Looking for the correct Mortal Kombat movies in order? Good news: unlike a lot of long-running franchises, this one doesn’t scramble its timeline. For the mainline saga, release order and chronological order line up — the real trick is knowing that Mortal Kombat has split into separate continuities over the decades (the 90s films, the 2021 reboot, and the animated Legends series), and they don’t connect to each other.
Since 1992, Mortal Kombat has grown from an arcade fighting game infamous for its gore into a franchise with billions in game sales, four live-action features, and a run of acclaimed animated films. The 2021 reboot alone spawned a sequel that broke franchise box office records. Here’s exactly how to watch everything, starting with the quick-answer table.
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Quick Answer: Mortal Kombat Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal Kombat | 1995 | Paul W. S. Anderson | Original film series |
| 2 | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation | 1997 | John R. Leonetti | Original film series |
| 3 | Mortal Kombat | 2021 | Simon McQuoid | Reboot series |
| 4 | Mortal Kombat II | 2026 | Simon McQuoid | Reboot series |
Watch the two 1990s films together, then treat the 2021 reboot and its sequel as a completely separate story — you don’t need one continuity to understand the other.
Mortal Kombat Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Mortal Kombat (1995)
The one that started it all follows Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and Raiden as they’re pulled into Shang Tsung’s deadly Outworld tournament, where losing means Earthrealm gets absorbed forever. It’s campy by today’s standards, but the tournament structure and character designs still hold up as a faithful game adaptation. Fun fact: composer George S. Clinton‘s techno theme became almost as iconic as the movie itself and still plays at actual esports events. It ends on a cliffhanger straight into the sequel, which picks up literally minutes later.
2. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
Picking up immediately after the first film, Annihilation raises the stakes as Outworld’s forces invade Earthrealm and the heroes scramble to stop a full-scale merging of realms. Several actors were recast (most notably Sonya Blade), which longtime fans still debate. Behind the scenes, reshoots and a rushed production schedule are widely blamed for its rougher tone compared to the original. The film closes the loop on this 90s continuity — the planned third movie, Mortal Kombat III, was cancelled, leaving this story arc unresolved until the franchise rebooted decades later.
3. Mortal Kombat (2021)
The reboot introduces Cole Young, a fictional MMA fighter with a hidden connection to the tournament, as Raiden assembles Earthrealm’s champions ahead of the actual Mortal Kombat tournament. Director Simon McQuoid deliberately set this film before the tournament itself, using it to establish characters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Jax through brutal one-on-one fights instead. It streamed simultaneously on HBO Max during its 2021 theatrical run. The ending sets up the tournament proper, which the next film finally delivers in full.
4. Mortal Kombat II (2026)
Mortal Kombat II finally puts the actual tournament on screen, pitting Earthrealm’s fighters against Shao Kahn’s forces with the fate of the realm on the line. Karl Urban joins as Johnny Cage — a character notably absent from the first reboot film because McQuoid felt the “giant personality” would throw off the story’s balance. It became the highest-grossing entry in the franchise’s history at the domestic box office. Its ending directly sets up a confirmed third chapter, positioned as the “post-tournament” finale of Greg Russo’s planned reboot trilogy.
Do You Need to Watch Mortal Kombat (2021) Before Mortal Kombat II?
Yes. Mortal Kombat II is a direct continuation of the 2021 reboot’s characters, relationships, and unfinished business — you don’t need the 1990s films at all, but skipping the 2021 movie will leave you lost on who everyone is and why they’re fighting.
Minimum viable watch order:
- Mortal Kombat (2021) — establishes the reboot’s cast and rivalries
- Mortal Kombat II (2026) — the tournament payoff and current story
- (Optional) Mortal Kombat (1995) — if you want the classic, standalone version of the tournament story
How Many Mortal Kombat Movies Are There?
There are 8 Mortal Kombat movies total: 4 live-action features (two from the 1990s, two from the 2021 reboot) and 4 animated Mortal Kombat Legends films. A third reboot film, Mortal Kombat III, is also confirmed and in development.
All Mortal Kombat Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Mortal Kombat — August 18, 1995
2. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation — November 21, 1997
3. Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge — April 14, 2020
4. Mortal Kombat — April 23, 2021
5. Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms — August 31, 2021
6. Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind — October 11, 2022
7. Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match — October 17, 2023
8. Mortal Kombat II — May 8, 2026
How Many Mortal Kombat Legends Movies Are There?
There are 4 Mortal Kombat Legends films so far, all animated and set in their own continuity separate from both the 1990s films and the 2021 reboot.
All Mortal Kombat Legends Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge — April 14, 2020
2. Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms — August 31, 2021
3. Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind — October 11, 2022
4. Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match — October 17, 2023
What’s Next for the Franchise?
Mortal Kombat III is officially confirmed, with writer Jeremy Slater already attached before Mortal Kombat II even hit theaters. Director Simon McQuoid, however, has said the studio wants to let Mortal Kombat II’s full “lifecycle” — including home video and streaming performance — play out before locking in a firm greenlight for production, so treat his and the cast’s return as likely but not yet guaranteed.
No release date, casting, or story details beyond “post-tournament” have been officially announced. On the animated side, no fifth Legends film has been confirmed, though the series’ strong streaming performance makes another entry plausible down the line. As always with unannounced projects, expect firmer details closer to any official Warner Bros. slate update.
FAQ
Do I need to watch the 1995 movies before the 2021 reboot?
No. The 2021 film and its sequel are a full reboot with no connection to the 1990s continuity, so you can watch either series first.
Is Mortal Kombat II a sequel to the 1995 film or the 2021 film?
Mortal Kombat II is a direct sequel to the 2021 reboot only — it has no narrative connection to the original 1995/1997 films.
Are the Mortal Kombat Legends movies canon to the live-action films?
No. The Legends animated films exist in their own separate continuity based more closely on the video games, not on either live-action film series.
What order should I watch Mortal Kombat movies in?
Following the Mortal Kombat movies in order of release works fine, since nothing is told out of sequence — just know you’re choosing between three separate continuities, not one connected timeline.
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