Mortal Kombat II Streaming Release: How to Watch on HBO Max

The sequel to the 2021 reboot of the video game franchise, Mortal Kombat II, is scheduled to open in movie theaters on May 8, 2026.

Directed by Simon McQuoid, who also directed the first film, and written by Jeremy Slater, the story focuses on the Earthrealm champions and their battles against Shao Kahn, who threatens to take over the world.

The film features several returning cast members, including Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, and Mehcad Brooks as Jax.

Joining the cast for the sequel are Karl Urban, who plays Johnny Cage, as well as Adeline Rudolph and Tati Gabrielle, who portray Kitana and Jade, respectively.

Warner Bros. Is utilizing a theater-only release strategy for this installment. This marks a shift from the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, which was released simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max because audiences were not yet ready to return to theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the movie is only available in theaters starting May 8, 2026, it is expected to eventually be available on streaming platforms.

In preparation for the theatrical debut of the sequel, HBO Max added the complete Mortal Kombat film collection to its library on July 1, 2025.

This collection represents the first time the entire live-action and animated catalog has been available on a single platform. The live-action offerings include:

• Mortal Kombat (1995)
• Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
• Mortal Kombat (2021 reboot)

The streaming rollout also includes four animated films from the Mortal Kombat Legends series: Scorpion’s Revenge, Battle of the Realms, Snow Blind, and Cage Match.

The franchise began as a groundbreaking arcade fighting game released by Midway in 1992, gaining notoriety for its Fatality finishing moves and stylized violence.

The first film adaptation, released in 1995 and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, was a commercial success that grossed over $120 million worldwide.

A sequel titled Mortal Kombat: Annihilation followed in 1997, though it did not match the success of the original film and faced criticism from reviewers and fans.

After years of development, the series was rebooted with the 2021 live-action film. Despite mixed reviews, the movie performed well enough during the pandemic-era box office to secure the production of the current sequel.