Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

Company type	Direct-to-video film
Industry	Animation, Film
Predecessor	Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
Founded	2021 (2021)
Founder	Ethan Spaulding (director), Jeremy Adams (writer)
Fate	Released
Successor	Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Worldwide (digital and Blu-ray release)
Key people	Ethan Spaulding (director), Jeremy Adams (writer), Ed Boon (creator, creative guidance), John Tobias (creator)
Products	Animated martial arts film
Owner	Warner Bros. Animation
Parent	Warner Bros. Animation

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms is a 2021 American adult animated martial arts movie released directly to video, directed by Ethan Spaulding and scripted by Jeremy Adams. This film, part of the Mortal Kombat universe created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, serves as the second chapter in the Legends series and continues the story from Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020). The production was handled by Warner Bros. Animation with animation by Studio Mir, while Boon returned to provide creative guidance.

The storyline integrates elements from several games in the franchise, focusing on the Mortal Kombat competition held in Outworld. The protagonist, Liu Kang, is selected as the champion of the tournament, whereas Scorpion strives to stop the Kamidogu artifact from being seized by Shinnok. This brings him into conflict with a younger version of Sub-Zero. The film was made available digitally and on Blu-ray on August 31, 2021, and garnered a range of critical responses.

Following this installment, the third film titled Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind was released on October 11, 2022.

Plot

After the conclusion of the last Mortal Kombat tournament, Shao Kahn declares war against Earthrealm and initiates a new tournament taking place in Outworld. Leading the initial assault on the Wu Shi monastery are Princess Kitana, Kintaro, General Reiko, and Jade, accompanied by Netherrealm demons; their attack is thwarted by Kung Lao, cybernetically enhanced Jackson Briggs (Jax), and NYPD officer Kurtis Stryker. Movie star Johnny Cage teams up with Sonya Blade, Jax's partner, to confront Kitana and her forces.

With diplomatic efforts failing, Liu Kang and Raiden join Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade. Shao Kahn then suggests a decisive Mortal Kombat tournament to determine Earthrealm’s destiny. Raiden consents but brings the matter before the Elder Gods for approval.

Meanwhile, Scorpion awakens in the Netherrealm and encounters Elder God Shinnok, who enlists the Lin Kuei clan to capture Scorpion because of a key embedded within him. Lin Kuei warriors Kuai Liang (Sub-Zero) and Smoke are dispatched but resist after realizing their comrades have been converted into cyborgs. Liang escapes and assumes his deceased brother’s mantle.

Raiden returns to his forces after securing permission to participate in the tournament while relinquishing his immortality. Scorpion informs Raiden that the key is a fragment of the Kamidogu—a potent magical relic that endangers all realms.

During the competition, Johnny Cage is defeated by D'Vorah; Sonya overcomes both D'Vorah and Li Mei; Liu Kang defeats Jade; Stryker triumphs over Baraka; Jax wins against Kintaro by tearing off his arms.

On Earth, Scorpion is chased by cybernetic Lin Kuei—Cyrax, Sektor, and Smoke—who capture him at the Temple of Elements. Sub-Zero intervenes but is overwhelmed. Scorpion and Sub-Zero form an uneasy alliance but fail to prevent the Lin Kuei from obtaining the Kamidogu; both are left for dead beneath a collapsing mountain.

In the tournament’s final rounds, Kung Lao and Stryker are killed by Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung. Raiden suffers defeat at Kitana’s hands; she rebels against Shao Kahn but is subdued. Liu Kang defeats Shang Tsung but chooses to spare him.

The Lin Kuei uncover that Shinnok was manipulating them with plans to resurrect the One Being and annihilate creation; they are subsequently betrayed and killed.

Raiden perishes while fighting Shao Kahn, provoking Liu Kang’s fury which leads him to defeat Shao Kahn and claim victory in the tournament. Liu Kang liberates Kitana, sharing an intimate moment before Shinnok revives the One Being. With assistance from Elder Gods, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Liu Kang destroy Shinnok while Johnny Cage, Jax, Kitana, and Sonya shield civilians.

Ultimately, Liu Kang absorbs the power of the One Being, restoring all realms including Edenia. Sonya and Johnny share a kiss; Liu Kang and Kitana hold hands peacefully as Raiden is resurrected with his immortality reinstated.

Voice cast

• Jordan Rodrigues voices Liu Kang
• Dave B. Mitchell provides the voices for Raiden, Sektor, and Kintaro
• Joel McHale as Johnny Cage
• Jennifer Carpenter portrays Sonya Blade
• Ike Amadi lends his voice to Jax Briggs and One Being
• Artt Butler takes on the roles of Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn Soldier, and Cyrax
• Robin Atkin Downes voices both Shinnok and Reiko
• Grey DeLisle as Kitana
• Matthew Yang King performs as Kung Lao
• Bayardo De Murguia voices Kuai Liang / Sub-Zero
• Matthew Mercer returns as Kurtis Stryker, also voicing Demon One and Smoke
• Paul Nakauchi as the Lin Kuei Grandmaster
• Emily O'Brien portrays both Jade and Liu Lin
• Patrick Seitz as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
• Debra Wilson voices D'Vorah
• Fred Tatasciore as Shao Kahn
• Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers

Development

Following the April 2020 debut of Scorpion's Revenge, screenwriter Jeremy Adams conveyed enthusiasm for a follow-up. By June 2021, a sequel was formally announced, with the majority of the original cast and production team returning. Ahead of the new film’s launch, Warner Bros. Animation unveiled an alternate logo featuring Scooby-Doos Shaggy Rogers in a chokehold with Scorpion, inspired by the viral "Ultra Instinct Shaggy" meme—mirroring the prior film’s logo variant which depicted Scorpion strangling Daffy Duck.

Casting

Matthew Mercer reprised his role as Stryker, originally from the 2011 Mortal Kombat (2011 video game). Meanwhile, Dave B. Mitchell returned to voice Sektor, a character he portrayed in Mortal Kombat 11. Additionally, Matthew Yang King, who previously voiced Liu Kang and Fujin in Mortal Kombat 11, took on the role of Kung Lao in this installment.

Home media

The film earned $1,652,738 from Blu-ray sales within the domestic market.

Reception

Battle of the Realms has received mixed reviews, holding a 50% approval rating based on six critiques on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN’s Mitchell Saltzman gave it a five out of ten score, noting that it felt disjointed and attempted to juggle too many narratives without fully exploring any. Luke Y. Thompson from SuperHeroHype described the storyline as "wildly inconsistent," primarily serving as a framework to connect fight sequences. Den of Geek labeled it "a narrative mess," pointing out two distinct plotlines that briefly converge before an abrupt conclusion. On the other hand, Tanner Dedmon of ComicBook.com commended the film for its rapid delivery of action scenes and faithful representation of source material through iconic moves and catchphrases, highlighting essential character moments without diversion.