Mortal Kombat’s Forgotten Johnny Cage Movie Is Perfect To Watch While Waiting For Karl Urban’s Version

Despite being a hugely popular multimedia franchise, Mortal Kombat has a relatively forgotten — and recent — Johnny Cage movie that makes for the perfect watch ahead of actor Karl Urban’s take on the character. Now over 30 years old, the Mortal Kombat franchise began in 1992 with Midway’s now-iconic arcade game. Often referred to as one of the greatest games ever made, the original Mortal Kombat is a fighting game that features a roster of characters, all of whom are keen on winning a martial arts tournament — no matter the often-gory costs.

One notable member of Mortal Kombat‘s cast of characters is Johnny Cage, an action movie star with martial arts prowess. Although he’s one of the series’ heroes, Cage is also used as a comic-relief character. In a more recent Mortal Kombat timeline, the Jean-Claude Van Damme-loving Johnny Cage is also the love interest of Special Forces officer Sonya Blade. While Johnny Cage and his big personality were excluded from 2021’s live-action Mortal Kombat movie, Urban will bring the character to life in the sequel, Mortal Kombat 2, though Cage recently appeared in another franchise film.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match Is An Animated Johnny Cage Movie

Cage Match Flew Under The Radar But Does The Character Justice

Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match is a direct-to-video adult animated movie that elevates Johnny Cage from supporting character to lead protagonist. Animated films, especially those that hit streamers instead of theaters, don’t usually make as much noise as live-action features, but Cage Match came and went without making any noise at all. This is particularly surprising because Cage Match is the fourth installment in the Mortal Kombat Legends series. Although Johnny (Joel McHale) appears in other Legends fare, Cage Match serves as the ’80s action-movie star and accomplished martial artist’s origin story.

In addition to fighting a secret society that’s plotting the destruction of Earthrealm, Johnny Cage is tasked with saving his co-star, Jennifer Grey (the actor voices her own animated counterpart), all while he’s trying to make his big break with the action romp Ninja Mime. Packed with fun action sequences and goofy moments that serve as a love letter to ’80s genre fare, Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match is a light-hearted popcorn movie. Since other Mortal Kombat movies take their stories so seriously, it’s great to see a Johnny Cage flick matching its lead character’s energy.

Mortal Kombat Legends’ Johnny Cage Is A Great Version Of The Character

Johnny Cage Is A Tricky Personality To Nail

There’s no denying that Mortal Kombat 2‘s Johnny Cage problem stems from the fact that it’s hard to bring Cage’s larger-than-life personality to the big screen. While other self-serious Mortal Kombat characters allow for a gritty, dark tone that matches the franchise’s brutal violence, Johnny Cage is a more comic character, so he doesn’t always gel with what’s happening around him. That kind of disconnect works in a video game, but Cage Match, which lets Johnny and his cheesy one-liners shine, proves that the character works best in solo or animated outings.

Related

Johnny Cage Takes Over Karl Urban’s Real Movie Career In Mortal Kombat 2 Concept Trailer

Johnny Cage takes over Karl Urban’s real-life movie career in a concept trailer for Mortal Kombat 2, positing how he can be introduced in the film.

Johnny Cage Will Finally Return To The Big Screen With Mortal Kombat 2

Karl Urban Has A Challenge Ahead Of Him With Accurately Portraying Mortal Kombat’s Johnny Cage

Although the 2021 film left some fans wondering why Johnny Cage wasn’t in Mortal Kombat, the decision to leave Cage out until the sequel was probably a wise move. Now that long-time fans and new viewers alike have some footing in Mortal Kombat‘s rebooted movie universe, the franchise can introduce over-the-top personalities like Johnny Cage. While it will be hard to top Cage Match‘s depiction of the character, The Boys‘ Karl Urban has the chops to capture the movie star’s humor and bravado — traits that will provide a welcome counterbalance to Mortal Kombat‘s self-serious tone.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match is streaming on Max.

Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat is a multimedia franchise conceived by Ed Boon and John Tobias and began with the release of the original Mortal Kombat fighting game in arcades in 1992. The story centers around the eternal battle between Earthrealm and Outworld. To determine the fate of the realms, a deadly tournament is held between the best warriors of each world, with Earthrealm fighting solely to protect their freedom. The series has expanded to include various films, television series, and a long list of mainline and spin-off games that all revolve around the core of the Mortal Kombat tournament premise.

Created by

Ed Boon , John Tobias

Cast

Robin Shou , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa , Bridgette Wilson , Talisa Soto , Christopher Lambert , Linden Ashby , Lewis Tan , Jessica McNamee , Josh Lawson , Tadanobu Asano , Ludi Lin , Mehcad Brooks , Joe Taslim , Hiroyuki Sanada

Character(s)

Liu Kang , Thunder God Raiden , Johnny Cage , Sub-Zero , Scorpion , Kung Lao , Sonya Blade , Jackson “Jax” Briggs , Kitana , Kano , Mileena , Noob Saibot , Elder God Shinnok , Goro , Kabal

Video Game(s)

Mortal Kombat (2011) , Mortal Kombat 2 , Mortal Kombat 3 , Mortal Kombat 4 , Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance , Mortal Kombat: Deception , Mortal Kombat: Armageddon , Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe , Mortal Kombat (1992) , Mortal Kombat X , Mortal Kombat 11 , Mortal Kombat 1

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