Mortal Kombat 2 Scores Millions Before Official Release Day

Mortal Kombat 2 is already making a strong impact at the box office, pulling in $5.2 million from preview screenings across North America on May 7 ahead of its full theatrical release on May 8, according to Variety.

Early tracking estimates project the video game adaptation could earn between $40 million and $45 million during its opening weekend, while Warner Bros. is forecasting a more cautious $35 million debut. Studios often issue conservative estimates so final numbers can later exceed expectations.

This weekend, Mortal Kombat 2 faces unexpected competition from The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is projected to bring in between $38 million and $42 million during its second weekend after opening with an impressive $77 million domestically.

The sequel reportedly carried an $80 million production budget, significantly higher than the estimated $55 million budget of the 2021 film. While the original Mortal Kombat earned $84 million worldwide, its theatrical run was heavily impacted by the pandemic and its simultaneous release on HBO Max. Despite that, the movie found major success through streaming.

Confidence in the franchise remains high, as Warner Bros. officially greenlit a third Mortal Kombat film in October 2025.

Director Simon McQuoid returned to helm the sequel, while Karl Urban joined the cast as Johnny Cage. Series co-creator Ed Boon also makes a cameo appearance.

Critical reception for Mortal Kombat 2 has been mixed, leading to a widely discussed response online from producer Todd Garner.

Meanwhile, another legendary fighting game franchise, Street Fighter, is getting its own movie adaptation later this October. So far, the biggest video game movie success story of 2026 remains The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is approaching $900 million at the worldwide box office.