Mortal Kombat Ending Explained

The ending of Mortal Kombat features some big fights, some brutal fatalities, and a few big teases for what could happen in Mortal Kombat 2.

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Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Mortal Kombat.

Mortal Kombat’s ending features some stylish and bloody fights and sets up an even bigger battle for a potential sequel. As the franchise’s first trip to the big screen in over 20 years, there was a lot of pressure on the reboot to deliver an exciting action movie that stayed true to the games. Despite some lackluster writing and a few pacing issues, Mortal Kombat ultimately succeeds in its mission, and the ending teases some big things coming in future films.

Cole Young (Lewis Tan) is the clear protagonist of Mortal Kombat, but the film also features prominent storylines for Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), and Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada). The rivalry between Eathrealm’s protector Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) and Outworld’s chief sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han) is also central to the overall plot. Though a lot happens over the course of the movie, most of the major action takes place in the third act.

Narrowly escaping from Shang Tsung’s surprise attack (everyone except for Kung Lao, that is), the champions of Earthrealm make a plan to divide up Outworld’s fighters and defeat them one-on-one. This leads to a series of intense fights, several brutal fatalities, and a climax showdown against Sub-Zero himself. Those battles could have major ramifications if Mortal Kombat 2 gets made.

What Happens In The Mortal Kombat Ending?

After Earth’s champions successfully whittle down Outworld’s forces, Sub-Zero lures Cole Young into a dangerous duel to save his wife and daughter. Woefully overmatched, even with his arcana unlocked, Cole uses Hanzo Hasashi’s bloody kunai to summon his ancestor from the Netherrealm. Hanzo, now called Scorpion, arrives from Hell after his blood reacts with Cole’s own. The two proceed to team up against Sub-Zero, with Scorpion dealing the finishing blow with his iconic fire breath fatality. He tells Cole to protect the Hasashi bloodline, then vanishes in a swirl of fire.

The battle lost, Shang Tsung reclaims the corpses of Goro and Sub-Zero with some sort of magic, promising Raiden that an even bigger fight will come to Earth soon. The thunder god sends Shang Tsung back to Outworld, assembles the remaining champions of Earth, and tells them to find more champions before the next attack. A final shot shows Cole packing for a trip to Hollywood, where he plans to recruit famed action movie star Johnny Cage to the cause.

Where Did Scorpion And Sub-Zero Go?

After centuries of being kept alive by dark magic, Sub-Zero finally meets his end at Scorpion’s hand. However, he won’t be gone for good. The magic that takes his body is similar to that which claims Hanzo’s in the film’s opening scene, suggesting that Shang Tsung has sent Sub-Zero – and Goro – to the Netherrealm. And since his business on Earth is finished after avenging his family’s murder, it’s likely that Scorpion has returned to Hell as well.

If the film franchise follows the story of the games, Sub-Zero could become even more powerful in death than he was in life. After being killed by Scorpion in the games, Sub-Zero abdicates his soul to become a creature of vengeance and pure darkness – the shadow assassin known as Noob Saibot. If Mortal Kombat 2 happens, Bi-Han will almost certainly rise from Hell to exact his vengeance on the Hasashi bloodline, likely leading to another rematch with Scorpion.

Is The Mortal Kombat Tournament Still Happening?

For all its talk of the titular tournament, Mortal Kombat never actually gets there. Shang Tsung’s forces are defeated in battle by Eathrealm’s champions, but does that mean the tournament will still happen? It’s possible. Mortal Kombat 2 could show the actual tournament, with Noob Saibot leading a new platoon of Outworld warriors and Johnny Cage and others bolstering the ranks of Earthrealm.

However, it’s more likely that Mortal Kombat 2 would ignore the tournament and jump straight to all-out war between the realms. There are a few reasons why. First, Mortal Kombat’s climax is already structured like a tournament, so doing a real tournament in the next film would just be retreading old territory. Second, Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn clearly have no problem breaking the rules of the Elder Gods, which means there’s likely nothing stopping them from invading Earth through underhanded means. And lastly, Shang Tsung makes a clear threat to Raiden at the end of Mortal Kombat, promising that when he returns, it will be with armies, not just individual fighters.

Mortal Kombat’s Ending Sets Up An Even Bigger Sequel

Mortal Kombat 2 could be a much larger-scale story going off of the ending of the reboot. The tease of Johnny Cage and other good-guy fighters like Kitana and Nightwolf could make for an even stronger Earthrealm team, and if Shang Tsung follows through on his threat, they’ll have their work cut out for them against the full brunt of Outworld’s armies. The MK video games have featured plotlines where Outworld declares war on Earth, so there’s certainly precedent for bigger conflicts in future films.

Mortal Kombat’s ending has also set up a lot more lore for sequels to explore. Sub-Zero’s death could bring Quan Chi and Shinnok into the story – ancient evil beings of the Netherrealm – as they’re intricately tied to the story of Noob Saibot. The Lin Kuei could also be shown in more detail, as Bi-Han’s death could bring the next Sub-Zero, Kuai Liang, into the story. In the games, Kuai Liang goes on a journey of vengeance against Scorpion for killing Bi-Han. In Mortal Kombat 2, that vendetta will likely include Cole as well.

The Real Meaning Of Mortal Kombat’s Ending

Thematically, Mortal Kombat is a story about finding inner strength. The champions’ arcana are direct manifestations of that idea. Cole’s arcana activates after Goro threatens his family, and its nature – armor that builds power by taking hits – is true to who Cole is. He’s someone who’s willing to take a beating if it means protecting the things he cares about. In the final battle against Sub-Zero, Cole finds another kind of inner strength in his connection to Hanzo Hasashi. Symbolically, the fight against Bi-Han also shows the strength of family. Cole becomes stronger to save his wife and daughter, and he conjures an ally through their familial connection. Because Sub-Zero battles alone, and because he has nothing to protect, he cannot beat Cole and Scorpion’s combined strength. This theme extends to the whole Earthrealm team, who become a kind of family through their shared purpose.

More literally, the ending of Mortal Kombat is a promise of more to come. The reboot really feels like the setup for much larger stories, and those could become a reality if the film spawns a franchise. With so many stories and characters to pull from, there’s lots of potential for sequels, spinoffs, or even HBO Max streaming series. Hopefully, Mortal Kombat will do well enough to earn more entries, because the setup at the end of the reboot is incredibly promising for what could come next.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/mortal-kombat-2021-movie-ending-explained-meaning/