Despite a disappointing box office return from the sequel, Mortal Kombat 3 can still happen, and it should — as long as New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. implement this major change.
Mortal Kombat II opened this past weekend in 3,503 theaters domestically. The second Mortal Kombat movie was supposed to relaunch the franchise theatrically after 2021’s Mortal Kombat was released day-and-date on HBO Max and only grossed $42 million in North America.
Early tracking estimates from a few weeks ago had Mortal Kombat II opening to $50 million. Unfortunately for the studio, that number decreased by 20%, as Mortal Kombat II underperformed with a $40 million opening. Add in $23 million overseas, and the Mortal Kombat sequel launched to $63 million globally.
It’s not the start WB had planned for, but there’s still hope for the video game franchise to craft a third movie.
Why Mortal Kombat 3 still makes sense despite II’s box office
The box office totals might have been lower than expected, but it’s still an improvement from the 2021 reboot. Mortal Kombat ended its theatrical run at $84.4 million worldwide. At $63 million in one weekend, Mortal Kombat II is going to pass Mortal Kombat’s box office total in the coming weeks. Mortal Kombat II will also make back and surpass its $80 million budget.
Streaming played an integral role in Mortal Kombat’s success. The 2021 reboot became HBO Max’s most-watched original movie of that year. If Mortal Kombat II can also perform on streaming, it could justify a third movie.
New Line Cinema is already eyeing Mortal Kombat III, with Jeremy Slater returning to pen the script. If the studio moves forward with the third movie, they should consider moving the release date too.
Mortal Kombat II originally had an October release date before WB moved it to May. For a game known for its appeal to young men and boys, releasing Mortal Kombat II on Mother’s Day weekend was strange. The studio probably thought it would be good counter-program for The Devil Wears Prada 2, which was in its second weekend. The Devil Wears Prada 2 won the weekend with a $43 million opening. If WB moves Mortal Kombat 3 to a different weekend, perhaps to October, it could have a better runway for box office success.
Mortal Kombat II is now in theaters everywhere.