Mortal Kombat Legends (2024)

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Mortal Kombat Legends is a series of animated films based on the iconic video game series of the same name. The films in the series are:

• Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020)
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (2021)
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (2022)
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023)

Despite all the films being part of the same series and using many of the same voice actors, they don't appear to all be set within the same strict continuity. Battle of the Realms is a clear sequel to the events of Scorpion's Revenge and the films were initially conceived as a two part story, and the two share the same art/animation style which helps show they exist in the same world. But Snow Blind takes place in an Alternate Universe Bad Future with some references towards the game canon instead of previous films, while Cage Match seems to be a standalone origin story for Johnny Cage set before the events of the original game as it ignores much of what Scorpion's Revenge establishes. Though at the same time there is evidence to suggest all the films are canon, but in Broad Strokes where the events more or less happened but the specifics aren't as important.

Tropes used in Mortal Kombat Legends include:

• Alternate Continuity: Despite all being part of the series, the films can be divided into separate canons.
  • Since they were original conceived as a two part story, Scorpion's Revenge and Battle of the Realms are set in the same universe and tell a complete story.
  • Snow Blind is set in an After the End Bad Future where Kano and the Black Dragons rule an apocalyptic wasteland, and certain comments imply that this reality has more in common with the game canon than that seen in the films. The Reveal explains that this is because the film is actually canon to Mortal Kombat 11, specifically Kano's arcade ending where he defeats Kronika and gains control of her Hourglass. The current universe is the result of him repeatedly altering the timeline for his own amusement.
    • Given how only a year later Mortal Kombat 1 would reveal that all the arcade endings for 11 are canon in The Multiverse, it's highly possible Snow Blind is canonically an Alternate Timeline to the games.
  • At first Cage Match appears to be a prequel to the original two films, notably having Johnny be in the middle of making the film Ninja Mime which Scorpion's Revenge established was one of the franchises Johnny had been in. However the film has Johnny encounter supernatural monsters and hearing terms like Earthrealm long before the tournament, while also being set in The Eighties despite Scorpion's Revenge seemingly being set closer to the present day as shown by how different his cell phone is. As a result it appears to be a prequel to the original game instead of the films, though it's possible the events of the film could be canon in Broad Strokes to Scorpion's Revenge.
• Animated Adaptation: Scorpion's Revenge mostly adapts the events of the first game but from Scorpion's perspective. Battle of the Realms meanwhile takes primary inspiration from Mortal Kombat 2 though it uses ideas from the rest of the series as well. Snow Blind and Cage Match however are almost completely original stories with only a little inspiration taken from specific games.
• Bad Future: Snow Blind takes place in one, where Earthrealm as attacked by undead revenants that left the world a wasteland. Several decades After the End, an older and retired Sub-Zero must mentor a young Kenshi Takahashi while Kano and his Black Dragon army rule the wasteland.
• Bloodier and Gorier: Than the live-action films and previous animated adaptations, having lots of blood and gore like the games.
• Broad Strokes: One way to interpret Snow Blind and Cage Match in regards to the first two films. The writer and director of Snow Blind both agree that while it's not a direct sequel and is more based on events from the games, the first two films still happened "in a fashion" and go on to say that it's "not not a sequel". Meanwhile Cage Match has some references towards Scorpion's Revenge, despite having numerous continuity issues. So at the moment it's up to the viewer to decide whether the films are this or each one is set in it's own continuity.
• Outside-Context Problem:
  • In the Scorpion's Revenge, Scorpion himself is this to the heroes of Earthrealm and other characters. With the exception of Raiden, nobody knows who this Netherrealm warrior is other than that he is a highly dangerous killer sent by Quan Chi as part of the tournament. As a result everyone, including Shang Tsung, underestimate Scorpion's capacity for good despite his desire for revenge, meaning he ends up playing a key role in saving Earthrealm and stopping Shang Tsung's plans.
  • More downplayed in Battle of the Realms as Raiden and the viewers were aware, but the return of the One Being comes out of nowhere from the perspective of the other Earthrealm heroes, as they had no idea that Scorpion was alive and now a key that could open a door containing a piece needed to resurrect the One Being.