Honestly, finding a flick that actually scratches that specific itch left by the 2021 reboot or the 1995 classic is harder than performing a 10-hit combo on a laggy connection. You know the vibe. It’s that weird, beautiful cross-section of "I want to see someone get punched through a brick wall" and "wait, why is that guy shooting ice from his hands?"
Most "best of" lists just point you toward generic action movies. That's a mistake. If you’re looking for movies like Mortal Kombat, you aren't just looking for people fighting. You want the lore. You want the supernatural nonsense. You want the high stakes of a tournament where the loser doesn't just go home; they usually end up as a pile of gibs.
The Secret Sauce of the Tournament Arc
Basically, the whole DNA of Mortal Kombat comes from the 1970s. If you haven't seen Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976), you're missing out on the literal blueprint. It's a Taiwanese martial arts movie that features a tournament with fighters from all over the world. One guy has arms that stretch out like Dhalsim from Street Fighter. Another is a blind assassin with a hat that decapitates people. Sound familiar? Kung Lao’s hat trick wasn't born in a vacuum. This movie is crunchy, weird, and surprisingly brutal for its time.
Then there’s the obvious daddy of the genre: Enter the Dragon (1973). While it lacks the fireballs and soul-stealing, the structure is identical. An island. A mysterious host with a hidden agenda. Fighters with distinct personalities. Without Bruce Lee's Han, we don't get Shang Tsung. It’s that simple.
When Video Games Actually Try to Be Movies
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Most video game adaptations are, well, kinda trash. But if you're chasing that specific MK high, you've gotta look at the ones that leaned into the camp.
DOA: Dead or Alive (2006) is a lot better than it has any right to be. It’s basically Charlie’s Angels meets a fighting game. It doesn't take itself seriously, the wire-work is flashy, and it actually understands that a tournament movie should be about, you know, a tournament. It’s colorful. It’s fast. It’s brainless fun.
If you want something darker, Tekken: Blood Vengeance (2011) is a weird 3D-animated trip. Unlike the 2009 live-action Tekken movie—which we don't talk about—this one was actually worked on by Katsuhiro Harada. It’s got giant robots and family members trying to kill each other over a corporate empire. It feels like a long cutscene in the best way possible.
The Gore Factor: Chasing the Fatality
For a lot of us, Mortal Kombat is defined by the "Finish Him" moments. The 2021 movie finally gave us the blood we wanted, but if you want to see martial arts that actually feel dangerous, you have to look toward Indonesia.
The Raid: Redemption (2011) and The Raid 2 (2014) don't have magic, but the choreography is so violent it might as well be supernatural. When Ikar Uwais hits someone, you feel it in your own ribs. It’s a level of intensity that makes the MK reboot look like a PG-13 cartoon.
Then there’s The Night Comes for Us (2018) on Netflix. This movie is a bloodbath. It’s got that "boss fight" progression where the protagonist moves from one room to another, facing increasingly insane killers. There's a scene with a butcher shop that is basically a live-action fatality. If your favorite part of Mortal Kombat is the creative ways people get dismantled, this is your holy grail.
The Animated Gems You Probably Skipped
Kinda funny how the best Mortal Kombat movie isn't even live-action. Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge (2020) is arguably the best thing the franchise has ever put on screen. It’s R-rated, it’s fast-paced, and it understands Hanzo Hasashi better than any Hollywood director.
If you like that style, check out Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994). Not the Van Damme one—though Raul Julia is a legend—but the anime. The fight between Ryu and Sagat at the beginning is iconic. It treats the characters like mythological figures rather than just guys in gis.
Why "Big Trouble in Little China" is Required Reading
Honestly, if you haven't seen John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China (1986), you haven't seen the true soul of Mortal Kombat. Raiden? He’s basically a direct lift from the Three Storms in this movie. You’ve got sorcerers, underground hells, and a guy who literally blows up from anger. It’s the perfect blend of 80s cheese and supernatural kung fu. It doesn't have a tournament, but the "world-building" is exactly what MK fans crave.
Beyond the Tournament: The Dark Fantasy Route
Sometimes the itch isn't about the fight; it’s about the world. Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) is a cult classic that defies logic. The main character has superhuman strength and punches people so hard they explode. It’s based on a manga, and it’s one of the most "video game" movies ever made before video game movies were a thing.
For something more modern and polished, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) actually delivers on the "magical martial arts" front. The fight on the bus and the scaffolding scene have that creative environmental usage you see in the games. Plus, it actually features an underground fighting tournament (briefly), which is a nice nod.
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Your Actionable Watchlist
Don't just scroll past these. If you're serious about finding movies like Mortal Kombat, start with these three specific steps to narrow down what you actually like:
- If you want the "lore and magic" vibe: Watch Big Trouble in Little China tonight. It’s the godfather of the supernatural martial arts genre.
- If you want the "brutal fatalities" vibe: Queue up The Night Comes for Us. Keep a barf bag handy if you’re squeamish.
- If you want a "faithful adaptation": Track down Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist. It’s a fan-made-turned-official series that treats the source material with more respect than any $100 million blockbuster.
Stop looking for "Mortal Kombat clones" and start looking for the movies that inspired the creators in the first place. You’ll find a lot more to love in the dusty corners of 70s Shaw Brothers films and modern Southeast Asian action than in a generic Hollywood sequel.