Mortal Kombat II struggled at the cinema but has become a runaway hit on streaming, topping HBO Max's global chart despite underperforming during its theatrical run. The film, which starred Karl Urban as fan-favourite character Johnny Cage, had been one of the year's most anticipated video game adaptations, riding on the success of its predecessor and the wider boom in game-to-screen properties. Its box office shortfall makes the streaming turnaround notable, showing how a title can find a much larger audience once it moves beyond cinemas.

Made on an $80 million (£63m) budget, Mortal Kombat II earned $129 million (£101m) worldwide at the box office, a modest return that fell short of expectations despite a strong opening weekend. After its theatrical release, the film moved to digital and streaming platforms, where it took off, becoming one of the biggest streaming debuts and holding the top spot on HBO Max for several weeks as the platform's most-watched film worldwide.