Mortal Kombat (2021): Fresh Blood in the Legendary Fighting Arena

In April 2021, theater screens and the HBO Max streaming platform were electrified by Mortal Kombat, a reboot of the legendary film franchise based on the iconic fighting game from Midway Games. Directed by Simon McQuoid—making his directorial debut—this film instantly grabbed fans' attention with one promise: more brutal, more bloody, and truer to its gory roots.

Quick Premise

The story centers on Cole Young (Lewis Tan), an MMA fighter unaware of his ancient lineage. When the mercenary assassin Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) hunts him down, Cole is recruited by Major Jax (Mehdi Jean Ellefs) and Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) for an inter-realm tournament: Mortal Kombat. If Earthrealm loses 10 times in a row, Outworld—led by Shang Tsung (Chin Han)—will invade Earth. Classic, but packed with fresh twists.

What Makes It Addictive

1. Uncensored Brutal Action

Iconic fatalities like Scorpion’s spear (“Get over here!”) and Sub-Zero’s ice shatter are executed with stunning CGI and practical blood effects that splat everywhere. The R-rating isn’t a gimmick—this film has guts.

2. New + Iconic Characters

Cole Young serves as the “entry point” for new audiences, but the spotlight falls on Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang), and the hilariously evil antagonist duo Kano (Josh Lawson). Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero? Cold, deadly, and totally badass.

3. Fan Service Done Right

Costumes, victory poses, even the legendary techno “Mortal Kombat!” soundtrack—it’s all here. But this isn’t just nostalgia; it builds new lore for sequels.

Verdict

Mortal Kombat (2021) is a bloody love letter to ‘90s game fans, while being welcoming enough for newcomers. It scored 55% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes but 86% from audiences—proof that gore + nostalgia = victory. Flawless victory? Not yet. But definitely “Finish Him!” for a sequel.

Watched it? Who’s your favorite fatality?