Mortal Kombat II faced tough competition at the box office during the same weekend as The Devil Wears Prada 2 and exceeded expectations. The Warner Bros. action film managed to earn approximately $80 million worldwide in its first three days, quickly recouping its reported $80 million budget. This successful opening indicates that the sequel has established a solid financial foundation following the surprise success of the original film released in 2021.

Directed by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat II is a sequel featuring a significant portion of the original cast returning. Karl Urban plays Johnny Cage, while Adeline Rudolph portrays Kitana. Returning cast members include Mehcad Brooks, Jessica McNamee, Ludi Lin, Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan, and Tadanobu Asano and Hiroyuki Sanada, known from the Shōgun series. The production, which cost $80 million, received more positive reviews compared to its predecessor.

With a 65% critic score and a 90% audience score labeled as "Verified Hot" on Rotten Tomatoes, Mortal Kombat II is regarded as a confident fighting film. The consensus on the platform states that the film is "a self-aware punch theater for those who know the difference between Fatalities and Babalities, suggesting that while Mortal Kombat II may not be a flawless victory, it could be the most enjoyable installment of the franchise overall."

Collider's film critic Aidan Kelley positively reviewed the production but noted that the adaptation directed by Paul W.S. Anderson in 1995 remains a reference point for the franchise. Nevertheless, Mortal Kombat II's opening weekend performance is considered a notable success in the film industry. The film has been well-received by a broad universal audience, and the quality of the action scenes has been praised. Fans of the Mortal Kombat series have preferred the film, particularly due to its fidelity to elements of the video games.