'Street Fighter' Review
Release Date: 10/16/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Action.
MPAA: Rated PG13.
Distributor: Paramount Distribution.
The Verdict: A Maybe
Let’s be realistic: casual Street Fighter arcade fans like me aren’t going to know what the hell is going on… It’s utter nonsense. But directed by Kitao Sakurai, the man behind the lens for 62 of 68 episodes of The Eric Andre Show, it honestly fits.
Style over substance a billion percent of the time, but anyone watching the ridiculous, stylized trailer should’ve known that going in. Iconic characters make appearances, do their moves, and say a catchphrase or two that occasionally can't be heard because of the sound mixing, and we move forward.
The film is an ambush of tones and storylines that ask you to figure it all out; its only obligation is to show attractive people punching one another with an occasional blast of energy from the wrist here and there. As a casual arcade consumer when I was younger, I was truthfully unaware that Street Fighter even had a story, and it’s clear from the limited info the games provide that the filmmakers are taking massive creative liberties. The biggest issue is the length: this is a nearly two-hour film, and it undeniably feels it; the world-building offered here doesn't justify that runtime.
What I know of these characters comes from the select-your-character screen and the button mashing I’ve done… It seems accurate in appearance. We are even introduced to Ryu and Ken’s story with a wonderful animation that weaves throughout the experience. This animation has a distinct anime appeal, and I adored its time on screen.
The iconic costumes of Ken, Ryu, and, of course, Chun Li will make their appearances, but not for long; this has become a cliché in these types of nostalgia-bait films, and it’s unfortunate it continues the trend. But yes, all three look fantastic in their outfits, and of course those Chun Li obsessed will be pleased with the way her casting turned out.
Centered around Noah Centineo’s Ken Masters as he works his way through the 90s as a has-been who’s never been able to rival the greatness of his “brother” Ryu, played by Andrew Koji. A psycho-craving Bison, played by the remarkably campy David Dastmalchian, wants to consume all the power (literally) hidden within Ryu. To do this, he devises a plan to revive a tournament abandoned for ages and get the best fighters out of the woodwork and into the arena. This is where all the classic (and Joe) characters come into play, as Chun Li, played by the dynamite Callina Liang, recruits them one by one.
While Liang’s casting is truly terrific, the film's meta obsession with her thighs and her attractiveness to appease gamers can become a bit much at times. Director Kitao Sakurai clearly had a vision: to recreate iconic fighting backdrops and fully immerse us; a die-hard Street Fighter fan is behind it all, even if he does make up his own fan fiction alongside co-writer T.J. Fixman (Ratchet & Clank).
It’s an enormous mess, and it’s tonally all over the place; Street Fighter gets two things 100% right: fighting and the camaraderie between Ken and Ryu. And unironically, I had a blast; it brought me back to childhood, watching the arcade cabinets spin their cutscenes while I desperately wanted quarters to play. There is no doubt this will become a legendary cult hit over time, but with such a lazy cliffhanger, like Mortal Kombat (1995) begging for a sequel, it may become a major letdown in the long run if that follow-up never arrives.
Where to Watch:
