With the Mortal Kombat reboot breaking streaming records on HBO Max, an interest in video game films has been generated yet again even though such adaptations have had a mixed record over the years. While fighting games like the aforementioned Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Tekken have revolutionized the genre with every new installment, their film adaptations have not fared that well either in terms of critical reviews or box-office collections.

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However, despite criticism towards the narrative or acting, most of the films based on fighting games boast well-executed stunt choreography and other technical aspects like visual effects and production design.

The King Of Fighters (2010) - 3

Poster for The King of Fighters movie adaptation.

Gordon Chan has had an illustrious career when it comes to Hong Kong action films. However, Chan's American take on the SNK fighting game franchise The King of Fighters turned out to be a professional misfire.

Maggie Q and Sean Faris star in this sci-fi action flick that focuses on a tournament taking place in an alternate dimension. Different combatants enter the King of Fighters Tournament for their ulterior motives as chaos ensues.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) - 3.7

Mortal Kombat Annihilation Poster Crop

While 1995's Mortal Kombat still has a considerable fanbase, its sequel wasn't received nearly as well. Recasting the majority of the characters from the Mortal Kombat 3-inspired plot did have the potential for an ambitious setup, but what viewers got was yet another poorly-scripted video-game film.

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However, the franchise has thankfully been redeemed with ventures like the series Mortal Kombat Legacy and both animated and live-action reboot films.

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li (2009) - 3.7

Movie poster for Street Fighter The Legend of Chun Li.

Rated even lower than the original Street Fighter film, this standalone reboot focuses on the origin story of the Chun-Li (Kristin Kreuk), an iconic character who paved the way for female recognition in fighting games. Unfortunately, the film failed to make a mark despite featuring noted names like Neal McDonough, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Mortal Kombat's Robin Shou.

Even though the film's conclusion hinted towards a film based on Ryu — and possibly Ken—the plans for sequels have almost certainly been thrown out.

Double Dragon (1994) - 3.8

Mark Dacascos, Alyssa Milano and Scott Wolf in Double Dragon

Based on the classic beat-em-up games, Double Dragon tried blending fighting action with undertones of post-apocalyptic punk. Set in a dystopian LA, brothers Jimmy and Billy Lee (Marc Dacascos and Scott Wolf) find the half of a magical medallion drawing the attention of gangsters who have the other half. What follows is series of campy fights and self-aware comedy.

The fact that the film doesn't take itself too seriously is reassuring enough for some to check it out as a guilty pleasure. Robert Patrick's turn as the villainous Koga Shuko is also a slightly redeeming element.

Street Fighter (1994) - 4

Raul Julia as General Bison in Street Fighter

Starring the late Raúl Juliá as General Bison and Jean Claude-Van Damme as Colonel Guile, Street Fighter seemed like an attractive proposition considering the arcade/fighting game franchise's success and the popularity of its two leading stars. However, the film turned out to be another laughable video game film with flashy costumes and an over-the-top premise.

Street Fighter's plot was roughly based on Street Fighter II: The World Warrior as Guile recruits Ken and Ryu to overthrow Bison's dictatorial empire. Despite the film's flaws, Juliá's final performance drew rave reviews and he earned a posthumous Saturn Award nomination.

Tekken (2009) - 4.8

Jin Kazama walking in Tekken film

Even if the Tekken series made for a better film adaptation, chances are it would still be riddled with cliches. After all, Tekken, like many other fighting game franchises, does have the same old premise of fighting tournaments inviting fighters from all over the globe. However, one can note that Tekken did put an effort in accurately replicating the costumes and general appearance of characters like Jin Kazama (Jon Foo).

The film spawned a prequel titled Kazuya's Revenge that focused on Jin's father Kazuya Mishima, along with a Japanese 3D animated standalone film Blood Vengeance.

DOA: Dead Or Alive (2006) - 4.8

Christie fights in the rain in DOA Dead or Alive

DOA: Dead or Alive follows a classic 'battle royale' formula; the film's title refers to a deadly contest where players must fight it out in deadly martial arts-driven duels. However, four of the rivals unite when they unearth a secret conspiracy behind the tournament.

Led by an ensemble cast featuring Jaime Pressly and Devon Aoki, DOA has clearly not aged well and perhaps might be a disappointment for fans of the original game developed by Temco and Team Ninja. Considering its island setting and one-on-one fighting sequences, comparisons with Mortal Kombat are inevitable.

Mortal Kombat (1995) - 5.8

Reptile Fighting Liu Kang - Mortal Kombat 1995

The first Mortal Kombat film is iconic for its own reasons. While in no way is it a cinematic gem, the film is still way better than other fighting game adaptations and is also characterized by a memorable rendition of the game's theme song. The plot is straightforward as Liu Kang (Robin Shou) and his allies compete in the titular tournament.

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Considering that the film was rated PG-13, the graphic violence is naturally toned down and some of the VFX seems laughable according to modern standards. Director Paul WS Anderson continued his tryst with video-game films, helming the Resident Evil franchise in the 2000s.

Mortal Kombat (2021)- 6.2

Kung Lao and Liu Kang prepare to fight Shang Tsung's warriors in Mortal Kombat

The hotly-anticipated Mortal Kombat movie turned out to be a mixed bag. While the film definitely isn't as cheesy as its predecessors in terms of its visuals and stunts, the rushed pacing and formulaic characters drew in polarizing reactions. Mostly loyal to the games, the biggest change was perhaps the inclusion of an original protagonist named Cole Young (Lewis Tan).

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Some of the finer aspects of the film include Kung Lao's 'flawless victory,' Kano's humor, and, of course, the showdowns between Sub-Zero and Scorpion.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) - 7.5

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge

Interestingly, the most-loved Mortal Kombat film is an animated one. Released as a direct-to-video feature, Scorpion's Revenge was produced by Warner Bros Animation and animated by South Korean studio Mir. The film is a fitting tribute to its titular character, and the game's ensemble with enough scope for game-like fighting, visceral violence, and an engaging origin story for Hanzo Hasashi's transformation from a hopeless ninja to the undefeated Scorpion.

Considering the positive reactions it true, the film might just usher in more animated Mortal Kombat films, setting up an alternate cinematic universe along with the 2021 film.

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