Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- bombastic
- violent
- irreverent
- action movie night
- video game adaptation marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the adaptation energetic and enthusiastically violent but weakened by thin writing, uneven character work, and underwhelming combat execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film foregrounds fatalities, gore, martial arts confrontations, and recognizable fighters from the Mortal Kombat universe.
Cole Young must unlock his arcana through training and the threat to his family before joining the Earthrealm champions.
Cole trains alongside Sonya Blade, Jax, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Kano to defend Earthrealm from Outworld.
The story links Shaolin-inspired warriors and martial arts with Lord Raiden, an Elder God, Outworld, and Sub-Zero's cryomancy.
Films like Mortal Kombat, and why
Mortal Kombat
Shared martial arts spectacle, fantasy mythology, ensemble champions, and high-stakes battle to protect the world.
Street Fighter
Shared video game adaptation framework, supernatural combatants, stylized violence, and otherworldly conflict.
The Legend of Chun-Li
Shared tournament-inflected martial arts action, mystical powers, colorful fighters, and comic-book fantasy tone.
Blade II
Shared brutal supernatural action, mythic warriors, ensemble battles, and exaggerated genre violence.
Movie Details
- Director
- Simon McQuoid
- Release Date
- 2021-04-07
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (7068)
Cast
- Lewis Tan
- Jessica McNamee
- Mehcad Brooks
- Josh Lawson
- Ludi Lin
- Max Huang
- Tadanobu Asano
- Chin Han
- Hiroyuki Sanada
- Joe Taslim
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mortal Kombat about?
- A battered MMA fighter discovers supernatural heritage and joins a volatile team of champions in a bloody war between Earthrealm and Outworld.
- What is Mortal Kombat like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mortal Kombat as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mortal Kombat violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Mortal Kombat as graphic.
- What did critics think of Mortal Kombat?
- Critics generally found the adaptation energetic and enthusiastically violent but weakened by thin writing, uneven character work, and underwhelming combat execution.
- Which films are like Mortal Kombat?
- Films with a similar feel include Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, The Legend of Chun-Li, and Blade II.
- How long is Mortal Kombat?
- Mortal Kombat runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mortal Kombat?
- In United States, Mortal Kombat streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max.
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