Mortal Kombat w/ Cameron Esposito (Classic)

In this episode of How Did This Get Made?, Paul Scheer, Jason Manzoukas, and June Diane Raphael are joined by special guest Cameron Esposito to dissect the 1995 film Mortal Kombat, a movie adaptation of the notoriously violent video game. The hosts express shock and disbelief that Esposito, despite being a fan of pop culture, had no idea the film was based on a video game, highlighting the disconnect between gaming and mainstream audiences. They dive into the movie’s absurdities: the nonsensical tournament structure, the underdeveloped characters, the baffling CGI (especially the four-armed Goro), and the bizarre character of Christopher Lambert’s Lord Raiden, whose accent, wig, and unconvincing mentorship are mercilessly mocked. The panel also roasts the film’s over-the-top violence, the lack of emotional stakes, and the surreal moments—like a banquet scene where food is thrown on the floor and a man eats a chicken wing while surrounded by skeletons. Despite the film’s massive box office success ($122 million worldwide), the hosts unanimously declare it a failure, praising only the iconic theme song and a few bizarre fan reviews, including one from a Venezuelan man who watched the VHS over 100 times and broke it. The episode ends with a mix of mockery and reluctant admiration for the film’s cult status and unintentional camp value.