Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Mortal Kombat 2 was finally released in cinemas last week, and following the solid early buzz , it really looks like audiences are enjoying it . Even its 65% Tomatometer feels like a win considering the uphill battle big-screen video game adaptations traditionally face. Box office-wise, though, there is both good and bad news.

So far, the sequel's global debut is on the softer side, with $63m as its current total . However, the domestic performance (roughly $40m) for an R-rated martial arts romp isn't bad, and puts it well above the original (which released in 2021 to $23m). The key difference here is the first film also landed simultaneously on HBO Max as Warner tried to figure out a new model - which was eventually dropped - during the pandemic days.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection - Official Launch Trailer Watch on YouTube

It's the international numbers that are the problem , though, with Mortal Kombat 2 only making $23m in the markets it's taken on so far.…