Mortal Kombat
Action & Adventure Warner Bros. R 1h 50m Released Apr 23, 2021 Discussed 2020–2021
Opening weekend
$23.3M
3,073 theaters
Per-theater average
$7,583
opening weekend
Domestic total
$42.3M
1.8× its opening
Worldwide total
$84.4M
50% domestic
Production budget
$55.0M
1.5× worldwide
RT critics
55%
RT audience
85%
+30 vs critics
Metacritic
44
Where it turns up
Friday, December 4, 2020 The HBO Max bombshell, December 2020
Expected 'What does Mortal Kombat do, $1 million, if that?' Actual: $23.3M in April 2021, the market recovered faster than the December view assumed
Friday, April 23, 2021 The 'I'm back' weekend, April 2021
On the chart Mortal Kombat (day-and-date opening): $23.3M
Expected 'I can't see a path where this isn't in the mid teens even if it completely falls apart, and if it plays more like a normal film it should be well into the 20's' Actual: $23.3M, the normal-film branch
In the note
And even though it’s a little snowflakey, I’m just doing my part. Anyway, based on something I heard in a chatroom that sells streamer passwords for pennies on the dollar, here’s my best take on some films at the box office this weekend. Mortal Kombat - There’s a couple of pretty amazing things going on with this movie.
Friday, April 30, 2021 Final weekend of April 2021
On the chart Mortal Kombat (wk 2): $6.2M, -73%
Expected Both 'way down... a decent amount more than genre norm': the day-and-date decay Actual: -73% and -70%
In the note
If so, then one more way WB got us closer to normal, even by just fucking up. Anyway, with all the dependability and efficacy of the Dodgers bullpen, here’s some thoughts about the weekend box office. Mortal Kombat - By releasing the first 7 minutes of the film last week, and that footage promised a much better movie and (to a certain extent) a much better theatrical experience than it delivered, WB had a terrific weekend last week.
Friday, May 7, 2021 Mother's Day weekend 2021
On the chart Mortal Kombat (wk 3): $2.4M, -61%
Expected 'They're both running out of audience and dropping like rocks, both should be down 60% this weekend' Actual: -61% and -57%
In the note
So when you consider that we’re only dealing with 75% of the theaters when the last (star studded) Guy Richie film opened, and it looks like this film should gross a little more than 75% of that film with considerably less star power, that’s a baby step forward. Mortal Kombat/Demon Slayer - I might as well talk about them together because they’re still locked at the hip.