Film

Mortal Kombat

Name: Mortal Kombat
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Released: 2021
Cast: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin

Other titles called Mortal Kombat: the 1995 film.

A video game adaptation that embraces tournament fighting and otherworldly spectacle without apologizing for either. Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao train a reluctant new fighter to face an interdimensional invasion. It's loud, colorful, and built entirely around elaborate fight sequences. Pure genre fun for anyone who wants to see the game come alive.

TMDb rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy video-game adaptations that commit fully to their own silliness, with brutal, gleefully over-the-top fight choreography and a loyal feel for the source material's gore and kitsch.

Skip it if you want slow character work or a grounded plot; the story is thin and rushed, mostly serving as a scaffold for one fight after another, and the dialogue often lands with a clunk.

What it asks of you: Around 110 minutes of nonstop action with little breathing room, so you need to be ready to switch off the critical brain and let the spectacle carry you.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

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Aquaman2018

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John Wick2014

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Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Mortal Kombat

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Undone2019

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Wonder Woman2017

Hero discovering her power and purpose, a team learning to trust each other, and action sequences that feel earned. Gal Gadot's earnestness sells the spectacle.

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Kingsman: The Secret Service2015

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Bloodshot2020

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Pacific Rim2013

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But Plot is secondary and deliberately thin. If you need character arcs or dramatic tension beyond 'will they win the fight,' you'll find it frustrating.