Street Fighter (2026)
Director: Kitao Sakurai
Starring: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, David Dastmalchian, Callina Liang
Primary genre: Martial arts
Secondary genre: Comedy
Could the third time be the charm for Capcom’s long-standing fighting game? After two duds (one in 1994 and another in 2009), Street Fighter seeks to secure a spot within the pantheon of video game adaptations done right. Boasting peak 90s charm, a generous production budget, inspired 2D-animation segments(!), and a colorful parade of wacky characters, the film aims to capitalize on its source material’s absurdity.
Easily seen as a spiritual successor to 1995’s Mortal Kombat, which embraced its own OTT mythos with Babylonian sets, otherworldly atmosphere, and aggressive stuntwork, Street Fighter indulges itself in pure 90s excess, whether in clothes, sounds, or licensed music tracks. Director Kitao Sakurai does a splendid job of bringing all these elements together, with a committed cast, to deliver a movie that maintains the game’s spirit and fighting forms unapologetically; from signature moves that disregard the laws of physics to pitch-perfect costume design. Sakurai clearly loves this world of intricate martial arts styles and thinks the audience will find his energetic enthusiasm admirable too, evident from his nifty 2D-animated opening sequence. Who said only Tarantino could pull this off with his Kill Bill (2003-2004)?
Although Sakurai’s honest intentions help Street Fighter to float above cinematic mediocrity, a question lingers. Why does it feel like a prologue for something greater? The plot around a tournament where the best fighters in the world are invited is largely kept intact but despite a two-hour running time, the story is moving at a hectic pace without allowing any moments to register. There are scenes where acting, music, and cinematography come together to produce a climactic sensation only for the film to move along for the next brief set piece.
And speaking of the fight sequences, there is hardly anything to take home. The choreography is solid but Sakurai interjects dialogue into every melee, toning down their momentum. Worse, some characters barely fight (Vega, Guile, Zangief, Cammy) and their vendettas are settled off-screen for God’s sake! Instead, the lion’s share goes to Noah Centineo and Andrew Koji (both excellent) as the heroic duo of Ken and Ryu respectively but even these two are treated like guest stars in a storyline strictly devoted to their spiritual quest. Its oversimplified presentation of revenge and redemption themes causes more yawns than yays, reminding the audience of the route Mortal Kombat took 31 years ago.
“ I’m positive that a fireball came out of Ryu.”
Some casting choices are inspired. Others are baffling. Blanka is a giant CGI ball, an aging 50 Cent is Balrog, and Dastmalchian’s M. Bison can’t be compared to Raul Julia’s portrayal, which was empowered with Julia’s theatrical panache and unforgettable line delivery. Dastmalchian’s antagonist leans into the goofy-creep territory as opposed to that of a towering, muscular power-obsessed individual. And for all the publicity Vega, Cammy, and Chun Li’s thighs got, they are barely in the movie, whose precious screentime has been taken by the stand-up comedian Andrew Schultz. Interestingly, Street Fighter is officially classified as a comedy, yet almost all of its jokes are juvenile with little pay off including lame homage to Bison’s Tuesday speech from 1994.
Nevertheless, the fights are practically based with actors looking the part and performing all the ludicrous moves you would expect as opposed to the anemic, CGI-heavy skirmishes that Mortal Kombat II (2026) subjected its fan base to. Its vibrant visuals give it, at least, a slick edge over other contemporary adaptations supported by a solid production design from John Wick (2014-2023) regular Kevin Kavanaugh. Surprisingly though, the most memorable aspect here is the soundtrack, a strong contender for the best album of the year. Boasting well-known tracks from the 90s (any motion picture featuring More Human Than Human (1995) by White Zombie during a fight scene deserves all the praise it can get) and a pulse-pounding hybrid score of 80s synth with industrial metal from composers Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson, the film gets a distinct musical identity which is sorely lacking from modern blockbusters.
Street Fighter is far from a misfire, dazzling audiences with a feel-good vibe, vibrant presentation, minimal drama, and a punchy soundtrack. However, its lack of confidence in its own spectacle, underwhelming villains, bizarre casting choices, and lame humor hold its greatness back. Still, there is some soul if you search deep enough and with the right direction, a sequel could result in a very pleasant surprise. It’s certainly better, more energetic, and more fun than the drag that was Mortal Kombat II. That’s why it lingers long after the credits roll.
Lively, weak Hadouken!
+Vibrant and colorful
+Fastly paced
+Glorious 1993 homage
+Some casting choices are spot on
-Dastmalchian is no Julia
-Schultz is in it way too much
-Vega/Liang’s thighs small screentime
-Entire fights are skipped(!)
-Humor never lands