Mortal Kombat 3's Chances Just Got A Boost Despite $129M Box Office Disappointment

Published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

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Unfortunately, Mortal Kombat II's box office didn't quite live up to those expectations. It did set a new franchise record high with $129 million worldwide. The reason for the disappointment, though, comes down to the sequel being made for $80 million. Mortal Kombat II fell short of becoming a profitable theatrical release with its box office total, raising questions about the franchise's future.

Mortal Kombat 3 was announced to be in development even before the second installment hit theaters, with Mortal Kombat II writer Jeremy Slater confirming he was writing the script again. Warner Bros. never officially declared a green light on the production, waiting to see how the second movie did. The box office results weren't enough to justify announcing a third movie.

But Mortal Kombat II has now found new life on streaming. The sequel debuted on HBO Max in late July and quickly caught more people's attention. That's good news for how the movie can be perceived by Warner Bros., which is just the good news Mortal Kombat 3 needed.

Mortal Kombat 2's Streaming Success Is A Good Sign For MK3

In the weeks since Mortal Kombat II came to streaming, it has been the undisputed #1 movie on HBO Max worldwide. Mortal Kombat II topped the streamer's charts immediately, and interest has not wavered in the weeks since. According to FlixPatrol, the sequel is still the most-watched movie on HBO Max, and by a healthy margin based on the reported interest.

This gives WB some tangible evidence that there is great interest in the Mortal Kombat franchise. Only the studio knows the exact viewership data that the sequel has drawn, but the signs are positive from what we can see. Had the movie tanked on streaming, the franchise surely would be dead. Now, Mortal Kombat II's popularity on streaming will give the studio an extra reason to consider making Mortal Kombat 3.

After all, franchise director Simon McQuoid teased that Mortal Kombat II's popularity on streaming could play a factor in determining Mortal Kombat 3's status. He said in an interview that "the lifecycle of [Mortal Kombat II] needs to totally play out" before any official decision can be made on the future. That suggests WB wasn't only looking at the box office performance to determine if the franchise should continue.

Mortal Kombat II dominating on streaming only boosts Mortal Kombat 3's probability of happening. That announcement is still up to WB to make, but the odds of it happening do look better now.

Why Mortal Kombat 3 Deserves To Happen

It would be a real shame if Mortal Kombat 3 didn't happen after all. Mortal Kombat II isn't perfect, but it is a really fun and enjoyable action movie that improves upon many elements from the first film. McQuoid has earned a shot at continuing the story, especially after Karl Urban's Johnny Cage and Adeline Rudolph's Kitana proved to be compelling new characters to focus the franchise around.

Mortal Kombat 3 also feels necessary after the sequel-teasing Mortal Kombat II ending. The second film wrapped up with Earth's remaining heroes embarking on an adventure to save their fallen comrades, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Jax. If Mortal Kombat 3 doesn't happen, this ending will age poorly and always leave viewers wanting a sequel that never came.

Mortal Kombat II's box office performance and streaming popularity suggest that there is enough interest in Mortal Kombat 3. It could be an even bigger hit after its predecessor's combined success. But to be safe, WB should try to find a way to keep the budget a bit lower and maximize the opportunity for Mortal Kombat 3 to be a hit in theaters, as well as on streaming.