The producer of the new Mortal Kombat film is annoyed that film reviewers are appraising it as a film
Mortal Kombat 2, the film adaptation that released this week, has received sharply divergent critical reception depending on the reviewing outlet. Gaming-focused media outlets including GamesRadar and IGN provided generally favorable reviews of the film. In contrast, mainstream film critics delivered substantially harsher assessments. AV Club called the film “dreck,” The Hollywood Reporter described it as “tacky,” and Vulture labeled it “depressingly rizzless.”
This critical divide between gaming media and mainstream film critics mirrors the response to the recent Mario movie adaptation. Producer Todd Garner, who helmed both Mortal Kombat 2 and its predecessor, has expressed public frustration with the negative critical reception, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his complaints. Garner suggests that mainstream film critics lack familiarity with the game source material and do not understand what resonates with the franchise’s dedicated fanbase. His objection highlights a recurring tension within game-to-film adaptations, where gaming-specific media and general film criticism outlets frequently reach dramatically different conclusions about the same work’s quality and appeal.