Mortal Kombat on screen is several separate continuities. Watch Mortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat II (2026) for the current films; the 1995 film and Annihilation (1997) are their own pair. The animated Legends films start with Scorpion's Revenge (2020) and Battle of the Realms (2021). Each set stands alone.
- Titles
- 12
- Films
- 9
- Series
- 3
- Watch time
- 38 hours
- Box office
- $388 million
- Avg IMDb
- 6.0
Mortal Kombat movies in release order
Here is every Mortal Kombat title in the order it came out, 1995 to 2026: 9 films and 3 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins | 1995 | Film | 39m | 3.7 |
| 2 | Mortal Kombat | 1995 | Film | 1h 41m | 5.9 |
| 3 | Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm optional | 1996 | Series | 6h 30m | 5.8 |
| 4 | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation | 1997 | Film | 1h 35m | 3.6 |
| 5 | Mortal Kombat: Conquest optional | 1998 | Series | 15h 22m | 6.2 |
| 6 | Mortal Kombat: Legacy optional | 2011 | Series | 3h 3m | 7.3 |
| 7 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge | 2020 | Film | 1h 20m | 7.4 |
| 8 | Mortal Kombat | 2021 | Film | 1h 50m | 6.1 |
| 9 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms | 2021 | Film | 1h 20m | 6.5 |
| 10 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind | 2022 | Film | 1h 22m | 6.7 |
| 11 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match | 2023 | Film | 1h 20m | 5.9 |
| 12 | Mortal Kombat II | 2026 | Film | 1h 56m | 6.3 |
Mortal Kombat timeline: movies in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal Kombat: Conquest | 2,000 years before the tournament | 1998 |
| 2 | Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins | An animated prequel | 1995 |
| 3 | Mortal Kombat | Shang Tsung's island | 1995 |
| 4 | Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm | After the tournament | 1996 |
| 5 | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation | Outworld invades | 1997 |
| 6 | Mortal Kombat: Legacy | A grounded web series | 2011 |
| 7 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge | Hanzo Hasashi | 2020 |
| 8 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms | The final tournament | 2021 |
| 9 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind | Sub-Zero, years later | 2022 |
| 10 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match | Johnny Cage, the 1980s | 2023 |
| 11 | Mortal Kombat | Cole Young | 2021 |
| 12 | Mortal Kombat II | The tournament | 2026 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 9 titles here. In release order you start with Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (1995); in story order you start with Mortal Kombat: Conquest, set in 2,000 years before the tournament, which came out 3 years later.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Mortal Kombat into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Mortal Kombat also runs 3 separate continuities: Mortal Kombat: Legacy, Mortal Kombat Legends (animated), and The 2021 reboot. Each has its own line on the timeline, so you can watch them on their own without breaking the main story.
Where to start
Start with Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins and go in release order, skipping the 3 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 9 titles and about 13 hours, 66% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (7.4), Mortal Kombat: Legacy (7.3), and Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (6.7).
Every Mortal Kombat movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1995 · Film · 39m · 2nd in story order
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins
As the three chosen defenders of Earth travel to Shang Tsung's island, Rayden teaches them how to become the masters of their destinies, overcome their foes, and control their powers. Liu Kang, Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage must defeat Shang Tsung, Sub Zero, Scorpion and Goro in a tournament of Mortal Kombat if they are to survive and save the fate of the earth.
Why it matters: A short animated prequel released on video before the 1995 film.
- Starring
- Jeff Bennett, Jim Cummings, and Ron Feinberg
- Director
- Joseph Francis
- Scores
- IMDb 3.7
No. 02 · 1995 · Film · 1h 41m · 3rd in story order
Mortal Kombat
For nine generations an evil sorcerer has been victorious in hand-to-hand battle against his mortal enemies. If he wins a tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, desolation and evil will reign over the multiverse forever. To save Earth, three warriors must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, their own inner demons, and superhuman foes.
Why it matters: Liu Kang, Sonya and Johnny Cage at Shang Tsung's tournament, to that techno theme.
- Starring
- Robin Shou, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and Linden Ashby
- Director
- Paul W. S. Anderson
- Box office
- $122 million on a $18 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 44%
No. 03 · 1996 · Series · 6h 30m · 4th in story order · optional
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
A group of warriors come together to defend Earthrealm from invaders who entered through portals from various other dimensions.
Why it matters: Raiden's team defends Earth after the tournament; one season, optional.
- Starring
- Clancy Brown, Olivia D'Abo, and Dorian Harewood
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8
- Episodes
- 13
No. 04 · 1997 · Film · 1h 35m · 5th in story order
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
A group of heroic warriors has only six days to save the planet in "Mortal Kombat Annihilation." To succeed they must survive the most spectacular series of challenges any human, or god, has ever encountered as they battle an evil warlord bent on taking control of Earth.
Why it matters: Shao Kahn invades Earth; the infamous sequel.
- Starring
- Robin Shou, Talisa Soto, and James Remar
- Director
- John R. Leonetti
- Box office
- $51 million on a $30 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 3.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 4%
No. 05 · 1998 · Series · 15h 22m · 1st in story order · optional
Mortal Kombat: Conquest
Kung Lao has triumphed in the Mortal Kombat tournament, defeating Shang Tsung and saving Earth Realm. Now, he must train a new generation of warriors for the next tournament. Meanwhile, an exiled Shang Tsung attempts to thwart Lao's efforts with the aid of supernatural warriors such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero.
Why it matters: A syndicated series 2,000 years before the films, with Kung Lao's ancestor; optional.
- Starring
- Paolo Montalbán, Daniel Bernhardt, and Kristanna Loken
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2
- Episodes
- 22
No. 06 · 2011 · Series · 3h 3m · optional
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
The first season of Mortal Kombat Legacy is a prequel to the original game, explaining the background stories of several characters from the series and demonstrating their reasons for participating in the upcoming tenth Mortal Kombat tournament on which the first game was based.
Why it matters: A gritty web series retelling the fighters' origins; optional.
- Starring
- Samantha Win, Casper Van Dien, and Ian Anthony Dale
- Creator
- Kevin Tancharoen, John Tobias, Oren Uziel, and Ed Boon
- Scores
- IMDb 7.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 86%
- Episodes
- 19 across 2 seasons
No. 07 · 2020 · Film · 1h 20m
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
After the vicious slaughter of his family by stone-cold mercenary Sub-Zero, Hanzo Hasashi is exiled to the torturous Netherrealm. There, in exchange for his servitude to the sinister Quan Chi, he’s given a chance to avenge his family – and is resurrected as Scorpion, a lost soul bent on revenge. Back on Earthrealm, Lord Raiden gathers a team of elite warriors – Shaolin monk Liu Kang, Special Forces officer Sonya Blade, and action star Johnny Cage – an unlikely band of heroes with one chance to save humanity. To do this, they must defeat Shang Tsung's horde of Outworld gladiators and reign over the Mortal Kombat tournament.
Why it matters: An R-rated animated retelling of the first tournament through Scorpion.
- Starring
- Jennifer Carpenter, Joel McHale, and Jordan Rodrigues
- Director
- Ethan Spaulding
- Scores
- IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 90%
No. 08 · 2021 · Film · 1h 50m · 11th in story order
Mortal Kombat
Washed-up MMA fighter Cole Young, unaware of his heritage, and hunted by Emperor Shang Tsung's best warrior, Sub-Zero, seeks out and trains with Earth's greatest champions as he prepares to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
Why it matters: Cole Young, a new fighter, and Earthrealm's champions before the tournament.
- Starring
- Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, and Mehcad Brooks
- Director
- Simon McQuoid
- Box office
- $84 million on a $20 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 55%
No. 09 · 2021 · Film · 1h 20m · 8th in story order
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
When Shao Kahn's Outworld barbarians terrorize Earthrealm, Lord Raiden is determined to put an end to the carnage once and for all. This leaves one option: a final Mortal Kombat tournament for the future of Earthrealm – win it or lose everything. Raiden's elite fighters Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and a few new faces kick the action into overdrive as they go head-to-head with Outworld's most bloodthirsty warriors. But deep in the Netherrealm, an unspeakable scheme by the malevolent Shinnok unfolds, threatening to obliterate existence.
Why it matters: The sequel to Scorpion's Revenge: Shao Kahn's final tournament.
- Starring
- Jennifer Carpenter, Joel McHale, and Jordan Rodrigues
- Director
- Ethan Spaulding
- Scores
- IMDb 6.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 50%
No. 10 · 2022 · Film · 1h 22m · 9th in story order
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind
The vicious, power-mad Kano is determined to take over Earthrealm, one soul at a time. Assisted by a trio of cold Black Dragon mercenaries, he embarks on a brutal assault from town to defenseless town. The choice is simple: kneel or be annihilated. Kenshi, a rebel warrior, calls on Kuai Liang, the only one powerful enough to challenge the malevolent Kano. But Kuai Liang has given up the ways of the warrior, and Kenshi is too undisciplined to defeat Kano himself. If Kuai Liang cannot break through the glacier of doubt that holds him back, Earthrealm will fall.
Why it matters: Kenshi against Sub-Zero, years after Battle of the Realms; standalone.
- Starring
- Manny Jacinto, David Wenham, and Artt Butler
- Director
- Rick Morales
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 80%
No. 11 · 2023 · Film · 1h 20m · 10th in story order
Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
In 1980s Hollywood, action star Johnny Cage is looking to become an A-list actor. But when his costar, Jennifer, goes missing from set, Johnny finds himself thrust into a world filled with shadows, danger, and deceit. As he embarks on a bloody journey, Johnny quickly discovers the City of Angels has more than a few devils in its midst. He faces off against a sinister secret society plotting a nefarious scheme, but the brutal fight against the bloodthirsty warriors of the Netherrealm is just beginning.
Why it matters: Johnny Cage in 1980s Hollywood; a standalone comedy.
- Starring
- Joel McHale, Jennifer Grey, and Dusan Brown
- Director
- Ethan Spaulding
- Scores
- IMDb 5.9
No. 12 · 2026 · Film · 1h 56m
Mortal Kombat II
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.
Why it matters: The tournament itself, with Karl Urban as Johnny Cage.
- Starring
- Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, and Ludi Lin
- Director
- Simon McQuoid
- Box office
- $130 million on a $80 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 64%
Mortal Kombat box office and budgets
The 4 Mortal Kombat films with reported numbers have grossed $388 million worldwide on about $148 million in combined budgets, roughly 2.6 times what they cost. The biggest is Mortal Kombat II at $130 million, 33% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Mortal Kombat ($122 million) and Mortal Kombat ($84 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Mortal Kombat, which made 6.8 times its $18 million budget. The weakest was Mortal Kombat II at 1.6 times its $80 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Mortal Kombat movies
Across 12 rated titles, Mortal Kombat averages 6.0 on IMDb. The top of the list is Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge at 7.4, then Mortal Kombat: Legacy (7.3) and Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (6.7). At the bottom: Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (3.6) and Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (3.7). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Mortal Kombat II, is only the 5th best rated.
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge7.4 · RT 90%
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy7.3 · RT 86%
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind6.7 · RT 80%
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms6.5 · RT 50%
- Mortal Kombat II6.3 · RT 64%
- Mortal Kombat: Conquest6.2
- Mortal Kombat6.1 · RT 55%
- Mortal Kombat5.9 · RT 44%
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match5.9
- Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm5.8
Who appears in the most Mortal Kombat movies
Joel McHale leads with 3 appearances as Johnny Cage, ahead of Patrick Seitz (3) and Artt Butler (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joel McHale | Johnny Cage | 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023) |
| Patrick Seitz | Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion | 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (2022) |
| Artt Butler | Shang Tsung / Lin Kuei Assasin | 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (2022) |
| Robin Atkin Downes | Kano / Shinnok | 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023) |
| Grey DeLisle | Satoshi Hasashi / Kitana | 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023) |
| Dave B. Mitchell | Raiden / Lin Kuei Warrior | 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023) |
| Robin Shou | Liu Kang | 2 | Mortal Kombat (1995) to Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) |
| Talisa Soto | Kitana | 2 | Mortal Kombat (1995) to Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) |
| Chris Casamassa | Scorpion | 2 | Mortal Kombat (1995) to Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1998) |
| Jennifer Carpenter | Sonya Blade | 2 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (2021) |
| Jordan Rodrigues | Liu Kang | 2 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (2021) |
| Ike Amadi | Jax Briggs / One Being | 2 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) to Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (2021) |
Mortal Kombat directors and creators
10 filmmakers have directed or created Mortal Kombat; Ethan Spaulding has the most, with 3.
- Ethan SpauldingMortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020), Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (2021), and Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023)
- Simon McQuoidMortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat II (2026)
- Joseph FrancisMortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (1995)
- Paul W. S. AndersonMortal Kombat (1995)
- John R. LeonettiMortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
- Kevin TancharoenMortal Kombat: Legacy (2011)
- John TobiasMortal Kombat: Legacy (2011)
- Oren UzielMortal Kombat: Legacy (2011)
- Ed BoonMortal Kombat: Legacy (2011)
- Rick MoralesMortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (2022)
How long it takes to watch every Mortal Kombat movie
All 12 titles add up to 38 hours: 13 hours of film and 25 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 19 two-hour evenings, or 4 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 13 hours. The longest film is Mortal Kombat II at 1h 56m.
The 4 best rated films: Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind, Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, and Mortal Kombat II.
Everything takes about 6 weeks; the essentials about 2 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Mortal Kombat movies can you skip?
3 titles can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 25 hours.
- Mortal Kombat: Conquest1998 · Series · 15h 22m · optionalA syndicated series 2,000 years before the films, with Kung Lao's ancestor; optional.
- Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm1996 · Series · 6h 30m · optionalRaiden's team defends Earth after the tournament; one season, optional.
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy2011 · Series · 3h 3m · optionalA gritty web series retelling the fighters' origins; optional.
Upcoming Mortal Kombat movies
- Mortal Kombat IIIDate to be announced
Common questions
What order should I watch the Mortal Kombat movies in?
Mortal Kombat on screen is several separate continuities. Watch Mortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat II (2026) for the current films; the 1995 film and Annihilation (1997) are their own pair. The animated Legends films start with Scorpion's Revenge (2020) and Battle of the Realms (2021). Each set stands alone.
How many Mortal Kombat movies and shows are there?
There are 12 titles in the Mortal Kombat franchise: 9 films and 3 series, released from 1995 to 2026. 1 more is announced: Mortal Kombat III.
How long does it take to watch all the Mortal Kombat movies?
About 38 hours for all 12 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (9 titles) take about 13 hours.
What is the first Mortal Kombat title in chronological order?
Mortal Kombat: Conquest, set in 2,000 years before the tournament. In release order the first is Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (1995).
Which Mortal Kombat titles can I skip?
Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, and Mortal Kombat: Legacy. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the next Mortal Kombat release?
Mortal Kombat III, date to be announced.
What is the best Mortal Kombat movie?
By IMDb score, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) at 7.4, followed by Mortal Kombat: Legacy at 7.3.
What is the highest-grossing Mortal Kombat movie?
Mortal Kombat II (2026), with $130 million worldwide. Mortal Kombat films have made $388 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Mortal Kombat movies?
Joel McHale, in 3 of them as Johnny Cage.
What is the longest Mortal Kombat movie?
Mortal Kombat II, at 1h 56m.
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