney | Screenplay by Bryce Zabel Brent V. Friedman Story by John Tobias Joshua Wexler Lawrence Kasanoff | Screenplay by Greg Russo David Callaham Story by Greg Russo Oren Uziel | Jeremy Slater |
| Composer | George S. Clinton | Benjamin Wallfisch | ||
| Director(s) of photography | John R. Leonetti | Matthew F. Leonetti | Germain McMicking | Stephen F. Windon |
| Editor(s) | Martin Hunter | Peck Prior | Scott Gray Dan Lebental | Stuart Levy |
| Production company(s) | Threshold Entertainment | New Line Cinema Atomic Monster Broken Road Productions | New Line Cinema Atomic Monster Broken Road Productions Fireside Films | |
| Distributor(s) | New Line Cinema | Warner Bros. Pictures | ||
· Reception › Box office performance
United States
United States
Film
United States
U . release date
International
Box office revenue
Worldwide
Original series
Original series
Film
Original series
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat
Film
Mortal Kombat
U . release date
August 18, 1995 (1995-08-18)
Box office revenue
$73,000,000
Box office revenue
$51,741,822
Box office revenue
$122,195,920
Budget
$18 million
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Film
Mortal Kombat Annihilation
U . release date
November 21, 1997
Box office revenue
$35,927,406
Box office revenue
$15,449,455
Box office revenue
$51,376,861
Budget
$30 million
Reboot series
Reboot series
Film
Reboot series
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat
Film
Mortal Kombat
U . release date
April 23, 2021
Box office revenue
$42,201,013
Box office revenue
$41,400,000
Box office revenue
$83,601,013
Budget
$55 million
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II
Film
Mortal Kombat II
U . release date
May 8, 2026
Box office revenue
$63,414,693
Box office revenue
$40,400,000
Box office revenue
$103,814,693
Budget
$80 million
Total
Total
Film
Total
U . release date
$214,543,112
Box office revenue
$148,991,277
Box office revenue
$363,534,389
Box office revenue
$183 million
| Film | U . release date | Box office revenue | Budget | Reference | ||
| United States | International | Worldwide | ||||
| Original series | ||||||
| Mortal Kombat | August 18, 1995 (1995-08-18) | $73,000,000 | $51,741,822 | $122,195,920 | $18 million | |
| Mortal Kombat Annihilation | November 21, 1997 | $35,927,406 | $15,449,455 | $51,376,861 | $30 million | |
| Reboot series | ||||||
| Mortal Kombat | April 23, 2021 | $42,201,013 | $41,400,000 | $83,601,013 | $55 million | |
| Mortal Kombat II | May 8, 2026 | $63,414,693 | $40,400,000 | $103,814,693 | $80 million | |
| Total | $214,543,112 | $148,991,277 | $363,534,389 | $183 million | ||
References
- Chan Kang does not appear in the video games, as he was an original character created specifically for the first live-ac
- Cole Young does not appear in the video games, as he was an original character created specifically for the 2021 live ac
- "The Escapist : News : Midway Sued Over Mortal Kombat Rights"http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92711-Midway-Sued-Over-Mortal-Kombat-Rights
- Digital Trendshttp://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/time-warner-buying-most-of-midway-games-for-33-mln/
- Gross, Kevin. In re: Midway Games Inc., et al., Debtors, Bankruptcy No. 09-10465; Threshold Entertainment, Inc. v. Midwahttp://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20BCO%2020110329583.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR
- GamePro
- Mortal Kombat Animated Movie in the Works With Joel McHale, Jennifer Carpenter – IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/mortal-kombat-animated-movie-in-the-works-with-joel-mchale-jennifer-carpenter
- findawriterhttps://findawriter.wgaeast.org/project/1184084/mortal-kombat-reboot
- GAMINGhttps://comicbook.com/gaming/news/mortal-kombat-legends-battle-of-the-realms-release-date-box-art/
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5twJ28bTkQ&ab_channel=MaciejJankowski
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/10/mortal-kombat-iii-jeremy-slater-writing-new-line-1236582473/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/10/mortal-kombat-iii-jeremy-slater-writing-new-line-1236582473/
- https://x.com/noobde/status/2048491839645491213?s=20https://x.com/noobde/status/2048491839645491213?s=20
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0113855/
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mortal-Kombat-Annihilation#tab=summary
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mortalkombat2.htm
- Mortal Kombat (2021)https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0293429/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2021/film/news/mortal-kombat-demon-slayer-movie-box-office-1234959555/
- Mortal Kombat IIhttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt17490712/
- "CinemaScore"https://www.cinemascore.com/