Mortal Kombat II: How the Sequel is Faring at the Box Office
Mortal Kombat II Hits Theaters
The highly anticipated martial arts fantasy sequel, Mortal Kombat II, made its debut in U.S. theaters on May 8, 2026, and has now completed its first five days of screening. Featuring Karl Urban in the lead role, this follow-up to the 2021 reboot has garnered a 65% rating from critics and an impressive 89% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The film raked in $38.5 million during its opening weekend across 3,503 theaters in North America, and added $2.8 million on its first Monday, bringing its total domestic earnings to $41.3 million.
Despite facing stiff competition from titles like Michael and The Devil Wears Prada 2, Mortal Kombat II managed to secure the No. 3 position on the domestic daily box office chart on Monday. Additionally, it has earned $23.8 million from international markets, resulting in a global total of $65.1 million. With a production budget of $80 million, the film needs to reach $200 million to break even, indicating it still requires an additional $134.9 million to hit this target.
As Mortal Kombat II continues its theatrical journey, it is closing in on the domestic earnings of its predecessor, the 2021 Mortal Kombat film. Current estimates suggest that the sequel needs just $1 million more to surpass the original's domestic total. Given its current trajectory, it is expected to achieve this milestone within a day, with a domestic haul of $41.3 million.
In comparison, Mortal Kombat II is trailing behind The Drama, which has accumulated $47.7 million in North America, falling short by approximately $6.4 million. However, with the sequel still in its early release phase and based on its current momentum, it is anticipated to surpass The Drama in the coming days. The final box office results will become clearer in the weeks to come.
Directed by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat II is set to explore the ongoing conflict between Johnny Cage, played by Urban, and other beloved champions as they face off against Shao Kahn and his powerful warriors. The film boasts a diverse ensemble cast, including Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, and Tati Gabrielle, among others.