Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat

movie

R, 2021, Action, Adventure

WISE
18%

WISE Score

55

Avg. Tomatometer

Brutally violent video game adaptation where fighters get dismembered in 4K—this ain't the 1995 version your cool uncle let you watch.

IMDb6.1
RT Critics55%
MC44
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Look, if you're a fan of the Mortal Kombat games and you've been waiting to see Sub-Zero rip out someone's spine in glorious live-action, this movie delivers. It's violent, it's loud, it knows exactly what it is.

But let's be clear: this is not remotely appropriate for kids or even most teens. The R rating is earned in the first ten minutes and never lets up. We're talking dismemberment, decapitation, people getting frozen and shattered, blood everywhere. The F-word is practically a comma.

The critics were lukewarm (55% on RT, 44 on Metacritic) because the story is basically nonexistent—it's just a framework to get from one brutal fight to the next. But audiences liked it (85%) because it delivers fan service without apology.

From a WISE perspective, this scores terribly because it's designed to be unwholesome, offers minimal imagination beyond 'what if ice powers but violent,' is completely unsafe for family viewing, and enriches nothing except maybe your appreciation for stunt coordination. It's a guilty pleasure for adults who want to turn their brain off and watch supernatural fighters beat each other bloody.

Not everything needs to be enriching, and that's fine. But this isn't sneaking onto family movie night.

Age Fit

This is firmly adult territory—17+ minimum, and even then only for mature teens who can handle extreme graphic violence. Common Sense Media's age 16 recommendation is generous. Most parents should wait until 18+. If you have younger kids in the house, this needs to be watched after bedtime with headphones.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
15

This is a brutally violent film with constant profanity (heavy F-word use throughout), crude references, and a tone that glorifies graphic combat. Zero emotional health modeling, no cooperation or kindness themes—just relentless gore and aggression. The pacing is chaotic fight-to-fight structure with minimal character development.

Imaginative
45

The fantasy world-building of Outworld vs. Earthrealm and the various fighter powers (ice manipulation, teleportation, etc.) offer some imaginative elements. The concept of mystical tournaments and dimensional warfare has creative potential. However, it's all in service of repetitive fight sequences with little depth or invitation to explore ideas beyond 'punch harder.' Fans of the game franchise might appreciate the lore, but it doesn't inspire creative thinking.

Safe
5

Rated R for 'strong bloody violence and language throughout.' IMDb lists violence as 'Severe' with explicit gore including dismemberment, decapitation, and graphic kills. Common Sense Media recommends age 16+. This has exactly the kind of surprise violence and gore that would be completely inappropriate for any child to stumble upon. The profanity is pervasive. This is the opposite of safe for family viewing.

Enriching
20

Minimal cognitive or ethical growth here. The plot is paper-thin: fighter must find other fighters to fight. No meaningful character arcs, no real themes beyond 'defend Earth by winning fights.' Could spark interest in martial arts or stunt choreography, but the gratuitous violence overshadows any potential lessons about discipline or honor. Entertainment value exists for fans of extreme action, but it's junk food cinema with little nutritional value.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Faithful to the game's over-the-top fatalities and signature moves that fans have waited decades to see in live action
  • High production values with genuinely impressive martial arts choreography and stunt work
  • Delivers exactly what it promises: no-holds-barred fantasy combat with supernatural powers
  • Strong audience score (85% on RT) suggests it scratches the itch for action fans who know what they're signing up for
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What to Watch For

  • This is hardcore R-rated content—graphic dismemberment, decapitations, blood sprays, and brutal kills throughout
  • F-bombs drop constantly alongside crude sexual references
  • Paper-thin plot means you're essentially watching a 110-minute highlight reel of people killing each other in creative ways
  • Common Sense Media says 16+, but honestly this is really for adults who grew up with the games

Conversation Starters

  • "If you're watching with an older teen: What do you think separates fantasy violence like this from realistic violence in other movies?"
  • "Why do you think the Mortal Kombat games became so controversial in the 90s, and how did that shape video game ratings?"
  • "The movie is basically all fight scenes—does a story need more than that to be entertaining, or is spectacle enough?"

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