Although it was long assumed that all the codes and secrets from the first Mortal Kombat game had long been discovered, the Mortal Kombat community manages to keep diving deeper! Today, longtime MKO user and content creator TotalMK managed to discover a way to unlock a hidden screen:

The code itself does not reveal all that much, except the following block of text:

THIS IS MORTAL KOMBAT

COPYRIGHT (C) 1992 MIDWAY MANUFACTURING
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

It was long known that this text was contained somewhere in the arcade's ROM code, but it was never known it was possible to display this text in-game. Now, thanks to the dedication of a longtime fan, it's revealed that is indeed possible.

Check out the video here, including all the details of how he discovered the code:

This is the first discovery of a new code since the EJB menu was discovered in 2016 [full story here].

To perform the code, simply (or not so simply) hold down the High Punch button while entering the EJB code, which involves alternating the block inputs between P1 and P2:

P1 (5x), P2 (10x), P1 (x2), P2 (x1), P1 (x2), P2 (x3), P1 (x4)

Similar text is included in Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3, and while there is no known way to make the game display that text, it's still possible that such a code may be discovered for those games in the future.

Again, shout-out to TotalMK for this discovery! Check him out on Twitter and YouTube. And of course, follow us at MK Online on our own Twitter and YouTube. Also, check out our 2D Kombat Klassics Forum!

After a strong international performance early last month, and better than predicted opening weekend in North America: Mortal Kombat has taken a steep drop in its second week at the domestic box office. The brutal ten-day drop is in stark contrast to the lingering resilience of Warner Brothers' other big screen franchise brawler: Godzilla vs Kong. Read on for details:

Forbes reports the dramatic drop in trade for Mortal Kombat, calculating a 79% downturn Friday to Friday with only $1.85 million grossed in the second week. The takings kept MK narrowly ahead of anime rival Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train, which dropped 81% with $1.81 million.

The general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public confidence shouldn't be overlooked, but Forbes analysis presents a case for a more broad decline in interest, based on fan-driven audience appeal in the first week, and tepid reviews that broadly described the movie as appealing to fans of the games -- an idea challenged by MK Online's review, among others. The film currently has a 54% freshness from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a more favourable 86% fan score.

Mortal Kombat is reportedly HBO Max's most watched programming so far, which Forbes speculates reflects casual interest and a minimum of impact on theatrical business, where movies like Godzilla vs Kong and Tom and Jerry maintained more consistent theatrical trade. Godzilla vs Kong picked up another $700,000 in its fifth Friday at US theatres, reach $400 million worldwide.

Forbes draws comparisons with 2016's sharp 81% decline in first week trade for Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Warcraft's 70% fall from a $24 million opening in that same year. Wonder Woman 1984 was another pandemic-era franchise release that saw a similar drop.

It's too soon to count Mortal Kombat out, with potential for continued trade in the coming weeks, but a wave of major new releases are rapidly approaching and expected to draw interest elsewhere. The movie seems likely to remain solvent, with popular casting rumors and the promise of unused characters & concepts likely to boost sequel chances.

[Related Article: UK Mortal Kombat Digital Rental Premieres Next Week]

MK Online will audit the battles of the big screen in the annual Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion fan-voting tournament. Share your thoughts in the comments and enter the Media & Merchandise forum for more discussion about the movie!

The new Mortal Kombat movie didn't feature a tournament, but we can fix that! The 10th Annual Supreme Mortal Kombat Champion tournament aims to take stock of the franchise and its most recent installments. This year we'll audit the battles of the big screen and reflect on Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate! Who's next? You decide by voting in daily fight polls!

64 characters have been chosen to take part in daily match-ups in the MK Online User Poll! Selections are inspired by the Mortal Kombat movie, MK11 Ultimate, Scorpion's Revenge, and Mortal Kombat (2011) -- also celebrating its 10th anniversary! Check the latest forum updates for Supreme Rankings data and share your current thoughts about the combatants in the comments!

• Round 1: Raiden (66.7%) d. Delia (33.3%)
• Round 1: Shinnok (94.1%) d. Dark Kahn (5.9%)
• Round 1: The Dragon King (80.0%) d. Blaze (20.0%)
• Round 1: Argus (52.6%) d. Kronika (47.4%)
• Round 1: Kung Lao (52.4%) d. Nitara (47.6%)
• Round 1: Liu Kang (78.3%) d. Kabal (21.7%)
• Round 1: Bo' Rai Cho (65.0%) d. Kung Jin (35.0%)
• Round 1: Great Kung Lao (52.0%) d. Shang Tsung (48.0%)
• Round 1: Scorpion (57.9%) d. Quan Chi (42.1%)
• Round 1: Goro (84.2%) d. Cole Young (15.8%)
• Round 1: Shujinko (59.1%) d. Taven (40.9%)
• Round 1: Ferra/Torr (57.1%) d. Johnny Cage (42.9%)
• Round 1: Mileena (68.8%) d. Sonya Blade (31.2%)
• Round 1: Reptile (55.6%) d. Kano (44.4%)
• Round 1: Jax (68.8%) d. Reiko (31.2%)
• Round 1: Noob Saibot (59.1%) d. Sareena (40.9%)
• Round 1: Kitana (52.4%) d. Sindel (47.6%)
• Round 1: Cetrion (57.1%) d. Jacqui Briggs (42.9%)
• Round 1: Jade (52.6%) d. Sheeva (47.4%)
• Round 1: Shao Kahn (66.7%) d. Stryker (33.3%)
• Round 1: Fujin (61.9%) d. Hotaru (38.1%)
• Round 1: Havik (83.3%) d. Geras (16.7%)
• Round 1: Kintaro (55.0%) d. Rain (45.0%)
• Round 1: Ermac (57.9%) d. Baraka (42.1%)
• Round 1: Kenshi (73.3%) d. Takeda (26.7%)
• Round 1: Tremor (64.3%) d. Cassie Cage (35.7%)
• Round 1: D'Vorah (52.9%) d. Kollector (47.1%)
• Round 1: Skarlet (57.1%) d. Kotal Kahn (42.9%)
• Round 1: Cyrax (52.6%) d. Smoke (47.4%)
• Round 1: Nightwolf (88.9%) d. Erron Black (11.1%)
• Round 1: Frost (52.6%) d. Sektor (47.4%)
• Round 1: Sub-Zero (59.1%) d. Tanya (40.9%)


• Round 2: Shinnok (52.2%) d. Raiden (47.8%)
• Round 2: The Dragon King (92.9%) d. Argus (7.1%)
• Round 2: Liu Kang (65.2%) d. Kung Lao (34.8%)
• Round 2: Bo' Rai Cho (66.7%) d. Great Kung Lao (33.3%)
• Round 2: Scorpion (62.5%) d. Goro (37.5%)
• Round 2: Shujinko (63.2%) d. Ferra/Torr (36.8%)
• Round 2: Mileena (52.2%) d. Reptile (47.8%)
• Round 2: Jax (56.2%) d. Noob Saibot (43.8%)
• Round 2: Cetrion (58.8%) d. Kitana (41.2%)
• Round 2: Shao Kahn (62.5%) d. Jade (37.5%)
• Round 2: Fujin (60.0%) d. Havik (40.0%)
• Round 2: Kintaro (52.0%) d. Ermac (48.0%)
• Round 2: Kenshi (83.3%) d. Tremor (16.7%)
• Round 2: Skarlet (55.0%) d. D'Vorah (45.0%)
• Round 2: Nightwolf (66.7%) d. Cyrax (33.3%)
• Round 2: Frost (61.1%) d. Sub-Zero (38.9%)


• Round 3: Shinnok (52.9%) d. The Dragon King (47.1%)
• Round 3: Liu Kang (66.7%) d. Bo' Rai Cho (33.3%)
• Round 3: Scorpion (52.4%) d. Shujinko (47.6%)
• Round 3: Mileena (61.9%) d. Jax (38.1%)
• Round 3: Shao Kahn (63.2%) d. Cetrion (36.8%)
• Round 3: Kintaro (61.9%) d. Fujin (38.1%)
• Round 3: Kenshi (52.6%) d. Skarlet (47.4%)
• Round 3: Nightwolf (64.7%) d. Frost (35.3%)


• Quarter Final: Liu Kang (69.6%) d. Shinnok (30.4%)
• Quarter Final: Mileena (60.0%) d. Scorpion (40.0%)
• Quarter Final: Shao Kahn (57.1%) d. Kintaro (42.9%)
• Quarter Final: Nightwolf (51.9%) d. Kenshi (48.1%)


• Semi Final: Liu Kang (64.3%) d. Mileena (35.7%)
• Semi Final: Shao Kahn (60.0%) d. Nightwolf (40.0%)


• Championship: Liu Kang (52.0%) d. Shao Kahn (48.0%)

The tournament is an annual kommunity tradition designed to ignite discussion and track the progress of characters. Winners advance to the next round until there is only one Supreme Champion! Who should win? Reply with your thoughts to each battle and find more fun & games in the Fan Koliseum. You can find and vote in the latest User Poll by using the site menu or following this link!

The release of the new Mortal Kombat movie has given everyone a case of MK fever, but The Late Late Show has gone back to the nineties to catch Techno Syndrome in a sketch revealing the original recording of the famous Mortal Kombat shout. Watch:

Remember the nineties? That's the sketch as James Corden struts into the recording booth in double denim to record the vocal for MK's anthemic tie-in track. You might not be with his producer's choice of shirt, but favour turns as he struggles to get the right performance out of the increasingly confused vocalist.

Fans know Techno Syndrome was originally recorded for Mortal Kombat: The Album -- a concept soundtrack released in 1994 under The Immortals moniker. It samples the iconic shout of the Mortal Monday television commercial which featured recently identified and rediscovered actor Kyle Wyatt.

Techno Syndrome became the unofficial theme for Mortal Kombat after it gained further exposure through its inclusion in the 1995 feature film and its soundtrack compilation. A new version called Techno Syndrome 2021 was recorded by Benjamin Wallfisch and released to tie-in with the new feature film.

[Related Article: Surprising MK Anniversary Reference on The Tonight Show]

Listen to the song Emergence from the new movie and catch-up with the official red band trailer, then discuss more movies and music in the Media & Merchandise forum! Or go deeper into the timequake by revisiting the nineties in the 2d Kombat Klassics forum!

Mortal Kombat has officially returned to theatres but one of the iconic klassic fighters didn't make the final cut. Now everyone is trying to cast the perfect Johnny Cage for the sequel and frequent fan choice Ryan Reynolds has responded to his adoring public.

Social media followers and online pundits know Ryan Reynolds as much for his irreverent promotional campaigns as his starring roles in action movies. Never one to miss an opportunity: he responded to widespread Twitter discussion with a photoshopped finisher and a promotional message for the telcom he co-owns Mint Mobile

"What do I do with casting rumors and wireless competitors upset that @usnews just named @Mintmobile 2021's best cell phone plan? Finish ‘em!!"

It's a jokey self-serving move right out of the Johnny Cage playbook and it caught the attention of Ed Boon, who got in on the fun responding: "Uh.... @VancityReynolds ... we should talk" MK movie producer Todd Garner didn't need convincing, either. He's already been talking about Reynolds for many months.

Rumors persist that the filmmakers want to cast a big name for the sequel role, which was prominently teased at the end of the 2021 action blockbuster with a close-up on a Johnny Cage poster. What a big name means in today's Hollywood is still to be determined, with fans bandying around Marvel stars like Chris Pratt and Chris Evans.

Reynolds isn't the first actor to photoshop himself as the video game character: WWE's The Miz did it last week -- jumping immediately onto sequel discussions after the film's theatrical & streaming premiere. Sub-Zero actor Joe Taslim submitted Scott Adkins for the part before the movie was even released.

[Related Article: Mortal Kombat Producer on Johnny Cage & Rain Omissions]

Ryan Reynolds has built up quite a filmography as the snarky action star of Deadpool and The Hitman's Bodyguard, but is the 44 year old right for the part? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join more movie discussion in the Media & Merchandise forum!