LOS ANGELES — The video game sequel “Mortal Kombat II” opened to an estimated $40 million at the domestic box office this weekend, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
Distributed by Warner Bros., the film played in 3,503 theaters and added $23 million from international markets for a global debut of $63 million. Budgeted at roughly $80 million, the R-rated action title marks a significant improvement over the first “Mortal Kombat” film, which opened to $23.3 million domestically in April 2021 during the height of the pandemic (and also received a same-day HBO Max release).
Despite the stronger domestic performance, the international bow landed softer than some analysts had projected for a franchise with broad global recognition. “Mortal Kombat II” finished the weekend in second place overall, behind holdover champion “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
The Anne Hathaway–Meryl Streep sequel held the No. 1 spot in its second frame with an estimated $43 million (a 44% drop from its opening), pushing its domestic total to $144.8 million and worldwide gross past $433 million — already surpassing the lifetime haul of the 2006 original.
The overall domestic marketplace showed robust health, rising 88% from the same weekend last year thanks to strong holdover business and counter-programming.
Critics gave “Mortal Kombat II” mixed-to-positive reviews (65% on Rotten Tomatoes), while audiences awarded it a solid “B” CinemaScore. Early word-of-mouth will be critical as the film heads into its second week, especially overseas where the opening fell short of expectations for the long-running fighting-game brand.
Industry observers noted the release as timely counter-programming for Mother’s Day weekend and a positive sign for the continued viability of big-screen video game adaptations following recent hits in the genre.
Full final figures are expected Monday from Warner Bros. and rival studios.
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