The unforgettable rivalry between the legendary 1990s games Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat has now moved from video game consoles to movie theaters. This never-ending competition was reignited at The Game Awards ceremony, dividing fans into two camps.
A Controversial Referencing by the Street Fighter Cast on The Game Awards Stage
While many new game trailers were shown at the ceremony, the surprise of the night was footage from the new Street Fighter movie. While the film’s cast took their places on stage, the absence of any promotion for Mortal Kombat 2, despite its May release, did not go unnoticed.
Andrew Schulz, the comedian who plays Dan Hibiki in Street Fighter, made a harsh reference to his rival in his speech on stage. Schulz implied that the Mortal Kombat team was also there and asked for applause from the audience, but no one came on stage.
Turning to the audience who applauded the empty stage, Schulz claimed that the Mortal Kombat team didn’t come because they didn’t care about their fans. The famous comedian energized the audience by saying, “They only care about the money, we care about both the money and you.” These words caused a huge stir on social media and brought the 90s-era rivalry between the two series back into the spotlight.
A similar process is unfolding in the gaming world. Three years after its release, Street Fighter 6 continues to be supported with additional content, while NetherRealm studio ended development on Mortal Kombat 1 in early 2025 to focus on its new project.
Andrew Schulz’s joke wasn’t well-received by everyone. Mortal Kombat 2 producer Todd Garner responded, stating that he wasn’t trying to capitalize on others. Garner took a more constructive approach, expressing his hope that both films would achieve “huge” box office success.
Garner also signaled that marketing efforts for the film would accelerate in the near future. So far, only a trailer and a limited number of clips from New York Comic-Con have been released. In this period of fierce competition, Mortal Kombat 2 will be released on May 8th, while its rival Street Fighter will hit theaters on October 16th.
So, which side are you rooting for in this historic rivalry? Will Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat be more successful on the big screen?
