I stared at the new Mortal Kombat II character posters for a good ten minutes. Not because they're beautiful. Not even because they're ridiculous. But because they feel like a nostalgic punch to the face. And honestly? I liked it.
Karl Urban's Johnny Cage is front and center, looking like he just wandered off the set of a Monster Energy commercial. Tati Gabrielle oozes menace. Mehcad Brooks is jacked beyond reason. Hiroyuki Sanada returns as Scorpion, still the coolest guy in a flaming mask. It's all very loud. Very sweaty. Very… Mortal Kombat.
And look—I get it. Posters aren't the movie. But let's not pretend they're meaningless either. These things set the tone. And right now? The tone is maximum camp meets brutal-core with a side of “don't ask questions, just vibe.”
Mortal Kombat II: Back For More Bone-Crunching
This sequel, dropping October 24, 2025 in theaters and IMAX (save the date, if your spine can handle it), is once again helmed by Simon McQuoid. He directed the first one—the 2021 reboot that did surprisingly well, considering it launched during a global existential crisis and still managed to pull decent numbers and decent-enough reactions.
Now we're back in the fight: Earthrealm vs Outworld, fists vs magic, and the eternal question—can anyone actually beat Sub-Zero without freezing mid-sentence?
The posters feature just about everyone you'd expect (and a few you forgot existed):
- Karl Urban (Johnny Cage, clearly having the most fun)
- Tati Gabrielle (Jade, channeling calm rage)
- Mehcad Brooks (Jax, with arms that deserve their own billing)
- Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion, obviously)
- Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Ana Thu Nguyen
- Plus: Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Max Huang, Joe Taslim, and CJ Bloomfield
It's basically the MK equivalent of Infinity War, if Infinity War involved more spinal fatalities.
Why These Posters Work (Sort Of)
Okay, deep breath: are these the most creatively inspired one-sheets ever? Not really. The color grading screams “dark mode.” Every background looks like it's been dipped in ash and blood. And everyone's doing that thing where they half-turn like they're about to either pose or pounce. It's formulaic, sure.
But in this universe? That works.
You don't come to Mortal Kombat for nuance. You come for fan service, blood-soaked outfits, and weapons that should absolutely not be legal. These posters say one thing clearly: “We're not here to mess around. We're here to punch a god in the face and scream about it.”
Real Talk: Is This Just Hype?
Probably. But I'm into it.
There's something unapologetically dumb and wonderful about this franchise. It knows it's a video game movie. It leans in. Hard. And with Urban chewing scenery, Gabrielle ready to kill with a look, and Hiroyuki Sanada returning like he never left? I mean… how do you not get a little hyped?
Will the movie deliver? Who knows. The first was fun, uneven, a little clunky—and also exactly what it needed to be. If this one can crank up the ridiculous while keeping just enough of a straight face, we might just have a solid guilty pleasure on our hands.
Then again, they could totally blow it. That's the gamble.
