Mortal Kombat Annihilation 1997 vs Mortal Kombat II 2026

Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997) vs. Mortal Kombat II (2026)

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re pitting “Mortal Kombat Annihilation” against another sequel, “Mortal Kombat II.” Hey, ya never know. The final score may surprise you!

Round 1: Building Upon the Previous Film

“Annihilation” picks up immediately after “Mortal Kombat” 95. Yet, it feels like a soft reboot since Rayden, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage are all recast. It’s not a huge deal for Cage, who’s unceremoniously killed off. While Robin Shou is back as Liu Kang along with Talisa Soto as Kitana, we otherwise don’t have a connection to this cast of characters. As such, there’s little investment as they engage in fight after fight against the backdrop of an incomprehensible plot. Despite being more expensive than the previous film, “Annihilation” showcases effects so laughable that it makes the first film’s CGI look like “Jurassic Park.”

While 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” was a solid start to a new continuity, it also left room for the sequel to improve upon some elements. Cole Young was a pretty underwhelming protagonist. The sequel takes note of fan feedback, downgrading Cole to a supporting role while shining the spotlight on Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage and Adeline Rudolph’s Kitana. With several other characters added to the roster, this sequel might not be as focused as its 2021 predecessor. If you’re mainly here for fan service and fatalities, though, director Simon McQuoid continues to push boundaries with the hard-R-rated carnage that audiences paid for.

Whether or not you think “Mortal Kombat II” is better than the 2021 film, there’s no question that “Annihilation” took one of the biggest steps backwards in cinematic history… and it’s not like the 95 film was even a masterpiece. It was compared to “Annihilation,” however. “Mortal Kombat II” advances to the next level.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation 0 / Mortal Kombat II 1

Round 2: Doing Right by the Games

Loosely drawing from “Mortal Kombat 3,” “Annihilation” aspired to win over gamers, with producer Lawrence Kasanoff promising that there would be more characters, fights, and special effects. While that’s all technically true, “Annihilation” largely failed as an adaptation of the games. Yes, there were more characters like Jade, Nightwolf, and Shao Kahn, but they lacked any personality. Although some at least resembled their game counterparts, others just looked silly. Sure, there was more fighting, but “Annihilation” was even more lacking in gore than the 95 version. There might’ve been more special effects, but when the graphics in a Sega Genesis look more convincing, they’re not very special.

Say what you will about the plot, but there’s no denying that “Mortal Kombat II” is a movie for gamers. Not only does the roster include several fan favorites, but they all came with game-accurate costumes and personalities that feel true to who they are. This sequel also places more emphasis on the tournament angle, whereas the 2021 film only introduced it in the final act. Even if the CGI doesn’t always look realistic, the filmmakers capture the aesthetic of various stages that resemble the games. There’s no shortage of Easter eggs and in-jokes, including a cameo from “Mortal Kombat” co-creator Ed Boon.

We’d say that “Annihilation” had the production values of a fan film, but that would suggest a fan would’ve made this. “Mortal Kombat II,” meanwhile, is the movie that gamers have been waiting for. That’s two for “Mortal Kombat II.”

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation 0 / Mortal Kombat II 2

Round 3: The Fight Scenes

Is it weird to say that “Mortal Kombat Annihilation” has too much fighting? Okay, we expect action in any “Mortal Kombat” movie, but this one never takes a breather. It only occasionally stops to deliver exposition amid a series of fight scenes that often come out of nowhere. We’d be more forgiving if the fights themselves were cool. Alas, they’re sloppily edited, full of pointless backflips, and lack the blood that made the games so distinct. It doesn’t help that characters like Johnny go out on whimper notes. Even when Rayden faces off against Shao Kahn, what should be an epic battle ends in embarrassment for our hero.

There are moments in “Mortal Kombat II” where it feels like we’re watching the game come to life, especially during the fighting sequences. Every major character is given a moment to shine, whether they’re the ones delivering the finishing move or the ones enduring a fatality. Even the characters who do meet brutal ends put up a respectable fight before getting their arms torn off or heads bashed in. Once again, the filmmakers fully commit to the hard-R rating. It may be excessive, but the film does take time to earn our emotional investment in most of the characters squaring off.

Although both films are heavy on the fighting, it’s clear which one has more inventive choreography, a stronger visual eye, and engaging characters at the center. Winner: “Mortal Kombat II.”

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation 0 / Mortal Kombat II 3

Round 4: Story & Character Arcs

Could it be that “Mortal Kombat Annihilation” actually has a deep story about blood family vs. chosen family? Here us out! In the first film, Rayden united a group of fighters from different backgrounds, forming a familial bond. In the sequel, that family is torn apart by Rayden’s “brother.” Kitana also clashes with her biological mother, Sindel, who’s under Shao Kahn’s control. Our heroes look to Rayden for guidance, but for the first time, he seems lost. Rayden ultimately finds that it’ll be up to Liu Kang, Sonya, and other Earthrealm warriors to usher in a new tomorrow. So, the bones of the story aren’t bad. The problem is that the writing is horrendous, and the characters range from one note to having zero notes.

“Mortal Kombat II” has a similar setup, with Shao Kahn asserting himself as the big bad. Even if he’s not the most complex villain, they finally got his intimidating look down. Kitana has a compelling arc as she risks her life to save Outworld, coming into her own as a fighter and leader. Johnny Cage emerges as an unlikely defender of Earthrealm, finding that his true strength lies in his confidence. Characters like Jade and Kane are torn between the heroes and villains, ultimately evolving. Scorpion and Sub-Zero continue their rivalry, although we still would’ve liked to see more of them. Some of the other characters, namely Sonya, Jax, and Raiden, aren’t given the deepest arcs, but we still care whether or not they’ll live to fight another day.

Neither film is a Shakespearean work of storytelling, although when stacked up against “Annihilation,” “Mortal Kombat II” might as well be. Another round goes to “MKII,” but can it pull off a clean sweep?

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation 0 / Mortal Kombat II 4

Round 5: Humor

“Mortal Kombat Annihilation” is one of the most hilarious cinematic experiences we’ve ever had… not that it was intentional. To many, the film is just plain bad. If you’re in the right mindset, though, “Annihilation” is so bad that it’s a special kind of comedic gold. It’s one thing to have terrible writing, but the actors go a step beyond, delivering their lines in the most unnatural way possible. The - ahem - “dramatic” pause Sindel takes upon reuniting with Kitana is perhaps the most infamous example. Throw in CGI that was abysmal even by 1997 standards, continuity errors that showed how little the filmmakers cared, not to mention those giant hamster balls, and the result is a gloriously goofy mess destined to launch a million memes.

“Mortal Kombat II” actually does have intentionally funny moments, most of which once again come from Josh Lawson’s Kano. Few actors better balance badass moments with cheeky humor than Karl Urban. His moments with CJ Bloomfield’s Baraka are especially fun, with the latter becoming a Johnny Cage fanboy. Overall, the comedy here is very MCU-coded, which can admittedly be hit and miss. They keep reusing a variation of the same joke where someone says, “Hey, you look like [insert pop culture reference here],” be it Voldemort, Pennywise, or Gandalf. Funny to think that Urban was also in “Lord of the Rings,” but the gag gets old after a while. Still, at least there’s an attempt at legitimate humor.

While “Mortal Kombat II” technically might be more successful at bringing levity to the action, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t laugh from beginning to end while watching “Annihilation.” Yeah, the filmmakers weren’t trying to make a comedy, but neither was Tommy Wiseau when he made “The Room.” So, in a bizarre twist, “Annihilation” wins this round, even if it was by accident.

We’re as shocked as you are that “Annihilation” managed to win even one round. Regardless, this was hardly a close call. “Mortal Kombat II” pulls off a near-flawless victory!

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation 1 / Mortal Kombat II 4

Do you agree that “Mortal Kombat II” easily takes this, or do you think “Annihilation” is tragically misunderstood? Let us know in the comments.