Arrow Video’s Mortal Kombat Kollection

Soon, fans of the Mortal Kombat video game series will be able to check out this summer’s Mortal Kombat II on digital-on-demand very soon. But, you’ll also be able to revisit the original dual live-action adaptations from the 90s in a new 4K set from Arrow Video. You can check out the details of the upcoming 2-disc set on their website. The UHD releases are due to be available through their store and other retailers on June 29.

Meanwhile, Arrow was very kind enough to let us take a peek at the 2-film pack. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for collectors!

Mortal Kombat

Some people nowadays dismiss this movie’s current fandom as purely nostalgia. I won’t lie, I have always had a big attachment to Mortal Kombat since its release. I’ve also gone back and rewatched beloved movies of my youth and realized just how badly they’ve held up and came to the realization that I was only a fan of the film through my nostalgic memories. Having watched the new 4K remaster of the 1995 adaptation, this is not the case. I still really enjoy Mortal Kombat on its own merits and really appreciate a lot of what director Paul W.S. Anderson has done with the movie.

It’s, of course, not a perfect adaptation, but there’s a reason that this film, which was fourth in a line of video game adaptations (starting with Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon and Street Fighter), has been held up as the best video game movie adaptations for a long time. While some liberties and sacrifices to the lore have been made, big picture-wise, the movie sticks close to the lore. Also, it has the awareness to give fans of the video game some great fan service moments.

Mortal Kombat is a B-movie that is unapologetic and even proud of being a genre movie. It has its cheesiness and cringe moments, but that’s all part of the charm. It is a product of its time, and while 2026’s Mortal Kombat II was able to realize a lot more of the lore of the games and make the tournament much grander in scale, 1995’s Mortal Kombat doesn’t try to be any more than what it can be. It’s got a plucky attitude. Smartly, New Line hired a young director, who could play to the exact demographic this is aiming for and it just tries its damndest to entertain an audience. While it definitely has its flaws, I believe it succeeds.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

Alright, now this is what may hinge on your interest in buying this set. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is included and if you’re not a fan of this one, you can at least marvel at how good the picture looks. However, this film has become something of a cult classic due to its quality (or lack thereof) and all-out cheesiness. I’m a lover of fun schlock and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is a glorious mess that is completely a guilty pleasure for me.

There is a certain sect of not-well-received films that get UHD remasters and sometimes it feels like a joke. Manos: The Hands of Fate, for example, looks amazing in 4K…but why? That’s almost what it feels like with MK: Annihilation. However, MK: Annihilation definitely has more entertainment value. ANNND, the UHD picture kind of makes watching it better. The special effects look delightfully worse. There’s nowhere for the cracks to hide. It’s all in plain view.

I still have a ball watching this. It’s a movie that tips the franchise into more Power Rangers or Xena: Warrior Princess territory. It’s a movie that has subterranean travel that gets you around the world in “mere hours.” It’s a movie where a nonsensical CGI monster (from none of the games) manifests from statues and walls and is never addressed. This is what the first movie could’ve been with a lesser director. BUT, after all that, it’s still immensely entertaining and fans of this one are sure to love having this upgrade.

The 4K Set

Arrow can seemingly do no wrong when it comes to presentation. Just like their other releases, these movies have been transferred from their original negatives and presented in DolbyVision and the picture on the movies look amazing. They are unbeliveably crisp and don’t have a distracting amount of grain on them after getting sharpened. The audio for both films are presented in DTS-HD in 5.1 surround sound and it is equally great. The theme to the franchise blasts and pumps you up and makes you want to scream, “MORTAL KOMBAT!”

The special features provide a lot of behind-the-scenes information from the cast and makers of the film. The set has brand new 2026 interviews with Johnny Cage himself, Linden Ashby, producer Lawrence Kasdan, Goro’s performer and special effects maestro Tom Woodruff Jr., composer George S. Clinton, Sindel’s actress, Musetta Vander and the master stunt performer J.J. Perry.

You get commentaries from directors Paul W.S. Anderson and John R. Leonetti and extra commentaries from nerd culture podcast host, Dave Baxter — who has an encyclopedia of information. We also have a number of archived behind-the-scenes footage, which is always a pleasure to see, as well as the usual cappers — trailers, TV spots and images.

Verdict

Loving these movies for very different reasons, this set is a must-have for someone like me. I really recommend it to all the fans of these films, who can justify its purchase. As always, for such an upgrade in physical media, the price can intimidate you, so it might not be for casual buyers. However, Arrow continues to treat non-prestige films as well as Criterion does with their library.

You can check out info and purchase the set on Arrow’s website HERE.

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