Fatality at the Box Office: "Mortal Kombat 2" Shows Disappointing Start in Global Release

"Mortal Kombat 2" started weaker than expected in the global box office. According to preliminary data, the sequel grossed about $63 million in its debut weekend, although analysts previously expected a start around $80 million. In North America, the film earned about $40 million and lost the lead to "The Devil Wears Prada 2," which grossed $43 million in its second weekend.

The main blow came from the international box office. Outside the domestic market, "Mortal Kombat 2" grossed approximately $23 million, which is $17 million below analysts' expectations. For a project with a budget of about $80 million excluding marketing, such a result looks alarming.

Now analysts suggest that the final global box office for "Mortal Kombat 2" may stop around $120-130 million. In this case, Warner Bros.' main hope for profitability will be streaming and ancillary sales.