| Mortal Kombat | |
|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Mortal_Kombat_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul W. S. Anderson |
| Written by | Kevin Droney |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Lawrence Kasanoff |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | John R. Leonetti |
| Edited by | Martin Hunter |
| Music by | George S. Clinton |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release date |
|
Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million[1] |
| Box office | $122.2 million[2] |
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American martial arts fantasy film[3] directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, it is the first installment in the Mortal Kombat film series. Starring Linden Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, Talisa Soto, and Christopher Lambert, the film follows a group of heroes who participate in the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament to protect Earth from being conquered by malevolent forces. Its story primarily adapts the original 1992 game, while also using elements from the game Mortal Kombat II (1993).
Development of a film adaptation began shortly after the release of Mortal Kombat II when independent producer Lawrence Kasanoff acquired the rights from Midway Games. Newcomer director Paul W. S. Anderson was hired based on the strength of his debut Shopping, with a screenplay written by Kevin Droney. Filming took place primarily in Thailand, with fight sequences supervised by Pat E. Johnson and Robin Shou.
The film premiered in the United States on August 18, 1995. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the martial art sequences, atmosphere, and production values, but criticized the performances, script, and toned-down violence from the games. Despite the mixed critical response, the film was well-received by fans of the series. It was also a commercial success, grossing $122.2 million on a $20 million budget.
Mortal Kombat was followed by a 1997 sequel, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, along with two television series: the animated sequel Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (1996) and the live-action prequel Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1998–1999). The follow-ups were unable to match the original film's success, and the series was rebooted with a 2021 film.
- ^ "Mortal Kombat (1995) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
BOMwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Blaise, Judd. "Mortal Kombat". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2017-09-12.