MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage-or why Outworld's Emperor Shang Tsung (Chin Han) has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family's safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) at the direction of Jax (Mehcad Brooks), a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang) and rogue mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson), as he prepares to stand with Earth's greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana-the immense power from within his soul-in time to save not only his family but to stop Outworld once and for all?—Warner Bros.
In 17th-century Japan, Lin Kuei assassins led by Bi-Han (Joe Taslim) kill the warriors of the rival Shirai Ryu ninja clan led by Hanzo Hasashi (Hiroyuki Sanada), including Hanzo's wife and son. But Hanzo's wife hides their infant daughter before being discovered and killed by Bi-Han. Hanzo kills the attackers before being killed by Bi-Han (Bi-Han can grow ice on his hands, out of thin air), resulting in his soul being condemned to the Netherrealm. Raiden, God of thunder, arrives and takes Hanzo's surviving infant daughter to safety.
In the present, the realm of Outworld has defeated Earthrealm in nine of ten tournaments known as "Mortal Kombat"; if Earthrealm loses the tenth tournament, the rules state it will be conquered by Outworld. However, an ancient prophecy states that the "blood of Hanzo Hasashi" will unite a new generation of Earthrealm's champions to prevent Outworld's victory.
Aware of this, soul-eating sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han), who has overseen the last nine victories, sends his warriors to kill Earthrealm's champions, identified by a dragon mark, before the next tournament begins. One such champion, a former professional MMA fighter named Cole Young (Lewis Tan), is attacked alongside his family by Bi-Han, who now calls himself Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim). However, Special Forces Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs (Mehcad Brooks) (who has the same dragon tattoo as Cole) (Jax tells Cole that he has been chosen to fight) rescues the Youngs (including Emily (Matilda Kimber) and Allison (Laura Brent)), directing them to find his partner, Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee). Jax stays to battle Sub-Zero but loses his arms in the process.
Cole tracks Sonya to her hideout, where she is interrogating a captive Australian mercenary named Kano (Josh Lawson) (Kano had also killed a fighter and now has a dragon marking). She reveals that she and Jax have been investigating Mortal Kombat's existence and that the dragon mark can be transferred to anyone who kills the original bearer (Thats how Jax got it in the first place, by killing a fighter in Brazil with superhuman abilities. Jax and Sonya were serving in the military back then). The dragon marking means that one has been chosen to fight for Earth.
They are attacked by Shang Tsung's assassin (who came to know that one of the fighters escaped from Sub-zero's attack), Syzoth (the reptilian), but Kano kills him with Cole and Sonya's help. They travel to Raiden's temple (Kano knows where it is and it is where champions train for Mortal Kombat) (Sonya gets Kano to take them there for $ 3MM) and meet current Earthrealm champions Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) (shoots fireballs out of his hands) and Kung Lao (Max Huang) (Metallic Frisbee hat) before being brought to Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), who is critical of the newcomers. They are joined by Jax, whom Raiden rescued and fitted with a set of mechanical arms.
Shang Tsung attempts to attack the temple but is stopped when Raiden shields it from intrusion. While Sonya helps Jax recover, Cole and Kano train with Kang and Lao to unlock their "Arcana", a special power unique to all dragon mark bearers. Outworld is most brutal and murderous of all realms and Earth's greatest enemy.
During an argument, Kano awakens his Arcana, the ability to shoot a laser out of his right eye. Cole is unable to awaken his despite his persistence. Disappointed with Cole, Raiden sends him back to his family, while revealing that he is a descendant of Hasashi.
Shang Tsung gathers his warriors, including Kano's former ally Kabal (Daniel Nelson), to attack the temple. Kabal convinces Kano to defect and sabotage the shield. During the fray, Kung Lao kills Nitara (Mel Jarnson), and Jax awakens his Arcana, granting him strength and upgraded arms. Concurrently, the Youngs are attacked by Prince Goro. Cole rouses his Arcana, giving him a suit of armor and a set of Tonfas. He kills Goro (Angus Sampson) and helps repel the attack on the temple. Shang Tsung and Sub-Zero are infuriated when Raiden discloses Cole's bloodline before he Teleports most of the Earthrealm fighters to the Void, a safe space between realms. Lao, however, sacrifices himself defending Cole (Shang Tsung sucks Lao's soul out of his body).
Cole proposes a plan to split up Outworld's champions. Raiden gives Cole Hanzo's Kunai, which still has Hanzo's blood on it, telling him that using it would get Hanzo's spirit to fight alongside him. Jax, Kang, and Sonya defeat Reiko (Nathan Jones), Kabal, and Kano, which lets Sonya acquire Kano's dragon mark, and gain the ability to fire purple energy blasts as her own Arcana.
Together Cole and Sonya kill Mileena (Sisi Stringer). They had originally planned to team up against Sub-Zero, but he abducts Cole's family to lure him into a one-on-one fight. Overpowered by Sub-Zero, Cole uses the Kunai and drains Hanzo's blood left on it, releasing Hanzo as the vengeful specter, Scorpion. Recognizing Cole as his descendant, Scorpion helps him defeat Sub-Zero and free his family before immolating Sub-Zero with hell-fire. Thanking Cole for freeing him and requesting that he take care of the Hasashi bloodline, Scorpion departs as Raiden, the other champions, and Shang Tsung arrive.
Shang Tsung vows revenge as he sends his champions' corpses back to Outworld before Raiden banishes him. Raiden declares his intention to train new warriors in preparation for the next tournament and assigns his current champions to recruit them. Cole then departs to Los Angeles in search of Hollywood martial artist and movie star, Johnny Cage.
