Mortal Kombat II producer Todd Garner is firing back at critics as the sequel’s Rotten Tomatoes Score keeps climbing.
Garner responded to some of the reviews on X and made it clear he thinks some critics don’t understand the game, the fanbase, or the Mortal Kombat canon.
“Some of these reviews are cracking me up,” Garner said. “It’s clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules/ canon of Mortal Kombat. One reviewer was mad that a guy ‘had a laser eye!’ Why the fuck do we still allow people that don’t have any love for the genre review these movies! Baffling.”
The reaction comes as Mortal Kombat II is now at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, up from 69% when the first wave of reviews hit. The more reviews come in, the higher the score seems to be going.
That also puts Mortal Kombat II well ahead of the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, which is at 55% from critics and 85% from fans.
Todd Garner Calls Out Critics
Garner’s comment gets right to the split happening with the Mortal Kombat II reviews.
Some critics are knocking the sequel for being loud, dumb, violent, and loaded with video game lore. But that also appears to be exactly what other critics, and likely a lot of fans, want from a Mortal Kombat movie.
The “laser eye” comment seems to refer to Kano, one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters. Complaining about that in a Mortal Kombat movie is like complaining that Scorpion says “Get over here.” It’s part of the deal.
Garner’s point is that not every movie should be reviewed like it is trying to be prestige cinema. Mortal Kombat II is built for fans of fatalities, tournament fights, wild powers, and absurd game canon.
Judging it without knowing that background is where he seems to think some critics are missing the point.
What The Reviews Say
The reviews say Mortal Kombat II knows exactly what it is: a bloody, loud, fan-focused video game sequel built around fights, fatalities, Johnny Cage, and game lore.
Critics who like it say the movie improves on the 2021 reboot, leans into the silliness, and gives fans the tournament and carnage they wanted.
Critics who don’t like it say the story is weak, the dialogue is rough, the visuals are cheap, and the movie doesn’t offer much for anyone outside the Mortal Kombat fanbase.
That split is pretty clear in the reactions. The positive reviews praise the sequel for embracing the games, going bigger with the action, and using Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage as a major selling point.
The negative reviews argue the movie is still thin on story and too dependent on video game fan service.
Mortal Kombat II Opens This Week
Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters on May 8, 2026, tomorrow with advanced previews.
The sequel is directed by Simon McQuoid and stars Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. The cast also includes Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tadanobu Asano, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, Adeline Rudolph, Tati Gabrielle, Martyn Ford, and more.
