What age is Mortal Kombat appropriate for?

Mortal Kombat is rated R and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 13+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film features graphic violence including Sub-Zero freezing an opponent who then explodes with visible gore, a reference to a partner being killed with a knife wound 'ear to ear,' and Goro brutally defeating Art Lean with an explicit threat of death.

Does Mortal Kombat have swearing or bad language?

Mortal Kombat has Moderate language. 'Hell' is used 3 times and 'damn' once

Is Mortal Kombat violent?

Mortal Kombat has Extreme violence. Sub-Zero freezes an opponent solid, then the opponent explodes with visible gore in a graphic, shocking moment

Is Mortal Kombat scary for children?

Mortal Kombat has Moderate scary scenes. Sub-Zero's freeze-and-explode kill is genuinely scary and graphic in its execution

Is Mortal Kombat OK for Kids?

Name: Mortal Kombat
Director: Simon McQuoid
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Released: 2021
Duration: 110 min
Cast: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin

ActionFantasyAdventure

13+

R⭐ 6.1 / 102021 · 1h 50m

Simon McQuoid

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

Rent

Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Sub-Zero freezes an opponent solid, then the opponent explodes with visible gore in a graphic, shocking moment
Goro brutally defeats Art Lean in the tournament while threatening him with death
Sonya Blade fights Kano in direct knife-to-knife combat
Reference is made to a partner killed by a knife wound described as 'ear to ear'
Multiple extended martial arts tournament battles occur, including Johnny Cage vs. Goro, Liu Kang fighting several opponents in succession, a Reptile creature battling Liu Kang and Johnny Cage, and the climactic Liu Kang vs. Shang Tsung duel
One comedic beat (Johnny Cage's sunglasses breaking mid-fight) is played for laughs rather than danger
Overall tone is intensely brutal and gory, with tournament combat framed as life-or-death stakes

💬Language

Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

'Hell' is used 3 times and 'da**' once
'A**hole' and 'bulls**t' each appear once
'Cr*p' is used once as milder language
No f-words, c-words, or slurs are present in the extracted script

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

Sub-Zero's freeze-and-explode kill is genuinely scary and graphic in its execution
Goro's brutal, threatening defeat of Art Lean is disturbing, emphasizing real danger of death
Shang Tsung reveals he controls 10,000 dead warrior souls, a scary and unsettling concept
Chan's spirit appears as a disturbing illusion/test inside the Black Tower, forcing Liu Kang to confront grief
Princess Kitana appears suddenly out of the shadows in a startling moment
Tense scenes include being transported to the hostile Outworld wasteland and the final confrontation with the Emperor
Scary moments are generally resolved through the heroes' courage and eventual victory rather than left unresolved

💕Romance

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Kano expresses interest in Sonya Blade, including a crude reference to a 'honeymoon cruise'
Shang Tsung tells Kano that Sonya is 'not to be harmed, only humiliated,' implying dark intentions rather than romance
Johnny Cage shows protective, crush-like concern for Sonya during the tournament and makes a suggestive comment about 'when a woman looks at you like that'
No kissing, dating, or physical intimacy is depicted

🍺Substances

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

Johnny Cage makes a passing reference to 'television' weakening American minds
No alcohol, drugs, or smoking are shown or used by any character
This is a single verbal mention, not a depiction of substance use

⚡Stimulation

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

The opening scene depicting soul theft and a brother's death is intense and emotionally jarring
Johnny Cage's fight against Goro features multiple exciting reversals and high-energy combat
Sonya Blade's knife fight with Kano is intense and fast-paced
The Black Tower sequence, where characters face an enemy, themselves, and their worst fear, is described as overwhelming in its sensory and emotional intensity
The final Liu Kang vs. Shang Tsung battle combines intense fighting with heavy soul-related revelations
Sensory-sensitive children under 10 may find the rapid-fire fight sequences and the overwhelming Black Tower challenge too much

Mortal Kombat — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being a martial arts action film, parents should be aware of a genuinely graphic moment where Sub-Zero freezes an opponent who then explodes with visible gore, plus a verbal reference to a partner killed by a knife wound 'ear to ear' — both more graphic than typical PG-13 fare.

About Mortal Kombat

This is the 2021 martial arts fantasy action film where MMA fighter Cole Young discovers he's destined to compete in the Mortal Kombat tournament, a sacred combat contest between champions of Earthrealm and the evil Outworld that will determine humanity's fate. The tone is gritty, violent, and mythic, blending martial arts spectacle with supernatural elements and gory fight sequences.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

The graphic exploding-body violence, Goro's brutal death threats against Art Lean, and Shang Tsung's disturbing control over 10,000 dead souls warrant a parent present to help younger teens (13-15) process the intensity and discuss the themes of fear, guilt, and redemption.

Family Takeaways from Mortal Kombat

What it gets right

✓The film shows Liu Kang overcoming guilt about his brother Chan's death through forgiveness rather than revenge, as seen when Chan's spirit tells him it wasn't his fault
✓Johnny Cage's arc from self-centered actor to someone who steps up to protect Sonya and the group demonstrates real character growth

Mortal Kombat Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion

●Buddhist themes

Raiden explicitly teaches Liu Kang about finding inner peace and controlling his fire powers through meditation and spiritual discipline. The film presents Eastern philosophical concepts of balance and spiritual mastery as central to the protagonist's journey.

Cast:Lewis TanJessica McNameeMehcad BrooksJosh LawsonLudi Lin