The producer of Mortal Kombat II has sparked a heated debate online, taking aim at critics who he claims lack an understanding of the franchise's fundamental lore.

With a 73% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Mortal Kombat II stands as one of the highest-rated video game adaptations ever, trailing only behind 2024’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and 2021’s Werewolves Within. While the film received high praise from outlets like IGN—which awarded it an 8/10—producer Todd Garner took to X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration with specific critiques.

The Clash Over "Rules and Canon"

Garner's primary grievance stems from reviewers who criticized elements that are central to the series' identity. He specifically pointed to a reviewer who was "mad that a guy had a laser eye," a direct reference to the iconic character Kano.

“Some of these reviews are cracking me up,” Garner posted. “It’s clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules / canon of Mortal Kombat... Why the f**k do we still allow people that don’t have any love for the genre review these movies! Baffling.”

However, this "anti-critic" sentiment has met significant resistance from the film criticism community. Griffin Schiller, founder of FilmSpeak, argued that being a fan of the source material shouldn't be a requirement for judging a movie's quality.

“Your movie has a 77% on RT and counting,” Schiller responded. “You won. You can make something for the fans without excluding the opinion of those who aren't. I don't think playing the games or knowing the lore should be a prerequisite for viewing.”

Garner Defends the IP's Foundational Elements

In response to the backlash, Garner clarified that his frustration was specifically directed at critics who disliked "baked-in" elements of the Mortal Kombat IP.

“I’m really sorry you feel this way,” Garner stated. “My comment was very squarely directed at a couple of reviewers that did not like the ‘zombies’ and the fact that there was a ‘guy with a laser eye,’ etc... There is no way for that person to review how it functioned as a film, because they did not like the foundational elements of the IP.”

He concluded by expressing hope that critics would acknowledge when a film is "obviously fan leaning in its DNA."

Fans Point Out Lore Inconsistencies

The debate hasn't just been between producers and critics; some longtime fans have also joined the fray to highlight where the film itself has strayed from the established Mortal Kombat canon.

Key points of contention within the community include:

  • The introduction of Cole Young: A character heavily criticized in the first film.
  • Inaccurate Lore: Errors regarding the relationship and history of characters like Mileena and Kitana.
  • The "Arcana" Concept: The 2021 film introduced "Arcana," a power that does not exist in the original video game lore.

When confronted with claims that the production failed to get simple lore correct, Garner offered a blunt response: “Fair.”

Despite the surrounding controversy, Mortal Kombat II appears positioned for significant box office success, and a sequel, Mortal Kombat III, is already confirmed to be in development.