Mortal Kombat II: producer responds to reviewer criticism

The producer of Mortal Kombat II, Todd Garner, has taken aim at reviewers whom he says don’t understand the rules and canon of the video games the film is based on. His comments came after the movie received several reviews he считает unfair.

Reactions to reviews

With a Tomatometer score of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, Mortal Kombat II is one of the highest-rated video game movies of all time. The film is only behind Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released in 2024, and Werewolves Within, which came out in 2021. IGN gave Mortal Kombat II an 8/10, noting that the film ranks above many other video game adaptations.

Garner complained on social media about nitpicky criticism of some playful elements, such as having a character with a laser eye, a nod to iconic fighter Kano. “Some of these reviews are hilarious. It’s clear they never played the game and have no idea what fans want or what the rules of Mortal Kombat are,” Garner said.

The role of criticism

Garner’s comments sparked mixed reactions from both fans and critics. Filmmaker and critic Griffin Schiller noted that he finds the way films are judged based on knowledge of the source material problematic. He argued that movies should be evaluated on their own merits, not just as fan service for game fans.

Garner later clarified his position, saying his remarks were aimed at reviews that struggled with the basic concepts of the Mortal Kombat franchise, such as “zombies” and the presence of a “guy with a laser eye.” He argued that this kind of criticism undermines the ability to judge the film objectively.

Community discussion

Amid the debate, some fans reminded the producer of issues with the first film, especially the controversial introduction of new character Cole Young and inconsistencies in the lore of characters like Mileena and Kitana. That shaped some of the responses Garner received, with some fans saying his team has also made mistakes in how the franchise was represented.

The use of the Arcana concept, introduced in the earlier film and absent from the games, was also raised as a point of criticism. It made the discussion even more contentious, especially since it did not appear in the games and left many fans feeling alienated.

The franchise’s future

Despite the differing opinions on the reviews, Mortal Kombat II appears to be heading toward a strong box office run. In addition, Mortal Kombat III has already been confirmed to be in development. The future of the franchise looks promising, despite the criticism.