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Watch order

Mortal Kombat movie watch order

Theatrical Mortal Kombat films in US release order—Paul W.S. Anderson’s 1995 hit, Annihilation (1997), and Simon McQuoid’s 2021 soft reboot—with two continuity lanes and a clear split from Midway/NetherRealm game chronology on Mortal Kombat games. Mortal Kombat 2 (2021 sequel), Conquest TV, Legacy web series, and animated Legends films stay FAQ-only until firm US dates or a deliberate media expansion.

Updated August 2026

Release order

When each theatrical Mortal Kombat film premiered in the US—one row per movie. Mortal Kombat (1995) opened August 18, 1995; Annihilation followed November 21, 1997; the 2021 reboot opened April 23, 2021. For arcade through MK1 (2023) play order, use Mortal Kombat games.

  • 90s lane → Mortal Kombat (1995) → Annihilation (1997)
  • Reboot lane → Mortal Kombat (2021) alone until MK2 ships
  • Nostalgia binge → 1995 only; soft-skip Annihilation if you want tone over plot
  • MK2, Conquest, Legacy, Legends → FAQ only—no Release rows yet
Story order tips

Two film lanes, listed release-like for clarity: the 1990s Hollywood pair (1995 → Annihilation) as one continuous tournament/Outworld arc, then the 2021 reboot as a soft reset with a new cast and Earthrealm champions—not a direct sequel to Liu Kang’s 1995 victory. Story tips spell out the break so Release and Story tabs do not imply one timeline.

  • 1995 → Annihilation — same 90s Hollywood lane (tournament then Outworld invasion)
  • 2021 → soft reboot; new champions and lore beats—not a week-later sequel to 1995
  • Two lanes → do not watch 2021 as chapter three of the 90s pair
  • Games chronology → separate on Mortal Kombat games

Timeline

When each season premiered in the US. Expand a row for dates and where it fits in your watch order.

Release order

  1. Mortal Kombat (1995)

    Mortal Kombat (1995)

    TheatricalFilmLive-action90s lane

    Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage answer Shang Tsung’s island invitation for the Mortal Kombat tournament—Paul W.S. Anderson’s 1995 New Line hit that turned Midway’s fighter into a martial-arts fantasy with Christopher Lambert’s Raiden and a still-quoted industrial soundtrack.

    Overview
    Translated digitized fighters into practical-stunt spectacle and Outworld myth without remaking any single arcade ending. It locked the 90s Hollywood tone—earnest heroes, one-liners, and tournament structure—that Annihilation continues and the 2021 film later soft-resets.
    Related games
    Hollywood adaptation only—shared names with Midway classics on Mortal Kombat games, not Klassic story canon. Watch for nostalgia; play for game lore.
    Where it fits
    Start here for the 90s lane. Optional before Annihilation; not required before the 2021 reboot. No game playthrough needed first.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical premiere August 18, 1995 (New Line Cinema); later home video and streaming rotations.
  2. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

    Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

    TheatricalFilmLive-action90s lane

    Direct 90s sequel: Earthrealm faces Shao Kahn’s invasion after the island tournament, with returning and recast champions racing Outworld threats. John R. Leonetti’s 1997 follow-up keeps the same Hollywood lane as the 1995 film—louder, denser, and often treated as optional after the first movie’s cult glow.

    Overview
    Pushes the 1995 cast into full invasion spectacle—more Outworld creatures, family lore swings, and sequel set pieces. Continuity stays inside the 90s pair; it does not bridge to the 2021 soft reboot or NetherRealm’s game resets.
    Related games
    Still Hollywood-only. Invasion motifs echo MK3-era games on Mortal Kombat games without matching Midway plot beats—treat as film fan service, not a game remake.
    Where it fits
    Watch after Mortal Kombat (1995) only if you want the full 90s pair. Soft-skip is fine for tone—many viewers stop after 1995. Never required before 2021.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical premiere November 21, 1997; widely available later on DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming.
  3. Mortal Kombat (2021)

    Mortal Kombat (2021)

    TheatricalHBO MaxFilmLive-actionReboot lane

    Simon McQuoid’s soft reboot follows new Earthrealm champions—centered on Cole Young—against Outworld killers as Raiden’s realm prepares for another tournament cycle. Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, and Joe Taslim headline a bloodier, modern-action take that ignores 1995/1997 plot continuity.

    Overview
    New Line’s 2021 relaunch trades 90s tournament nostalgia for origin-of-champions grit, fatal blows, and a wider roster cameo energy. It soft-resets Hollywood MK rather than continuing Liu Kang’s 1995 ending—clear second lane beside the 90s pair.
    Related games
    Separate from Midway Klassic and NetherRealm reboot/New Era paths on Mortal Kombat games. Character names overlap; film plot does not slot between MK11 and MK1 (2023).
    Where it fits
    Start here for the modern film lane. Skip the 90s pair if you only want the reboot. Mortal Kombat 2 stays FAQ-only until a firm US date ships.
    Premiere dates
    US release April 23, 2021—theatrical and same-day HBO Max premiere window; later home platforms and streaming.

FAQ

1995 vs 2021 continuity, whether to soft-skip Annihilation, games vs films, MK2 sequel status, and optional TV/animation.

Watch order

Yes. Many viewers watch 1995 for the tone and soundtrack, then soft-skip Annihilation—the sequel continues the same lane but is widely seen as weaker. Skip it without losing the 2021 reboot path; 2021 does not require either 90s film.

Canon & games

No. The 1995 film and Annihilation (1997) are one Hollywood lane. The 2021 film is a soft reboot with a new cast and story—same franchise branding, separate plot continuity. Treat them as two watch paths.

The games timeline (Mortal Kombat games) covers Midway classics through Armageddon, the NetherRealm reboot (MK9–11), and Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) New Era. This page is theatrical films only.

Optional & extras

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.