Tati Gabrielle in 'Mortal Kombat II.' Everett Collection Logo text Let the Mother’s Day contest begin at the box office.
Video game adaptation Mortal Kombat II has started off its North American run with $5.2 million in Thursday previews and early Imax screening held on Wednesday. While some tracking services showed the male-fueled martial arts sequel opening to $45 million or more, New Line and parent company Warner Bros. are predicting a far more conservative launch in the $35 million range to $40 million range for a worldwide bow anywhere between $65 million and $80 million.
In 2021, Mortal Kombat was by all accounts a resounding hit on streaming when launching simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max due to the ongoing pandemic. The violent pic debuted to $23 million, including $5.5 million in previews and early screenings, on its way to topping out at $42 million domestically and $84.4 million globally.
Related Stories
Next Big Thing Tati Gabrielle Brought Her Childhood Favorite Video Game Character to Life in 'Mortal Kombat II'
TV With 'Mortal Kombat II' and 'The Boys,' Karl Urban Is Lord of the Geeks
Simon McQuoid returning to helm Mortal Kombat II from a script by Jeremy Slater and Karl Urban joining the franchise as fan favorite character Johnny Cage, a washed up ’90s action star called to take part in a tournament that will determine the fate of Earthrealm.
It remains to be seen whether McQuoid’s film can topple The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is a natural fit for Mother’s Day and is fast on its way to becoming the biggest female-led film since Warner Bros.’ Barbie in 2023 after kicking off the summer box office last weekend in high style. Prada 2 has been enjoying brisk weekday business, including crossing the $300 million mark globally on Wednesday and $100 million on Thursday in North America.
And don’t forget about Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic, which added another milestone to its list of accomplishments on Thursday when dancing past the $200 million mark domestically as it prepares to overtake Bohemian Rhapsody ($216.7 million) sometime over the weekend and become the top-grossing music biopic of all time in North America, not adjusted for inflation. And don’t be surprised if its worldwide cume is close to $500 million by Sunday.
Other new Mother’s Day offerings, in addition to Mortal Kombat II, include Paramount’s new concert film Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), which James Cameron and the artist co-directed. Tracking has the film — which has $2.2 million already banked from Thursday previews and special early Imax screenings hosted April 29 — opening anywhere from $6 million to $9 million. Cameron pioneered special 3D cameras designed to make moviegoers feel as if they were part of a live experience that he used when filming Eilish.
One wild card is Amazon MGM’s critically adored The Sheep Detectives, which grossed $1 million in Thursday previews for a projected opening in the $12 million to $15 million range domestically. The comedy-mystery follows a flock of talking sheep who are determined to solve the suspicious death of their beloved shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman, who read them detective novels on a regular basis despite having no idea they could understand him. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, directors of 2026 box office hit Project Hail Mary, are among the film’s executive producers.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe Sign Up
