FLAWLESS VICTORY? Annihilation, The Dark Years & The Mortal Kombat Comeback Story | Checkpoint Thursday

In 1997 Mortal Kombat Annihilation took one of the greatest video game movie successes of that decade and kicked off a string of events that would culminate in the bankruptcy of the company that birthed the franchise."Mother...you're alive."Excellent observational skills, Kitana.This episode covers the full arc. The spectacular failure of Annihilation. The 3D era of games that nearly erased the franchise's identity. Midway Games going bankrupt while sitting on one of the most valuable IPs in gaming history. Warner Bros. buying the whole thing for $33 million and NetherRealm Studios unleashing MK9 and one of the greatest comebacks stories in gaming.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so new episodes land automatically. And please leave a rating and drop a review. It’s how independent podcasts grow, every single one matters and you have our sincere gratitude.Then keep the conversation going by joining the private Facebook group Average Joe Nerdcast - The Lobby. We're building a community and everyone has a place there. Link to group 👇https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BA7ib1924/?mibextid=wwXIfrAs always...Stay Gold. Nerd Bold.SHOW NOTESAverage Joe Nerdcast | Checkpoint Thursday“Flawless Victory? | Annihilation, The Dark Years & The Mortal Kombat comeback story”Part 2 of 2Mortal Kombat Annihilation 1997:• Budget $30 million - worldwide gross $51 million• Director John R. Leonetti• Critical and commercial failure - documentedThe Dark Years:• MK4 1997 - first 3D entry• Deadly Alliance 2002, Deception 2004, Armageddon 2006• Midway Games bankruptcy - 2009 - documented• Warner Bros. acquisition - $33 million - 2009 - documentedThe Comeback:• NetherRealm Studios founded from Midway MK team• Mortal Kombat 9 - 2011 - critical acclaim - documented• Story mode revolutionized fighting games - documented• MKX 2015, MK11 2019, Mortal Kombat 1 2023The 2021 reboot:• Director Simon McQuoid• Budget $55 million - worldwide gross $83 million• Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as Sub-ZeroMortal Kombat II 2026:• Released May 8 2026 - Warner Bros. Pictures• Karl Urban as Johnny Cage• $63 million worldwide as of May 11 2026• Third film in development - confirmed• Director Simon McQuoid returningFranchise revenue:• Over $3 billion since Warner Bros. acquisition - documented#MortalKombat #GamingHistory #RetroGaming #FlawlessVictory #AverageJoeNerdcast #Podcast #GamingDocumentary #MidwayGames #Nostalgia #MortalKombatLegacy