For a first-time live-action marathon, watch Mortal Kombat (1995), Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), Mortal Kombat (2021), and Mortal Kombat II (2026) in release order. The 2020–2023 Mortal Kombat Legends movies form a separate animated branch: watch Scorpion’s Revenge, Battle of the Realms, Snow Blind, then Cage Match. In the United States, the latest availability signal places Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max from July 24, 2026, while catalog listings for older films vary by country and can change without notice.
The correct Mortal Kombat movie order
There are two practical viewing paths rather than one single, continuous saga. The live-action films split into an original 1990s continuity and a modern adaptation line. The animated Legends films are their own branch and should be watched in their release sequence.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Mortal Kombat (Blu-Ray) | $11.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Mortal Kombat [Limited Edition] [Blu-ray] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mortal Kombat Triple Feature (Mortal Kombat / Mortal Kombat: Annihilation / Mortal Kombat: Legacy)... | $11.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Mortal Kombat II (Blu-ray + Digital) | $22.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Mortal Kombat (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Live-action release order
| Order | Film | Year | Runtime | How it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal Kombat | 1995 | 1h 41m | Paul W. S. Anderson’s original live-action tournament adaptation. |
| 2 | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation | 1997 | 1h 35m | Direct live-action sequel to the 1995 film. |
| 3 | Mortal Kombat | 2021 | 1h 50m | New adaptation with a new principal cast and a separate modern starting point. |
| 4 | Mortal Kombat II | 2026 | Not stated in the cited listings | Live-action follow-up to the 2021 adaptation. |
Release order is the least confusing choice for a first watch because it preserves how the franchise’s screen versions developed. The 1995 and 1997 films belong together as an original-era pair. Warner and HBO Max describe the 2021 movie as a new film adaptation directed by Simon McQuoid with a new principal cast, so it is best treated as a fresh continuity rather than as a continuation of the 1997 story. That continuity distinction is an editorial reading of the production information, not an official label assigned by the studio.
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| Order | Film | Year | Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge | 2020 | Animated origin-and-tournament story centered on Scorpion. |
| 2 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms | 2021 | Second Legends film in the release sequence. |
| 3 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind | 2022 | Third Legends film. |
| 4 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match | 2023 | Fourth and latest listed Legends entry. |
These animated titles should not be inserted between the live-action movies. They are a distinct branch with their own storytelling continuity. You can watch the animated quartet after the live-action marathon, before it, or on its own without changing the live-action order.
#1 Best Overall
- Mortal Kombat (2021)
What each live-action movie contributes
Mortal Kombat (1995)
The first film adapts the tournament premise through Liu Kang, Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage as they face Shang Tsung and his forces. Its 1-hour-41-minute runtime and 1995 release identify it as the starting point of the original live-action cycle. Watching it first gives you the character and tournament setup that Annihilation assumes.
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
Annihilation is the direct sequel to the 1995 movie, directed by John R. Leonetti. JustWatch lists a 1-hour-35-minute runtime. It belongs immediately after the original film; moving it later in the marathon would separate a sequel from the story it follows.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
Simon McQuoid’s 2021 film is a new live-action adaptation rather than the next chapter of the 1995–1997 pair. Prime Video lists a 2021 release year and a 1-hour-50-minute runtime, with subscription, rental and purchase paths. HBO Max’s promotional material identifies the film as a new adaptation and names its new principal cast. Start here if you want the modern production first, but do not expect the plot or cast to carry over from Annihilation.
Rank #2
- Smart Earthlings must win a martial-arts battle in another dimension or see their world enslaved.
Mortal Kombat II (2026)
This is the live-action follow-up to the 2021 film, so it belongs directly after that movie in a modern-continuity marathon. Tom’s Guide records a U.S. theatrical opening of May 8, 2026. A current 2026 streaming calendar lists HBO Max availability from July 24, 2026. Because theatrical and streaming rights can differ by territory, use the service’s own listing in your country as the final check.
Where to stream the movies now
Streaming catalogs are territory-specific and rights can rotate. The dates below identify when the cited listings were checked; they are not guarantees that a title will remain on the same service.
United States: the 2021 film and current options
A JustWatch provider check dated October 12, 2026 lists Mortal Kombat (2021) on HBO Max/Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, TNT, TBS and truTV. The same check lists transactional viewing through Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store and Fandango at Home, plus DVD and Blu-ray purchase options.
Rank #3
| Viewing route | What the U.S. listing reports for Mortal Kombat (2021) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | HBO Max/Max and listed channel-based services | Viewers who already subscribe and do not need permanent ownership. |
| Rent or buy | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango at Home | A single film night or a collection without adding a subscription. |
| Physical copy | DVD and Blu-ray purchase options | Offline playback, a permanent copy or collectors who want a disc. |
For Mortal Kombat II, the operative U.S. signal is the July 24, 2026 HBO Max date listed by Cinemablend’s current streaming calendar. Earlier articles discussed possible dates before confirmation; treat those predictions as obsolete once the current service listing is available.
Spain examples: why a U.S. result cannot be generalized
Regional listings show how different the catalog can be. A Spain check dated September 24, 2026 lists the 1995 film on HBO Max, Tivify and HBO Max Amazon Channel, with Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Rakuten TV rental or purchase options. The same country listing places Mortal Kombat: Annihilation on Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total, HBO Max and HBO Max Amazon Channel, with Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Rakuten TV transactional options.
Those Spain results are examples, not a promise for viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or elsewhere. Enter your country in a provider-aggregation service, then open the listed service or storefront and confirm the title page before paying.
Rank #4
- Bonus Content
- Blu-ray
- Digital Copy
The animated branch and digital availability
A Spain listing for Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge shows purchase options through Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store and Rakuten TV. Availability for the other Legends films is not established uniformly across the cited listings. Do not assume that every animated entry is included with HBO Max or any other subscription; some may be purchase-only or unavailable in a particular country.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose subscription, rental, purchase or disc
The cheapest or simplest route depends on how many films you plan to watch and whether you want to keep them. Compare the options on five practical factors.
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| Factor | Subscription stream | One-time rental | Digital purchase | DVD/Blu-ray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment pattern | Recurring fee; the film may be included while rights last. | Single transaction with a limited viewing window set by the storefront. | Single transaction for a library license under the store’s terms. | One-time purchase of a physical item. |
| Picture quality | Service-dependent; check the title page for HD or 4K. | Check the specific listing for HD or 4K. | Check the store edition and device support. | Blu-ray generally offers higher disc quality than DVD; exact mastering varies. |
| Country access | Changes when the service’s local rights expire or move. | Can differ by storefront and country. | Storefront catalog and licensing are regional. | Disc ownership avoids streaming rotation, but playback and shipping are practical considerations. |
| Best use | A full marathon when all desired films are included. | Trying one title before committing. | Keeping a favorite without storing a disc. | Offline viewing or a permanent collection. |
Before starting a marathon, check whether each film is included in the same subscription. A title that appears in a search result may require a higher tier, a channel add-on or a separate rental. The transaction screen, not a search snippet, is the decisive source for price and picture quality.
Best Value
Three practical watch plans
Plan A: complete live-action release marathon
- Watch Mortal Kombat (1995).
- Continue immediately with Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997).
- Start the modern branch with Mortal Kombat (2021).
- Finish with Mortal Kombat II (2026), using the current local listing rather than an old predicted date.
This plan takes you through both live-action eras in the order audiences originally received them.
Plan B: modern films only
- Watch Mortal Kombat (2021).
- Watch Mortal Kombat II (2026).
Choose this route if you want the current adaptation line and do not need the 1995–1997 continuity first.
Plan C: animated Legends marathon
- Scorpion’s Revenge (2020).
- Battle of the Realms (2021).
- Snow Blind (2022).
- Cage Match (2023).
This is a self-contained animated sequence. It does not serve as a prologue or sequel to either live-action branch.
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What to do when a movie is unavailable
- Confirm the country setting. A listing from Spain or the United States may not apply to your account’s region.
- Check the exact edition. Search separately for the 1995 and 2021 films; they share the title but are different movies.
- Look for a channel add-on. A service may show the film while requiring an additional subscription through the platform.
- Compare rental and purchase pages. If the subscription option disappears, a digital storefront or physical disc may still be available.
- Verify the date. Rights changes can remove a film after a calendar entry was published, so confirm the title page immediately before watching.
- Do not substitute an animated entry by accident. The Legends films are separate from the live-action stories and may appear under a different franchise filter.
Do you need to watch the animated movies?
No. The animated films are optional if your goal is the live-action story. Watch them when you want a different interpretation of the mythology, an animated visual style or a Scorpion-focused starting point. Their release order is straightforward, but their availability is less consistent than the current U.S. listing for the 2021 live-action film, so plan to rent or buy individual entries if a subscription does not include them.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
