Mortal Kombat II struck first on Friday, but the Mother’s Day box office race still looks too close to call.

Reports indicate the New Line martial arts sequel led the day in North America, yet it continues to fight neck-and-neck with The Devil Wears Prada 2 for the full weekend title. Current projections put both films in the same narrow range, with each on course to earn about $40 million to $41 million domestically. That sets up one of the weekend’s most competitive matchups, with two sharply different movies pulling strong interest from different audiences.

The more surprising story may sit with Prada. Sources suggest The Devil Wears Prada 2 has already moved past the first film’s full lifetime domestic total of $326 million in only its second outing, a sign that sequel nostalgia and broad crowd appeal still carry real force at the multiplex. Mortal Kombat II, meanwhile, appears to be drawing exactly the audience a follow-up like this needs: fans looking for spectacle, action, and franchise payoff.

A Friday lead gave Mortal Kombat II momentum, but weekend projections show a genuine two-film fight for the top spot.

Key Facts

  • Mortal Kombat II topped the Friday box office in North America.
  • The Devil Wears Prada 2 remains in a tight race for the Mother’s Day weekend win.
  • Both films are projected to earn roughly $40 million to $41 million for the weekend.
  • Reports indicate Prada 2 has already surpassed the first film’s $326 million lifetime domestic run.

This showdown also says something bigger about the current box office. Studios often chase one dominant formula, but this weekend suggests the market still rewards range. A hard-hitting game adaptation and a glossy fashion-world sequel can thrive at the same time when each offers a clear identity and gives audiences a reason to leave home. The split result may matter as much as the final ranking.

Saturday business and Sunday turnout will now decide who claims the weekend crown, and the outcome will shape how the industry reads the early summer corridor. If Mortal Kombat II closes strong, it will reinforce confidence in action franchises built on known brands. If Prada 2 pulls ahead, it will underline the strength of legacy sequels with broad mainstream reach. Either way, Hollywood gets the same message: audiences still show up when a movie knows exactly what it is.