Mortal Kombat II (2026)

Karl Urban plays a washed-up movie star whose best fights all happened on a soundstage, and he’s the only person in Mortal Kombat II who seems in on the joke. Everyone else is buried in lore. Revived warriors, a stolen amulet, a tyrant emperor and a realm called Edenia pile up like a stack of trading cards, and the dialogue is mostly groan-worthy one-liners. The tournament format helps, since it chops the story into fights, and the fights are loud, fast and constant. Urban’s Johnny Cage gets the best arc, a has-been who turns down saving the world and then finds his nerve by beating Baraka, leader of the Tarkatans, one on one. Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), a princess raised by the villain who secretly works against him, gets the other story worth following. It made $129.6 million worldwide on a reported $80M. A 4.6 because Urban is a blast and the rest is button-mashing. $41.26 says you lose one board game this week and demand a best-of-ten tournament for the fate of the realm.

What works: Karl Urban is a hoot as a has-been action star, and the tournament keeps the fights coming fast for fans of the games.

What doesn’t: The story is a tangle of amulets, revived warriors and realms, the dialogue is cheesy, and the endless battles start to blur together.

Who it’s for: Longtime fans of the games who just want their favorite fighters on a big screen, story optional.