You can skip 3 of the 12 titles in the Mortal Kombat franchise and still follow the main story: Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, and Mortal Kombat: Legacy. The essentials (9 titles) take about 13 hours instead of 38 hours.
- Skippable
- 3
- Essentials
- 9
- Time saved
- 25 hours
Safe to skip
- 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.
Why each one is optional
What each skippable title is, what it adds if you do watch it, and who is in it.
No. 01 · 1996 · Series · 6h 30m · 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. 02 · 1998 · Series · 15h 22m · 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. 03 · 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
The essentials, in release order
- Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins1995 · Film · 39mA short animated prequel released on video before the 1995 film.
- Mortal Kombat1995 · Film · 1h 41mLiu Kang, Sonya and Johnny Cage at Shang Tsung's tournament, to that techno theme.
- Mortal Kombat: Annihilation1997 · Film · 1h 35mShao Kahn invades Earth; the infamous sequel.
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge2020 · Film · 1h 20mAn R-rated animated retelling of the first tournament through Scorpion.
- Mortal Kombat2021 · Film · 1h 50mCole Young, a new fighter, and Earthrealm's champions before the tournament.
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms2021 · Film · 1h 20mThe sequel to Scorpion's Revenge: Shao Kahn's final tournament.
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind2022 · Film · 1h 22mKenshi against Sub-Zero, years after Battle of the Realms; standalone.
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match2023 · Film · 1h 20mJohnny Cage in 1980s Hollywood; a standalone comedy.
- Mortal Kombat II2026 · Film · 1h 56mThe tournament itself, with Karl Urban as Johnny Cage.
Common questions
Do I need to watch every Mortal Kombat title?
No. You can skip 3 of the 12 titles in the Mortal Kombat franchise and still follow the main story: Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, and Mortal Kombat: Legacy. The essentials (9 titles) take about 13 hours instead of 38 hours.
How long are the Mortal Kombat essentials?
About 13 hours for 9 titles, in release order starting with Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins.
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