In 17th-century Japan, a deadly conflict unfolds as the Lin Kuei assassins, led by Bi-Han, launch a brutal attack on the Shirai Ryu ninja clan, commanded by Hanzo Hasashi. This onslaught claims the lives of Hanzo's family, including his wife and son. However, in a desperate attempt to protect her infant daughter, Hanzo's wife conceals the child just before falling prey to Bi-Han's cold cruelty. In a fierce battle, Hanzo manages to slay his attackers but ends up dead at the hands of Bi-Han, who possesses the chilling ability to conjure ice from thin air. This results in Hanzo's soul being trapped in the dark and malevolent Netherrealm. Luckily, the deity Raiden arrives just in time to rescue Hanzo's surviving baby girl.
Fast forward to the present day, the Outworld realm has triumphed over Earthrealm in nine out of ten Mortal Kombat tournaments. Should Earthrealm lose the impending tenth, it faces domination by Outworld. However, an ancient prophecy claims that the "blood of Hanzo Hasashi" will provide a new generation of warriors to thwart Outworld's ambitions. A malevolent sorcerer, Shang Tsung, aware of this prophecy, sends his champions to eliminate those marked by the dragon symbol before the tournament can commence. One such champion, an ex-MMA fighter named Cole Young, finds himself in peril when Bi-Han, now known as Sub-Zero and portrayed by Joe Taslim, attacks him and his family, which includes his wife Allison and daughter Emily. Fortunately, Jax, a Special Forces Major with the same dragon tattoo as Cole, rescues them but loses his arms in the confrontation.
Cole follows Jax and eventually tracks down Sonya Blade at her hideout, where she is interrogating Kano, a mercenary with a dragon marking of his own. Their conversations reveal that they have been pursuing the existence of Mortal Kombat and that the dragon mark signifies those chosen to fight for Earth. During an unexpected attack from Shang Tsung's minion, Syzoth—a reptilian creature—, Kano manages to eliminate him with Cole and Sonya's assistance. They embark on a journey to Raiden's temple, the sanctuary where Earth's champions train, with Kano leading the way for a price of three million dollars.
At the temple, they encounter current champions such as Liu Kang, who wields fireballs, and Kun Lao (Max Huang), who boasts a deadly metallic hat. Raiden, however, voices his skepticism about their qualification as newcomers. The tide of battle shifts when Shang Tsung tries to invade the temple but is thwarted by Raiden's protective barrier. As Sonya tends to Jax’s recovery, Cole and Kano engage in rigorous training with Kang and Lao to unlock their unique abilities known as "Arcana." There, Kano discovers his Arcana, a powerful laser he can shoot from his eye, while Cole struggles to awaken his potential.
In a moment of disappointment, Raiden reveals to Cole that he is a descendant of Hanzo and therefore must tread cautiously. Meanwhile, Shang Tsung rallies his warriors—including Kano's former ally Kabal—for an assault on the temple. During the chaos, Kung Lao brilliantly kills Nitara (Mel Jarnson), and Jax’s Arcana unveils itself, overcoming his limitations with newly enhanced strength. Amidst these battles, Cole faces Prince Goro and manages to harness his own Arcana, equipping himself with armor and tonfas that grant him victory over Goro.
As the battle intensifies, Shang Tsung grows furious upon discovering Cole's lineage, prompting Raiden to relocate the Earthrealm fighters to a safe haven called the Void. Tragically, Lao sacrifices himself in defense of Cole, which marks a turning point in their battle against Sub-Zero. When Sub-Zero captures Cole's family to provoke a confrontation, Cole channels Hanzo’s essence through a bloodied kunai gifted to him by Raiden. In an epic showdown, he releases Hanzo’s spirit, now known as Scorpion, who assists him in defeating Sub-Zero with flames of vengeance. Grateful for Cole's efforts to liberate him, Scorpion entrusts him to protect the Hasashi legacy before ascending into the afterlife.
With Shang Tsung vowing revenge and banished from the temple, Raiden recognizes the need to train new warriors and tasks his current champions with recruiting them. Armed with a newfound mission, Cole sets off for Los Angeles in search of iconic Hollywood martial artist and movie star Johnny Cage.
