The Ultimate Guide to Johnny Cage's Pop-Culture References in Mortal Kombat 1's Epic Story Mode

Highlights

Mortal Kombat 1 strikes a balance between violence and humor, delivering gruesome Fatalities with a lighthearted tone and self-awareness.

The game is packed with Easter eggs and pop-culture references, primarily attributed to Johnny Cage. He pays homage to movies such as Indiana Jones and Aliens throughout the game, not only in the story mode but also in his character intros. These intros feature nods to iconic films like Full Metal Jacket and Silence of the Lambs.

Despite having a serious phase in the mid-2000s, the Mortal Kombat franchise has always had a more playful and humorous tone compared to its fighting competitors. Whilst players engage in gruesome acts such as ripping out spines and spraying blood, Mortal Kombat's violence is delivered with a self-awareness from its creators. This remains true in NetherRealm's latest entries, including Mortal Kombat 1.

Mortal Kombat 1 stands out as the most violent and graphic installment to date, showcasing realistic depictions of horrific Fatalities and Brutalities. However, it also maintains a light-hearted atmosphere throughout the game, with a strong tongue-in-cheek tone and numerous jokes and jabs that interrupt the violence. Another aspect that adds to the overall lightheartedness of Mortal Kombat 1 is its inclusion of Easter eggs and references to popular culture. As the franchise's brash and outspoken character, Johnny Cage is responsible for the majority of these comedic moments.

Johnny Cage's Introduction Is Ripped Right Out of Raiders of the Lost Ark

One of the highlights of Mortal Kombat 1 is a clever Easter egg that appears right at the beginning of the game when players assume control of the character Johnny Cage. Fans of the Indiana Jones movies will quickly notice the striking resemblance between Johnny Cage's impactful entrance and the iconic opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The entire jungle sequence from the movie is recreated, with Johnny Cage filling in the role of the enigmatic adventurer.

This homage goes beyond a simple Easter egg, as Johnny Cage's initial series of fights take place within this Indiana Jones-inspired setting. Adding to the nod, Cage even references the series later on in Mortal Kombat 1 with the exclamation, "holy Ark of the Covenant."

Johnny Cage Makes a Not-So-Subtle Aliens Reference

Perhaps Johnny Cage's most noticeable allusion occurs right before Earthrealm's defenders are about to intervene and "rescue" Mileena from Shang Tsung. In this moment, Kenshi urgently exclaims, "Step away from her!" and Cage completes the statement with a colorful expletive. While avid horror movie enthusiasts will immediately recognize this line from the climactic finale of James Cameron's Aliens, where Ripley confronts the formidable Xenomorph Queen, Kenshi and Kung Lao remain oblivious to the reference. Consequently, Johnny Cage takes it upon himself to elucidate by stating, "You know, the film! A diminutive girl, a colossal extraterrestrial creature."

Reptile's Powers Remind Johnny Cage of Another Horror Movie Icon

In Mortal Kombat 1's story mode, Johnny Cage adds another Easter egg, this time alluding to another iconic horror movie character. Soon after escaping from Shang Tsung's laboratory and thwarting Quan Chi's nefarious plot to steal souls, Cage and the other defenders of Earthrealm venture into the Outworld capital city of Sun Do. Their mission entails infiltrating a lively festival and navigating through the bustling city to reach a portal on the opposite side.

Other Pop-Culture References Found in Johnny Cage's Mortal Kombat 1 Intros

In an effort to divert the attention of the group, Reptile vanishes from sight, prompting Johnny Cage to remark that he had no idea Reptile could "go full Predator." After returning to Earthrealm, Cage adds another quick pop-culture allusion by requesting a martini, shaken and not stirred, from Liu Kang, clearly referencing the iconic James Bond films.

In addition to his presence in Mortal Kombat 1's story mode, Johnny Cage's affinity for pop-culture references shines through in the character intros before each match. During these moments, Cage goes beyond his martial arts prowess and injects humor by mentioning being trained by Miyagi like the Karate Kid, mimicking Anthony Hopkins' iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, and making nods to films such as Full Metal Jacket. He even acknowledges the animated movie spin-offs within the Mortal Kombat franchise, like Scorpion's Revenge.

Mortal Kombat 1 is available now for PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/S.