The Most Game-Accurate Costumes in the New Mortal Kombat Movies

Just one month after its theatrical debut, Mortal Kombat II is now available to buy or rent digitally. While neither the sequel nor its 2021 predecessor delivered massive box office results, the power of the Mortal Kombat brand remains strong enough that a third installment has already been greenlit.

A major reason the franchise continues to connect with fans is its unforgettable character design. From brightly colored ninjas to ancient gods and four-armed warriors, Mortal Kombat has always had a visual identity that stands out. Bringing those characters to live action, however, comes with challenges. The filmmakers made several changes along the way, including giving Scorpion heavy samurai-inspired armor and updating Jade with a buzz cut.

Some changes worked better than others. But with a franchise as beloved as Mortal Kombat, fans usually respond strongest when the movies stay close to the games. Looking across the two most recent films, these are the costumes that came closest to capturing the video game versions that inspired them.

Mortal Kombat II Made Raiden More Faithful to the Games

Raiden’s costume in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film included some of the Thunder God’s signature elements, especially his kasa hat and blue-and-white color scheme. Still, the overall look was a more original design. The ornate armor and gold details emphasized Raiden’s divine, regal presence, but the result was not especially close to his traditional appearance in the games.

Mortal Kombat II corrected that by simplifying Raiden’s outfit and bringing him closer to his classic look. The costume felt especially reminiscent of his designs from Mortal Kombat 4 and the 2011 reboot, commonly referred to by fans as Mortal Kombat 9. While it was not a direct recreation of one specific costume, it made Raiden much more instantly recognizable.

Kung Lao’s Costume Foreshadowed His Story

Kung Lao has gone through many different looks across the Mortal Kombat games, which gave the filmmakers several possible directions for his live-action design. In both recent films, his outfit appears to be inspired most heavily by his primary costume from Mortal Kombat 11.

That choice makes sense because Lao’s Mortal Kombat 11 design was darker, less colorful, and more armored than many of his previous looks. It also tied neatly into his role in Mortal Kombat II, where he returns as a Revenant after Shang Tsung steals his soul.

The movie version is not a perfect one-to-one recreation. The armor texture, pants, and overall details are different, and the live-action Revenants look more human than their game counterparts, who often have cracked gray skin and glowing orange eyes. Still, the design clearly takes its inspiration from Mortal Kombat 11, which was the newest major game at the time the 2021 movie was released.

Goro’s Design Updated a Classic Look

The Mortal Kombat movies have mostly focused on human and humanlike characters, but the franchise would not feel complete without its monsters. That is why Goro’s appearance in the 2021 film was so important.

This version of the four-armed Shokan warrior appears to draw heavily from his Mortal Kombat 9 design. The diagonal strap across his chest and the Shokan symbol on his belt are key details from that version of the character.

Because Goro was fully CGI, the filmmakers could have made him almost identical to the game model. Instead, they added a few extra details, including a more decorated waist wrap and fur around his shoulders. These additions gave the design more texture while still keeping Goro close to his traditional appearance.

Johnny Cage’s Movie Costume Paid Tribute to Mortal Kombat 11

For most of Mortal Kombat II, Johnny Cage wears a fairly simple outfit that does not directly match one specific game design. However, the movie’s opening scene gives fans a clever nod to one of his most recognizable costumes.

In the in-universe action movie Uncaged Fury, Johnny wears a bright blue jacket with his initials on it, along with a silver belt buckle reading “Cage.” The look is nearly identical to his alternate costume from Mortal Kombat 11, with the main difference being the addition of a white shirt underneath the jacket.

It was a smart way to honor the game without forcing the costume into the main story. The live-action Johnny is portrayed as older and less confident than his video game counterpart, so such a flashy outfit may not have fit him in everyday scenes. Framing it as a costume from one of his over-the-top action movies allowed the film to include the look while staying true to this version of the character.

Bi-Han’s Noob Saibot Costume Was the Most Game-Accurate

The most faithful costume in the recent Mortal Kombat films belongs to Bi-Han in Mortal Kombat II. After being killed by Scorpion in the first movie, Bi-Han returns as a shadowy wraith known to fans as Noob Saibot.

In the early games, Noob Saibot began as an all-black palette swap of Sub-Zero. Over time, however, the character developed a more distinct identity. Mortal Kombat 11 gave him a darker, more armored look that resembled a Grim Reaper-inspired assassin.

That design fit perfectly with the visual style of the films, so it needed very few changes for live action. Aside from some minor adjustments, including shinier armor, Noob Saibot’s costume in Mortal Kombat II is a strong adaptation of his Mortal Kombat 11 appearance.

Of all the costumes in the new films, this one feels the most directly pulled from the games. It proves that when Mortal Kombat embraces its source material, the results can be both cinematic and fan-friendly. As the franchise moves toward Mortal Kombat III, Noob Saibot’s design should be the example future costumes follow.