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'''''Mortal Kombat''''' is a 1995 American [[Martial arts film|martial arts]] [[fantasy film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/mortal-kombat-v134992|publisher=AllMovie|title=Mortal Kombat|last=Blaise|first=Judd|access-date=2017-09-12}}</ref> directed by [[Paul W. S. Anderson]]. Based on the [[Mortal Kombat|video game franchise of the same name]], it is the first installment in the [[Mortal Kombat (film series)|''Mortal Kombat'' film series]]. Starring [[Linden Ashby]], [[Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa]], [[Robin Shou]], [[Bridgette Wilson]], [[Talisa Soto]], and [[Christopher Lambert]], the film follows a group of heroes who participate in the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament to protect Earth from being conquered by malevolent forces. Its story primarily adapts the [[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|original 1992 game]], while also using elements from the game ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1993).
Development of a film adaptation began shortly after the release of ''Mortal Kombat II''
The film premiered in the United States on August 18, 1995. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the martial art sequences, atmosphere, and production values, but criticized the performances, script, and toned-down violence from the games. Despite the mixed critical response, the film was well-received by fans of the series. It was also a commercial success, grossing $122.2 million on
''Mortal Kombat'' was followed by a 1997 sequel, ''[[Mortal Kombat Annihilation]]'', along with two television series: the animated sequel ''[[Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm]]'' (1996) and the live-action prequel ''[[Mortal Kombat: Conquest]]'' (1998–1999). The follow-ups were unable to match the original film's success, and the series was [[reboot (fiction)|rebooted]] with a [[Mortal Kombat (2021 film)|2021 film]].
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<!-- Do not identify the character of the Outworld Emperor as Shao Kahn, as he is never addressed by name at any point in the film.-->
<!-- Do not change "Rayden" to "Raiden", as the character's name is spelled "Rayden" in the film.-->
Mortal Kombat is a martial arts tournament that is held once every generation between representatives of the realms of Earth and the otherworldly dimension of Outworld. If Outworld achieves ten consecutive victories, the [[Shao Kahn|Outworld Emperor]] will invade and conquer the Earthrealm. They have already won nine times. [[Shaolin Kung Fu|Shaolin monk]] [[Liu Kang]], movie star [[Johnny Cage]], and special forces officer [[Sonya Blade]] are chosen by [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Rayden]], the god of thunder and defender of Earthrealm, to prevent Outworld from winning their tenth straight tournament. Liu seeks revenge against the tournament host [[Shang Tsung]] for killing his brother Chan and taking his soul; Sonya is lured onto the ship headed for Shang Tsung's island by crime boss [[Kano (Mortal Kombat)|Kano]], who murdered her partner;
Tsung orders the creature [[Reptile (Mortal Kombat)|Reptile]] to prevent [[Kitana|Princess Kitana]], the Emperor's adopted daughter, from allying with the Earth warriors. Liu, Johnny, and Sonya advance to the final rounds of the tournament, with Sonya killing Kano, Johnny killing [[Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]], and Liu killing [[Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)|Sub-Zero]].
One of Johnny's peers, Art Lean, is defeated by the reigning tournament champion, Prince [[Goro (Mortal Kombat)|Goro]], and has his soul taken by Shang Tsung. Hoping to protect Liu and Sonya, Johnny challenges Goro.
Johnny uses guile and the element of surprise to defeat Goro. Now desperate, Tsung takes Sonya hostage and takes her to Outworld. Knowing that his powers are ineffective there, Rayden sends Liu and Johnny into Outworld to rescue Sonya and challenge Tsung. In Outworld, Liu is attacked by Reptile
Kitana berates Tsung for his treachery to the Emperor, distracting him while Liu and Johnny free Sonya. Tsung challenges Johnny but is counter-challenged by Liu. During the battle, Liu faces not only Shang Tsung but also the souls
The Earth warriors return to Earthrealm, where a victory celebration is taking place at Liu's Shaolin temple with Rayden waiting for them. The jubilation stops when the Emperor appears and declares he has come for the heroes' souls. Rayden and the warriors take up fighting stances.
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While ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' was in the [[playtest]] phase and the [[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|original ''Mortal Kombat'']] had still only been released in arcades, not for home consoles, movie producer [[Lawrence Kasanoff]] visited some friends at the game's publisher, [[Midway Games]], and played a ''Mortal Kombat'' unit that was in their offices. He saw cinematic possibilities in the concept and expressed interest in making a film based on the game, but Midway head Neil D. Nicastro disagreed that the game could be a successful film, particularly given the failure of past movie adaptations of video games. After months of negotiations, Kasanoff finally acquired a limited option on the ''Mortal Kombat'' film rights.<ref name=HolRepoKick/>
Though
=== Casting ===
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[[Brandon Lee]] was originally cast as Johnny Cage, but he died before starting the filming.<ref name="MKBook" /> [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]], whose performance in [[Bloodsport (film)|''Bloodsport'']] inspired by the game character, was offered the part but turned it down due to being busy filming [[Street Fighter (1994 film)|''Street Fighter'']], also based on a fighting video game. Coincidentally, both films were shot in Thailand. Linden Ashby got the role in part due to his past martial arts experiences, having trained in karate and taekwondo.
The role of Rayden was first offered to [[Sean Connery]], who turned it down because he didn't want to perform a physically
[[Steve James (actor)|Steve James]] was originally cast to play Jaxx, but he died from [[pancreatic cancer]] a year before production on the film began.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chud.com/140242/chud-salutes-steve-james/ |title=CHUD Salutes… Steve James |publisher=CHUD|date= July 2, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707003054/http://www.chud.com/140242/chud-salutes-steve-james/|archive-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref> [[Michael Jai White]] was slated to replace him, but dropped out in order to star in [[Tyson (1995 film)|''Tyson'']]. He would later play Jax in the
== Production ==
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Filming began in August 1994 and ended in December 1994. The Outworld exterior scenes were filmed at the abandoned [[Kaiser Steel]] mill (now the [[Auto Club Speedway]]) in [[Fontana, California]], while all of Goro's scenes were filmed in Los Angeles.
Shooting locations in Thailand were accessible only by boat, so cast, crew and equipment had to be transported on long canoe-style vessels. [[Location manager]] Gerrit Folsom constructed an outhouse in a secluded area near the set
The arrival of Earth's contestants via boats, Liu Kang's meditation scene and the fight between Liu Kang and Kitana were filmed at the [[Railay Beach]] and the Phra Nang Beach, respectively. The bows of the boats were fitted with ornamental dragon-head carvings and used in the movie as the fighters' secondary transport to Shang Tsung's island from his personal [[Junk (ship)|junk]].<ref name="MKBook" />
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=== Fight scenes ===
The film's main fight and stunt coordinator was martial artist [[Pat E. Johnson]], whose previous credits had included [[Enter the Dragon|''Enter the Dragon'']], [[The Karate Kid|''The Karate Kid'']], and [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 film)|''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'']]. Because of Robin Shou's past experiences as a Hong Kong stuntman, Johnson gave him free
Despite the intensity of the fight scenes coupled with the actors performing most of their own stunts, the only notable reported injury at the time was a bruised kidney Ashby suffered while shooting Cage's fight scene with Scorpion.<ref name=MKBook /> Scorpion's [[stunt double]] violently collided with a steel bar in the same scene,<ref name=ShouVAshby/> but as with most [[stunt person]] injuries, it was not widely reported in the media. Wilson [[Dislocated shoulder|dislocated her shoulder]], but found she had no problems once it was put back in place and continued with the filming.<ref name=LooperWilson/> Robin Shou fractured two ribs while being thrown into a pillar in the fight scene between Liu Kang and Reptile, but kept quiet about it for fear that the production would be shut down. He told only Keith Cooke, the actor who plays Reptile, asking him not to hit him on the right side of his rib cage, and finished the scene before going to the hospital.<ref name=HolRepoKick/>
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=== MPAA rating ===
Because they wanted the film to have a [[PG-13]] rating while staying as close as possible to the video game, the producers talked extensively with the
==Music==
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The film's [[Mortal Kombat (1995 score)|score album]] was composed by [[George S. Clinton]], released by [[Rykodisc]] on October 11, 1995. The film's [[Mortal Kombat (1995 soundtrack)|soundtrack album]] was released by [[TVT Records]] on August 15, 1995. The soundtrack album went [[RIAA certification|platinum]]<ref name="RIAA_Certificate">{{cite web|title=Search Results for Mortal Kombat|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=mortal+kombat|access-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref> in less than a year reaching No. 10 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mortal-kombat-original-soundtrack-mw0000180330/awards |title=Mortal Kombat [Original Soundtrack] |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=May 26, 2013}}</ref>
Clinton's score incorporates
The film features the title track "Mortal Kombat (Techno-Syndrome)", which had been written by Belgian music duo [[The Immortals (band)|The Immortals]] for [[Mortal Kombat: The Album|''Mortal Kombat: The Album'']]. Its use in the film cemented
== Release ==
{{Anchor|Release}}
The film was originally scheduled for a May 1995 U.S. release
==Reception==
===Box office===
''Mortal Kombat'' opened on August 18, 1995, and was #1 at the box office for the weekend with $23.2 million, nearly eight times the opening amount of the only other new release that weekend, ''[[The Baby-Sitters Club (film)|The Baby-Sitters Club]]''. At the time, it was the second-highest August opening after 1993's ''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]]''. The film enjoyed a three-week stint at number one,<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mortalkombat.htm |title=''Mortal Kombat'' (1995) |website= [[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=2013-08-25}}</ref> grossing {{US$|73 million|long=no}} domestically in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mortal Kombat Annihilation!|date=May 1997|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_094_May_1997/page/n38|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=104|pages=37}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game of the film: Mortal Kombat Annihilation |magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]] |date=16 July 1997 |issue=22 (August 1997) |page=17 |url=https://archive.org/details/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_022/page/n16}}</ref> It also earned $51.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $124.7 million. The film became the highest-grossing adaptation of a video game
===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], {{RT data|score}} of {{RT data|count}} critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critics consensus reads, "Despite an effective otherworldly atmosphere and appropriately cheesy visuals, ''Mortal Kombat'' suffers from its poorly constructed plot, laughable dialogue, and subpar acting."<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=mortal_kombat|title=Mortal Kombat |type=m|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a weighted average score of 60 out 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite Metacritic|id=mortal-kombat |title=Mortal Kombat |type=m |access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |title=CinemaScore |publisher=[[CinemaScore]] |access-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220413083139/https://www.cinemascore.com/ |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Reviewers praised its atmosphere, fighting sequences, production values, and visuals. However, its PG-13 rating and to a lesser extent, the performances and writing were criticized. [[Lisa Schwarzbaum]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called ''Mortal Kombat'' "a contentedly empty-headed extended advertisement for the joy of joypads (filmed in cheesily ornate cinema de [[Cinema of Hong Kong|Hong Kong style]])" and too noted how it "is notably free of blood and gore."<ref>{{cite web |author=Lisa Schwarzbaum on Sep 15, 1995 |url=https://
[[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' gave the film a glowing review, writing that "as impressive as the special effects are at every turn, even more crucial is Jonathan Carlson's superb, imaginative production design, which combines Thailand exteriors with vast sets that recall the barbaric grandeur of exotic old movie palaces and campy [[Maria Montez]] epics. [[John R. Leonetti]]'s glorious, shadowy camera work and George S. Clinton's driving, hard-edged score complete the task of bringing alive the perilous Outworld".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1995-08-21/entertainment/ca-37326_1_mortal-kombat|title=WEEKEND REVIEWS : Movies : High-Energy 'Kombat' Punches In With Panache|last=Thomas|first=Kevin|date=21 August 1995|via=LA Times}}</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave it a "thumbs up" rating on ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|Siskel & Ebert]]'', calling it "the only halfway decent video game turned into a movie that I've seen" and "a lot of fun", saying he was positively surprised by its various high-quality production values, including the "often sensational" special effects, the exotic locations, and the cast of characters being "clearly drawn with appealing types".<ref name=AttMov/> Leonard Klady from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' awarded the film a 3.5/5 stars, stating, "But where others have sunk in the mire of imitation, director Paul Anderson and writer Kevin Droney effect a viable balance between exquisitely choreographed action and ironic visual and verbal counterpoint".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/mortal-kombat-2-1200442490/|title=Review: 'Mortal Kombat'|last=Klady|first=Leonard|date=21 August 1995|website=Variety}}</ref> [[Kim Newman]] from ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine said, "By the time the big, world-saving bout comes around, it's hard not to wish that Shung Tsu
=== Legacy and re-evaluation ===
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A 2020 editorial that discusses the work of Paul WS Anderson on Rotten Tomatoes said of ''Mortal Kombat'', "Critics were split at 47% on the Tomatometer, but audiences loved the electronic soundtrack, creative fight scenes, and diverse cast of committed actors who sacrificed multiple bruised ribs to bless us with some excellent brawls." The editorial attributed the film's box office success chiefly to its conscious playfulness, asserting that "Anderson and his talented crew knew what they were making, and they made it earnestly."<ref>{{cite web |last=Hofmeyer |first=Mark |title=Hear Us Out: Paul W. S. Anderson Has Been Crushing it for 25 Years |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/hear-us-out-paul-w-s-anderson-has-been-crushing-it-for-25-years/ |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=7 August 2021 |date=August 18, 2020}}</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]] commented that "thanks to the kinetic speed in which the actors are moving, the high-octane music, and ironically, the movement of the camera, each fight is given ample feeling and aggression", particularly praising the Scorpion/Johnny Cage and Liu Kang/Reptile fights.<ref name=Bloody>{{cite AV media |last=Pemental |first=Michael |title=Mortal Kombat: The PG-13 Brutality and Nostalgic Charm of the 1995 Original |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3653215/mortal-kombat-pg-13-brutality-nostalgic-charm-original-1995-movie/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |access-date=7 August 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}}</ref>
In 2020, Rotten Tomatoes discussed the film in the "Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong" podcast series. Scott Johnson criticized the film as not being a faithful adaptation, citing, in particular, the absence of R-rated gore (which he felt was the only thing genuinely appealing about the game) and the presence of Reptile (who he erroneously said does not appear in the original game). Co-panelist Jacqueline Coley countered that an R rating would have blocked out the ''Mortal Kombat'' fan base, recounting how even with a PG-13 rating she could only see the film in theaters by sneaking in
Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa's take on Shang Tsung is now regarded as the ideal portrayal of the sorcerer. JoBlo.com noted that every actor who has taken the role since
''[[Mortal Kombat 11]]'' paid tribute to the first movie with numerous Easter eggs as well as bringing back Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa to play Shang Tsung in the "Aftermath" storyline.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tach |first=Dave |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/22/18277719/mortal-kombat-11-dlc-shang-tsung-cary-hiroyuki-tagawa |title=Shang Tsung is Mortal Kombat 11's first DLC character |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=2019-03-22 |access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> Subsequent downloadable content would feature voices and likeness from Christopher Lambert, Linden Ashby and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras as Raiden, Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, respectively.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate |author-link=Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate |user=MortalKombat |number=1331266326183112704 |date=November 24, 2020 |title=Look familiar? The Klassic MK Movie Skin pack with voices and likenesses from the
==Other media==
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===Animated film===
On April 11, 1995,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mortal Kombat on Video|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=69 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=April 1995|page=24}}</ref> [[New Line Cinema|New Line Home Video]], [[Turner Entertainment|Turner Home Entertainment]] and [[Threshold Entertainment]] released a tie-in animated film on [[VHS]] and [[Laserdisc]], titled ''Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins''. Serving as a prequel to the feature film, it follows the protagonists Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade as they travel on a mysterious boat to the Mortal Kombat tournament. On the way they meet Rayden, who provides them with
The film featured a combination of [[traditional animation]], [[motion capture]], and [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] to explain the origins behind some of the movie's main characters, as well as a fifteen-minute behind-the-scenes documentary of the theatrical release. Trailers of the film were seen on the promotional [[screener (promotional)|screener]] VHS copy, and on other VHS releases from [[Turner Home Entertainment]] and [[New Line Home Entertainment|New Line Home Video]]. The film was included
===Novelization===
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[[Category:Films set in castles]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:American films about revenge]]
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