As Mortal Kombat II debuts today, there are a few things that audiences might want to know about the long-awaited sequel before watching it in the theaters.

Australian filmmaker Simon McQuoid directed Mortal Kombat II from a screenplay written by Moon Knight writer Jeremy Slater. It features lots of returning cast members from the first installment, including fan-favorites Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, and Max Huang as Kung Lao. Joining them are Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and more.

“From New Line Cinema comes the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory, Mortal Kombat II. This time, the fan favorite champions–now joined by Johnny Cage himself–are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds-barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders,” reads the official synopsis.

What should the Mortal Kombat II audiences know about the movie beforehand?

Moviegoers planning to watch Mortal Kombat II in theaters will be pleased to know that the new R-rated sequel has leveled up the fight sequences on a much bigger scale. Audiences should expect to see an improvement from the first installment in terms of its action and worldbuilding. So far, the sequel currently has better ratings on Rotten Tomatoes than the 2021 film, with an approval rating of 67% and a 90% Popcornmeter score.

Many critics described the movie as a fun, highly entertaining, and blood-soaked spectacle, promising that it would surely give the audience an enjoyable theatrical experience. However, don’t expect to see emotional stakes or a deep narrative from the story; Most critics felt that the sequel prioritized delivering more fantastical action pieces and fan service over expanding its lore. Shahbaz Siddiqui of The Movie Podcast says that the film has “pure arcade energy and features a Liu Kang fight that absolutely rips! A messy ride for sure, but the fan service carries it.”

Another exciting new factor about Mortal Kombat II was the casting of The Boys star Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. Some critics believed that his portrayal of the beloved character would appeal to the video game fans and the casual viewers, calling him one of the sequel’s scene stealers. Besides Urban, critics are also mentioning Adeline Rudolph’s Kitana, Martyn Ford’s Shao Kahn, and Josh Lawson’s Kano as characters that the audience should watch out for.