'Mortal Kombat 2' spoilers! Who dies? And will there be a sequel?

Spoiler alert! We're breaking down what happens in "Mortal Kombat II" (in theaters now) and detailing all of the movie's shocking deaths, so turn away if you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know what happens.

They don't call it mortal kombat for nothing.

"Mortal Kombat II," the latest movie based on the fighting video games, is every bit the bloodbath fans would expect for a series famous for its extremely graphic fatalities. Several characters are killed off throughout the new movie, some minor and a few shockingly major, although the ending implies not all of the deaths will be permanent.

So who makes it to the end of this bloody fighting tournament unscathed, who bites the dust, and what does it all mean for a possible sequel? Let's break it down.

Who dies in 'Mortal Kombat II'?

A few significant characters don't survive their fights in "Mortal Kombat II," but by far the most surprising death is Cole Young (Lewis Tan).

After all, Cole was the lead character of the previous "Mortal Kombat" movie. This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.

Not long after, Jax Briggs (Mehcad Brooks) bites it in a separate fight with Shao Kahn, who brutally impales him with his hammer.

Kung Lao (Max Huang) also dies in a delightfully gruesome fashion at the end of a one-on-one fight with Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), who kills him using Lao's own spinning blade. Later, Liu Kang himself seemingly dies in a showdown with Shao Kahn, although his fate is kept a bit more vague. He disappears into the sky at the end of the fight, declaring he is going on a journey to bring Kung Lao back. Regardless, it's safe to say the character will return, and based on what he says, Kung Lao probably will, too.

Other deaths in the movie include King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam), Kitana's (Adeline Rudolph) father, who is murdered in the opening sequence in a battle with Shao Kahn. Jerrod's fingers are cut off before he's impaled in front of a crowd, including a distraught Kitana. But she has her revenge in the end, facing off against Shao Kahn and gloriously slicing up his head using her fan blades. 

And let's not forget Queen Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen), who dies after falling on spikes in a brawl with Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee). Her death doesn't stick, as she is quickly resurrected. 

How does 'Mortal Kombat II' end?

If you thought their gruesome deaths were the last we've seen of all these characters, think again. The movie ends with the implication that the most notable heroes who died in "Mortal Kombat II" will be revived in a sequel.

"Mortal Kombat II" already brought back characters who died in the previous film, including Kano (Josh Lawson), who is resurrected by necromancer Quan Chi (Damon Herriman). The movie ends with Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) gathering the survivors of the tournament to declare that they have lost too many champions, and it's time to bring them home. "Let's go get our friends," Sonya says. 

"Mortal Kombat III" will seemingly involve Raiden, Johnny and the rest seeking to revive Cole and Jax, with Liu Kang off on his own mission to bring back Kung Lao.

While it's implied that Cole will return, his death may at least make him a less prominent character next time. The ending suggests the sequel would focus on the surviving heroes, and it would presumably take them some time to successfully locate and revive him. This may come as good news to some fans. Cole, who was created for the movies and is not featured in the original video games, was a divisive character in the 2021 "Mortal Kombat," with some fans arguing someone from the games should have been the main protagonist instead.

Is there a post-credits scene in 'Mortal Kombat II'?

No, there are no credits scenes in "Mortal Kombat II." The ending with Raiden and the others is all fans get in terms of a tease for a sequel.

Will there be a 'Mortal Kombat III'?

Yes, a third "Mortal Kombat" movie is already in the works and was officially announced at New York Comic Con in October. During a panel at the convention, screenwriter Jeremy Slater revealed that the studio is "so convinced that there is a giant fan base" for "Mortal Kombat II" that they "have already hired me to start writing the next installment."

That being said, Slater urged fans to turn out for "Mortal Kombat II," as a third movie is still dependent on how well the new one performs. "When 'II' comes out in theaters, make sure they know there is an audience for this movie, because we want to keep making them for you guys," he said. 

Although it took five years for "Mortal Kombat II" to come out, production on the film was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood actors strike, so it's reasonable to assume a third movie won't take as long. Assuming "Mortal Kombat II" doesn't tank in theaters, moviegoers should be ready to insert some more quarters.