The Biggest Fantasy Sequel of 2026 Officially Hits HBO Max Next Week

HBO Max has confirmed that Mortal Kombat II, the year's biggest video game film sequel, will begin streaming on 24 July 2026, bringing the franchise's fighting tournament home just weeks after its theatrical run. Directed once again by Simon McQuoid, the sequel expands significantly on the 2021 original, finally staging the titular tournament between Shao Khan's Outworld forces and Earthrealm's champions, with Karl Urban's washed-up action star Johnny Cage taking over as the lead. The release adds to a packed year for video game adaptations, alongside films such as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Iron Lung, with Resident Evil and Street Fighter still to come.

Mortal Kombat II earned $129 million at the box office and was well received by audiences, and its streaming debut will feature an expanded cast including Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Hiroyuki Sanada and Joe Taslim. Notably, HBO Max will also offer an American Sign Language version, directed by Rosa Lee Timm and performed by Justin Perez, using a technique called Visual Vernacular that blends ASL with mime, facial expression and body movement to capture the film's visual action for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.