Mortal Kombat II might still win over fans, but the box office outlook has already taken a hit.
Deadline reports the sequel brought in $5.2 million from Thursday previews, with showtimes starting at 3 p.m.
As noted, that is a solid number and close to Final Destination: Bloodlines, which did $5.5 million in previews before opening to $51.6 million.
However, Deadline also notes that forecasts for the R-rated Mortal Kombat II have come down into the $40 million range.
Earlier estimates had the movie looking closer to a $50 million launch. Now it sounds like Warner Bros. and New Line may have to settle for something in the $40 million-plus range unless walk-up business overperforms.
Empty theater might have been a warning sign
This also fits with what I saw at my own screening and noted in my review.
I went to the first Thursday preview at 3 p.m. with my 18-year-old son at a Regal RPX screen, one of the better screens in the area. We were the only two people in the theater.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the entire weekend is doomed, but it wasn’t a great sign. My son also said he hadn’t seen much advertising for the movie, which lines up with the tracking dip and now the lowered projections.
For a movie built around a fan-heavy brand like Mortal Kombat, maybe the campaign needed to hit TikTok harder, go bigger during the NBA Playoffs, and target Gen Z more directly. Clearly, the Super Mario and Minecraft crowd aren’t coming out.
Mortal Kombat II had awareness, but did it convert?
As previously covered, Mortal Kombat II was still leading the genre pack, but its momentum was slipping. The sequel dipped in awareness and interest over the prior two weeks heading into release following the CinemaCon push.
Obviously, that is not what you want after CinemaCon, especially with the opening weekend right around the corner.
Now the projections have also dropped, with Deadline reporting that forecasts have come down from around $50 million into the $40 million range.
The potential lower box office fits with the late marketing push that seems to have gone nowhere, the tracking dip, and what I saw at my own screening, again, where my son and I were the only two people in the theater in a first Thursday preview screening.
Rotten Tomatoes score drops, but fans are loving it
The critic score has also slipped.
Mortal Kombat II was previously as high as 75 on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is now down to 68% from critics.
However, the fan score is a much stronger 90%, based on verified audience ratings. That’s higher than the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, which has an 85% audience score, and is the highest fan score of the franchise, including the animated films.
Rotten Tomatoes’ own critics consensus says Mortal Kombat II is not a “flawless victory,” but calls it likely the most enjoyable entry in the franchise yet.
Fans may still carry the sequel
The good news for Mortal Kombat II is that fans seem to be showing up happy.
My own review was positive. My son and I liked it. The sequel delivers the fatalities, fight scenes, special effects, music, and “awe sh-t” moments you want from a Mortal Kombat movie.
The Kung Lao vs. Liu Kang fight was the standout, Josh Lawson’s Kano stole the show again, and Martyn Ford made Shao Kahn feel like a real threat.
Can Fan Word of Mouth Save It?
The lowered box office estimates don’t mean Mortal Kombat II is dead on arrival, especially with a $5.2 million Thursday preview number and a strong 90% fan score.
But the drop from $50 million expectations to the $40 million-plus range is still a warning sign.
Mortal Kombat II has the fans. It has the gore. It has the fatalities. It has the game loyalty.
Now the question is whether that fan enthusiasm can push the movie beyond the core audience, or if the empty theater I saw was a sign that the marketing didn’t fully connect.
