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Mortal Kombat II

6 May 2026English1h 56mPart 2 of the Mortal Kombat series
ActionAdventureFantasy
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 7 scored reviews · 3 not rated

Bloody fatalities impress, but shallow characters and a weak script hold it back.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: bloody and creative action sequences
  • Criticised: weak script and shallow characters

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Critic consensus

What 10 critics are saying

Critical reception for Mortal Kombat II is sharply divided, with the majority of reviewers acknowledging it as disposable but intermittently enjoyable entertainment for franchise fans. The action sequences and fatality set pieces drew the most consistent praise, with several critics noting their bloody creativity and crowd-pleasing energy. However, detractors were pointed in their criticism of the weak screenplay, underdeveloped characters buried under dense game lore, underwhelming visual effects, and a pervasive sense of cheapness that drains the non-action stretches of momentum. A recurring tension runs through the consensus: the film delivers enough visceral spectacle to satisfy in the moment, but little that holds up once the carnage stops.

How the 7 scores spread

3 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 10 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (10)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  2. Filmfare

    Film review

    Mortal Kombat 2 gets many things wrong, but the one thing that it gets absolutely bang on is the Fatality sequences. They're murderous, bloody, creatively grimace inducing and it will turn the fans into ancient Roman Colosseum spectators, baying for more kills, more blood. If you've grown up playing the game, this movie will please you to no end.

  4. KoiMoi

    Film review

    Mortal Kombat II has a lot of flaws, but it remains fun throughout, especially if you are a fan of the video game franchise. The script might be the worst thing about the film; it feels full of holes, lacks connective tissue between scenes and ideas, and also starts to set up a sequel a bit too early. This is a perfect example of wasted potential, as the Mortal Kombat franchise could have really been an amazing story for the silver screen.

  5. Hindustan Times

    Film review

    This film does not follow any logic (even in-universe), is extremely corny, and some of the sequences belong in the 1990s. Yet, despite all that, it never lets the fun metre dip.

  6. Rediff

    Film review

    The violent set pieces, exaggerated villains, zany dialogue, and non-stop fan service all work in the moment. But once the credits roll, there is not much left to hold onto.

  7. TheGuardian

    Film review ·

    There's something maddeningly unexciting about them, a two-hour tease of something that never clicks into place. It all has the distinctly cheap whiff of something that should have gone direct to the small screen – hammy acting, stilted dialogue, chintzy effects, tinny score, Halloween costumes – but without the raucous fun that should come with it.

  8. The Hindu

    Film review

    The problem is that the film keeps treating its enormous roster like unlockable skins. Several performances suffer because the film's fidelity to the game's dense lore makes a majority of the non-fights feel like skippable cutscenes. But the overall action produces mixed results despite finally delivering the tournament structure audiences expected five years ago.

  9. The Hollywood Reporter

    Film review ·

    What's genuinely mystifying about the film incarnations is how boring they are despite the non-stop action, which is competently staged but lacking the kinetic fun of, yes, the John Wick films and its many imitators. The whole thing comes off as low-rent, with underwhelming CGI effects and creature costuming and make-up that pales in comparison to a typical NYC Village Halloween Parade.

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