Initially scheduled to hit the screens in October 2025, the Mortal Kombat II theatrical launch has been delayed till Might 15, 2026. A particular bummer for these excited to leap again into the violent martial arts event format that has made the online game and its variations revered fan favorites. Preventing sport followers are actually getting their fill, with each Mortal Kombat II and Avenue Fighter set for theatrical releases, however whereas ready for the discharge, different movies can assist fill that void.
From a Jean-Claude Van Damme basic to a futuristic brawl to the dying, these 10 motion movies characteristic a martial arts event type or contain a high-stakes competitors; excellent to carry you over till Mortal Kombat II hits the screens.
‘Bloodsport’ (1988)
Expert American martial artist Frank Dux (performed by Jean-Claude Van Damme) decides to enter an unlawful kumite event in Hong Kong. Frank finds himself arising towards completely different martial artists from all over the world, all with distinctive preventing types. But, the favored champion, Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), serves as Frank’s closing battle after many hard-fought and bloody victories.
Quintessential ’80s Motion
It is troublesome to not point out the enjoyable, but violent, tournament-themed martial arts motion pictures with out immediately pondering of Bloodsport, one of the vital revered within the subgenre. The film not solely put Jean-Claude Van Damme on the map for motion fanatics, nevertheless it delivered an emotional story of redemption, one of the vital memorable villains of all time within the motion style, Chong Li (Bolo Yeung), and loads of bone-crunching motion. The film is a revered basic that’s straightforward to revisit and a necessary look ahead to youthful motion followers who haven’t seen it.
‘Battle Creek Brawl’ (1980)
Jerry Kwan (Jackie Chan) is the son of a Chinese language-American restaurant proprietor and a talented martial artist. When the mob involves harass his father, and Jerry chases them away along with his abilities, this catches the attention of a mob boss. Kidnapping Jerry’s brother’s fiancée, the mob coerces him into getting into a martial arts event in Battle Creek, Texas.
Jackie Chan Involves Texas
From now till he stops making motion pictures, the movies of Jackie Chan will all the time emphasize spectacle, based mostly on a lifetime of the actor pushing the style ahead with back-breaking stunts and explosive motion. However Battle Creek Brawl is the perfect alternative for individuals who need some tournament-themed chaos, inserting Jackie Chan in Thirties Chicago in a no-holds-barred road combat event towards a plethora of eccentric fighters. It might not be the most effective amongst his basic movies, nevertheless it completely matches the invoice right here.
‘Fist of the North Star’ (1995)
A live-action adaptation of the favored manga Hokuto no Ken, Fist of the North Star follows Kenshiro (Gary Daniels), the final practitioner of the lethal martial artwork, wandering a post-apocalyptic panorama. When his fiancée is captured by the tyrannical warlord Shin, Kenshiro should combat his means via a sequence of ruthless killers to avoid wasting his companion.
A Flawed however Enjoyable Adaptation
A beautiful piece of ’90s motion, which has aged higher with time, with its B-movie silliness extra brazenly embraced. Right here you’ve got a (form of) event arrange, with Kenshiro navigating via a dystopian panorama confronted by all types of eccentric characters, together with Sean Penn as Jackal and Malcolm McDowell as Ryuken. A flawed adaptation, however those that care about well-choreographed martial arts and being entertained will discover this a enjoyable gem to get the blood pumping.
‘The King of the Kickboxers’ (1990)
Jake Donahue (performed by Loren Avedon), as a child, witnesses his brother get murdered after competing in a martial arts event overseas. He grows as much as develop into a cop, remaining obsessive about discovering out the reality about his brother. When he will get phrase that there’s a corporation tricking fighters into lethal fights, making a revenue off of recording their deaths, he heads to Thailand to research and take revenge.
A Gritty and Violent Kumite
If you need a brutal high-stakes kumite, look no additional than The King of the Kickboxers. Whereas the film does have a bit extra of a gritty edge, bordering on exploitative at factors, the motion is introduced as an intense dying sport with a maniacal villain pushing fighters into lethal bouts; how are you going to additionally not love Billy Blanks as a ruthless killer!? The film would get considerably drowned out within the inflow of comparable motion pictures impressed by Bloodsport, nevertheless it has an everlasting cult following for a very good purpose.
‘Shamo’ (2007)
Mannequin pupil Ryo Narushima, out of nowhere, snaps sooner or later and kills his complete household. IN jail, Ryo turns into the goal of others however is quickly taken underneath the wing of a former revolutionary and fighter who teaches him martial arts. On his launch, Ryo seeks his sister, whom he believes has fallen into an abusive way of life of medication and questionable relationships. To fund his search, he enters the world of underground kickboxing.
The By no means-Ending Cycle of Violence
Much less bleak than the underrated manga it’s based mostly on, the difference of Shamo stays one of many extra gritty and violent tournament-style motion movies popping out of Hong Kong. The film actually captures the high-stakes side, as each battle feels just like the be-all-end-all if Ryo is unable to finest his opponent and continues his search to avoid wasting his sister. The film additionally provides a contemplative edge for these searching for extra depth of their motion, exploring the character of violence via a morally ambiguous protagonist. In fact, and most significantly, the motion right here is top-notch.
‘The Condemned’ (2007)
Convict Jack Conrad (Performed by Steve Austin) is given an opportunity to combat for his freedom and a money prize, when he’s chosen with a number of different inmates to battle to the dying on a distant island. As their predicament is forged worldwide, unlikely alliances are fashioned as tens of millions stay -bet on the occasions. Nonetheless, the looming realization that just one can depart alive turns the sport right into a lethal combat for survival the place nobody could be trusted.
A Battle to the Demise on a Distant Island
Not fairly as commercially polished as Starvation Video games and missing the depth of Battle Royale, The Condemned is notable when in search of a title particularly to carry one over till Mortal Kombat II. Excessive-octane and violent motion, with Stone Chilly on the forefront, delivers on continuous, bone-crunching leisure. A enjoyable piece of escapism which managed to get a sequel that can be a crowd pleaser, particularly for wrestling followers, as Randy Orton continued on the legacy began by Steve Austin.
‘Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior’ (2003)
A younger martial artist, Ting (Tony Jaa), from a small village in Thailand, volunteers to go to Bangkok after a sacred Buddhist statue is stolen by gangsters from the world. To revive honor to his village, Ting has to navigate the world of brutal criminals and underground martial arts tournaments, utilizing his Muay Thai prowess.
Groundbreaking Struggle Choreography and Stunt Work
On launch, Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior garnered a cult following for its genuine method to motion in extremely polished martial arts based mostly on Muay Thai and gorgeous stunt work. Whereas the film is now considerably ignored, with the continued evolution of the style, it is actually value revisiting, notably for the event angle, which delivers loads of memorable fights. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior can be an enticing and emotional underdog story, for individuals who need a little bit of coronary heart with their fisticuffs.
‘Area’ (1989)
Deemed one among Earth’s mightiest fighters, Steve Armstrong (Paul Satterfield) is drafted to combat in an intergalactic event towards different alien life, all for the leisure of a species often called the Lir. Every battle towards aliens and different people pushes Steve to the boundaries as he should study to adapt to face otherworldly threats.
An Intergalactic Demise Match
Mortal Kombat has acquired a contemporary polish with its trendy adaptation, however let’s not overlook the style’s campy roots, which embrace some foolish character designs and sport mechanics. Area actually captures the ridiculous aspect of the Mortal Kombat video video games, and basic preventing video games typically, with its weird forged of characters with gimmicky preventing types. Match preventing with a sci-fi twist, Area could also be budgeted and ridiculous, nevertheless it stays an endearing favourite in its embrace of its weird premise.
‘Blood and Bone’ (2009)
After being launched from jail, martial artist Isaiah Bone (Michael Jai White) heads again into the world to maintain a promise made to a deceased buddy: take down the legal group chargeable for his dying. Upon heading to LA, Bone discovers that an underground unlawful preventing circuit run by against the law boss, Anthony “Tank” Tannen (Eamonn Walker), is his ticket to getting redemption for his buddy.
MMA at Its Most Genuine
Michael Jai White brings legitimacy to any motion manufacturing via his dedication to martial arts, with Blood and Bone being an exemplary showcase of his talent set. For the tournament-themed motion movie, the film punches above its finances because of some phenomenal combat choreography based mostly on actual MMA fundamentals. You need continuous, brutal, hand-to-hand fight? Then Blood and Bone must be a must-watch.
‘Mortal Kombat’ (1995)
An historic martial arts event, held as soon as each technology, locations champions from Earth towards these from Outworld for the way forward for humanity. The god of lightning and protector of Earthrealm, Raiden, gathers Earth’s strongest fighters, together with Liu Kang (Robin Shou), Sonya Blade (Bridgette Wilson), and Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby), to cease the evil Shang Tsung (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa).
’90s Nostalgia at Its Greatest
This alternative is a little bit of a no brainer, although you might arguably additionally feasibly go together with the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie. Nonetheless, the unique Mortal Kombat film actually is aware of learn how to construct hype, from its pulse-pounding techno rating, its one-liners pulled from the sport, and a nostalgic ’90s imaginative and prescient of the characters. All these parts give the unique adaptation a little bit of an edge in build up hype for the latest entry within the franchise.
Mortal Kombat II
- Launch Date
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Might 15, 2026
- Runtime
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116 Minutes
- Writers
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Jeremy Slater
- Producers
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E. Bennett Walsh, Toby Emmerich, Todd Garner, James Wan