- Street Fighter (2026) is one of the year’s most entertaining movies, delivering explosive action, impressive fight choreography, vibrant ’90s nostalgia, and countless nods to the iconic video game without pretending to be a serious cinematic masterpiece.
- Despite its simplistic plot, inconsistent humor, and underused characters, a strong cast, striking visuals, and faithfulness to the source material make it a genuine treat for fans.
- While critics have largely underestimated it, the film succeeds at exactly what it sets out to do – deliver nearly two hours of pure, unapologetic, ridiculously entertaining fun.
Ken Masters: “To live is to fight.”
Ryu: “To fight is to live.”
You know, if you do the same job for a long time without improving yourself, without trying to get better, keep up with trends, explore, think before you speak, or allow yourself some flexible thinking… you become arrogant. You actually let yourself believe that your word is the be-all and end-all. It doesn’t matter whether it’s politics, management or relationships (friends, family, a partner, a spouse), the outcome is the same: a poor read of reality and of the situation.
Look at it this way:
Meeting her family
Scenario A: she explains to you that her dad is a passionate hunter, her mom is very proud of a pilaf recipe that has been in her family for the last 400 years, and her younger brother is obsessed with MMA. As it happens, you went rabbit hunting with your grandpa and dad as a kid, you adore pilaf, you train BJJ and you know all the current fighters. What happens that evening: you tell her father how you went rabbit hunting with your dad and grandpa, how they let you shoot, and how you got a rabbit. Her mother’s pilaf brings a tear to your eye, because it takes you back to your childhood and the memory of your grandma and her pilaf. You explain to her younger brother which self-defense grip actually works on the street, and you argue about why Topuria is better than Makhachev. You say your goodbyes and leave. Her father orders his son to find out on that “internet” which part of the country your family comes from, and whether they’re modern or traditional when it comes to dowries. He also wants to know where he could take his son-in-law (he’s already married you two off in his head) roe deer hunting, so the boy can experience real hunting. Her mother gives her daughter the old family scrolls containing the mystical pilaf recipe, plus her great-grandmother’s priceless necklace. Her great-grandfather once ripped it out of Hitler’s hands and slapped him on the way out, because Hitler wasn’t worthy of Grandpa’s fists. The younger brother throws out his framed picture of Makhachev and puts yours on his makeshift MMA altar. Then he logs into social media and spams “BJJ would dominate MMA, anyone who disagrees is a total nooooooob!”
Scenario B: she explains to you that her dad is a passionate hunter, her mom is very proud of a pilaf recipe that has been in her family for the last 400 years, and her younger brother is obsessed with MMA. You have never been hunting. You’ve only heard the word “pilaf” when your father grumbles about how his grandma Mileva made amazing pilaf when he was a kid. And you only know MMA superficially, from the odd YouTube clip that pops up. So you go and do your research online and on YouTube (TikTok if you’re really lazy). You look up what hunting actually looks like and the difference between a red deer hind and a roe deer, so you don’t come across as a complete idiot. You get the whole story on pilaf from your old man, then look up online what goes into it and what it looks like. Then you watch a few MMA fights and learn which organizations exist and who the best fighters are. What happens that evening: you tell her father that you’ve never had the chance to go hunting, but you consider it a symbol of real manliness. Only brave men should go hunting, you say, and you respect him for finding the time for it. You tell her mother you’ve never eaten pilaf before, but you can’t remember the last time you ate anything this delicious (and you absolutely ask for a second helping). Then you ask whether you could have the recipe for your mom, because your father would be thrilled to eat homemade pilaf again after so many decades. You tell her younger brother that you follow MMA a little because it looks really cool. You don’t know too much about it, though, and you’d love to see a fight live, and is UFC or ONE Championship better? You say your goodbyes and leave. Her father, mustache twitching into a smile, calls a friend to ask which rifle would be good for a beginner (“this boy of my daughter’s is a good lad, but he’s never been hunting, imagine that!”). He also wants to get you initiated into his hunting club. Her mother drags her daughter into the kitchen to finally learn how to make the mystical pilaf, because “quality young men appreciate women who can handle themselves in the kitchen too, how else will you ever get married!?” Her younger brother is chatting with his crew about how his sister has finally found a guy who isn’t a total moron. Maybe they could take him to an MMA fight, since he’s never seen one live.
Scenario C: she starts explaining, and you cut her off with “babe, this isn’t my first time meeting the parents, I know what I’m doing!” What happens that evening: when her father asks what you think about hunting, you casually reply that firearms are for cowards and real warriors would hunt animals bare-handed. You tell her mother that her pilaf “isn’t bad,” but maybe it could be a bit “richer,” or she could swap the rice for pasta to make it tastier. You tell her younger brother that MMA is fake, only fools believe it’s “real,” and it’s just ordinary wrestlers pretending to fight. You say your goodbyes and confidently leave. Her father aims his rifle out the window and squints through the scope, grumbling: “My hunting license would be wasted, it’d be murder… maybe in the leg… why didn’t I send her to boarding school in Switzerland…” Her mother, teary-eyed, puts away the leftover pilaf and wonders where she went wrong raising her daughter. She mutters “the spitting image of Dobrosava, her aunt’s sister-in-law’s niece, she also always picked idiots.” Her brother is arranging with his crew to wait for you one evening and show you just how fake MMA is (and Dad secretly asks whether he can join, as long as Mom doesn’t find out).
Well, when it comes to this “Street Fighter,” film critics seem to belong to Scenario C, while audiences mostly belong to Scenario A or B. That’s exactly why I wanted to write reviews in the first place: to talk about how I actually experienced something, not what I’m expected (or ordered) to write.
I grew up with the “Street Fighter” video games, and my childhood is closely tied to the very era this film covers. I’m a huge fan. But I’ve always known that the Van Damme version is garbage (to avoid a stronger word), that “Legend of Chun-Li” is three times worse, that “Assassin’s Fist” is a great indie project, and so on…
Here are my impressions right up front: “Street Fighter” (2026) is one of the most entertaining films I’ve seen this year (in the cinema or at home), precisely because it doesn’t try to be a serious film for a single second (okay, there are a few serious scenes).
I went on opening day, to the IMAX theater at “Galerija Mall”. My expectations were cautious… or rather, I had no expectations at all. “Street Fighter” had never had any luck on the big screen so far. I walked out 119 minutes later with the kind of grin you get when you drop your last coin into an arcade machine and actually win.
The 2026 version was made for the fans. It’s a film that knows it shouldn’t take itself too seriously. It knows it should pack in loads of Easter eggs, color and clichés (like fighters shouting out the names of their special moves). It also knows it doesn’t need to go for realism and seriousness (the Van Damme version tried exactly that, and we all know how that turned out).
Simply put, the film is made to be fun without too much depth: switch off your brain and enjoy the colors, the action, the explosions and one-liners that are hit-or-miss. Honestly, that description fits most Marvel superhero movies too, and it doesn’t stop people from flocking to theaters.
The story is very simple (like the character select screen before a tournament). Back in 1987, the young Japanese fighter Ryu defeated the legendary Thai fighter Sagat (and no, not a mai tai, it’s not a cocktail) at the First World Warrior Tournament. He won using a mysterious (and dark) technique, the Dark Hadou, which attracted the attention of the mystical (and also dark) fighter Akuma. Soon after, Akuma kills Gouken, the master of Ryu and of his sworn brother and fellow fighter Ken Masters, hoping to provoke Ryu into giving in to the darkness and fighting him. As a result, Ryu and Ken, once (adoptive) brothers, drift apart and stop seeing each other.
The year is 1993. No one has known for years where Ryu is, or even whether he’s alive. Meanwhile, Ken has won several martial arts tournaments with great ease. He has since become an (unhappy and frustrated) MTV star living a fairly comfortable life, earning money from stunt-show brawls and from smashing cars (a direct nod to the bonus stage in “Street Fighter II”). His only real friend and manager is the comical Dan Hibiki (who, incidentally, was also an unsuccessful student of Master Gouken). Suddenly, the mysterious Chun-Li shows up. She says her boss, M. Bison (the leader of a dangerous criminal organization), is organizing a second big tournament, the Second World Warrior Tournament. Bison wants Ken to take part, and his former brother Ryu will be invited too. Ken agrees for one reason only: to prove to the world (and to Ryu) that he’s the best fighter by winning the tournament. However, M. Bison’s real motive isn’t to find the best fighter but to draw Ryu out of hiding. Bison is obsessed with developing his mystical powers (Psycho Power), and he is convinced that Ryu’s suppressed dark powers (the Dark Hadou) will help him perfect them. At first, Ryu had no intention of entering the tournament. Then Akuma sends him a message: if Ryu doesn’t compete, Akuma will kill the winner of the tournament. Fearing for Ken’s life, Ryu joins, even though he knows their reunion after all these years won’t be pleasant.
And so a colorful bunch of fighters gathers in the city of Metrolao. Not all of them came just to compete, though. Some would like to grab Bison by the throat over unsettled scores…
Honestly, there’s hardly any plot. But the film draws on the story of “Street Fighter II: The World Warrior,” the game that merely opened the door to the Street Fighter universe; the characters and various convoluted storylines were fleshed out in detail only later. So it’s not really surprising that the plot is full of holes, especially since it has nothing to do with the earlier adaptations.
Visually, the film is a love letter to everyone who’s nostalgic for the ’90s. The riot of colors and costumes, the MTV vibe, ’90s products popping up (Jolt Cola and Bugles chips, for example) and that general retro energy are all there. The characters’ costumes are faithfully carried over from the game, special effects and all. Watching it in IMAX is eye candy, like an arcade game come to life.
But the animated sequences… All of Ryu and Ken’s flashbacks (and Chun-Li’s) are beautiful hand-drawn 2D animation by the studio Titmouse, in the style of ’90s anime. The inspiration was clearly cult titles like “Akira” and “Ghost in the Shell.” The film opens with exactly that kind of animated prologue set in 1987: the first World Warrior Tournament and Ryu’s fight against Sagat. And it looks fantastic!
The music is every bit as good as the visuals. It was written by the people who earned their PhDs in retro music wrapped in a modern package on the excellent series “Cobra Kai.” Naturally, you get the legendary (reworked) tracks from the game itself, as well as some modern tracks (one of them is called “Negative Edge,” and I’m sure fans will recognize what that means)… But then a little retro jukebox kicks in: “What’s Up” (4 Non Blondes), “It’s Raining Men,” “Come Out and Play,” and even “Who Let the Dogs Out.”
The action is top-notch… and let’s be honest, it’s the reason you came to the cinema, and the film delivers it flawlessly. The choreography is mostly clean and easy to follow. Hadoukens, Shoryukens, Bison’s Psycho Power (and many other attacks) all arrive with loud shouts, just like in the game! From brawls in a hotel, a bar, on the street and in the prison itself, all the way to the tournament, audiences will have a blast. If anything, you’ll wish the whole film were nothing but fights.
The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai (the man behind the Netflix comedy “Bad Trip” and “The Eric Andre Show”), and you can feel it from the very first shot: this is an action film that thinks like a comedy. Capcom is a co-producer, and the producers also include Takayuki Nakayama (director of the highly acclaimed “Street Fighter 6”).
And the cast… it looks like it was put together by someone who grew up in the arcades.
Andrew Koji as Ryu: he may not look much like the character from the game, but this powerhouse actor (phenomenal in the series “Warrior”) nails the demeanor of the stoic Ryu. This is a calm and at times vulnerable warrior tormented by serious demons. At one point those demons break through to the surface, and Koji seriously shifts his whole demeanor, that is, his performance.
Noah Centineo as Ken: many people thought this actor was the wrong choice for the role. He was mainly known for romantic comedies, although he did have one superhero role in “Black Adam.” He seems to have proven all the skeptics wrong. His Ken is an impulsive, flashy, at times spoiled and immature (and at times clumsy and a bit goofy) guy with a big, good heart. Deep down, he actually believes he’s not a good enough fighter… but as we found out, he can also fight quite brutally. On top of that, the actor got into great physical shape for the role, so fans have no complaints here either.
Callina Liang as Chun-Li: for many fans, she’s the star of the film. Honestly, how can you criticize an actress who committed to rigorous training and diet so that her thighs grew by 6.5 cm, all to physically do justice to the game’s Chun-Li (who is famous precisely for her powerful legs)? Her Chun-Li is sharp and angry, yet very sincere. And she can fight… very, very seriously. All with an irresistible charm.
David Dastmalchian as M. Bison: this actor also faced a big challenge. One of the few bright spots of the ’90s “SF” was the late Raúl Juliá, who brought the narcissistic military autocrat to life in Shakespearean fashion. This M. Bison is just like the one from the anime film: a fascist-autocratic dictator with no empathy, with his own strange sexual fetishes and an obsession with Ryu (though those familiar with the SF universe know why he’s obsessed with this particular fighter). He behaves like a deeply selfish, egocentric reptile you’d most like to beat with a sack of potatoes… and that’s somehow exactly what feels like M. Bison. That said, if there’s a sequel, the actor won’t be able to get away with his current physique (it works for this film because of the plot). M. Bison is portrayed as a hulking brute in the games, so he’ll have to commit to a physical transformation too.
Others had less screen time, but they deserve a mention.
Jason Momoa as Blanka: his Blanka goofs around a bit and comes across as naive, but he also has some emotional depth. Unexpected, but not a bad approach in this case. Momoa looks like he had a genuinely great time making this film.
50 Cent as Balrog: simply put, this works. And he looks just like his video game version.
Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim: this actor physically looks like Dhalsim, behaves like Dhalsim and sounds like Dhalsim. This character simply is Dhalsim. Plus, this Bollywood actor is quite popular for his martial arts action films (no wonder, since he has practiced the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu since childhood). In his Hollywood debut, even if it lasted only 15 minutes or so, he made a good impression.
Cody Rhodes as Guile: many know him from the WWE world. A hilarious couple of minutes, starting with a haircut lifted straight from the game. Unexpectedly, his Guile isn’t a serious American soldier but someone who keeps cracking bad jokes. And for some reason it works. I don’t know why, but it works.
Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i as Akuma: another well-known WWE star. He didn’t look much like the game version, but his sturdy, menacing presence and his punches, which looked genuinely powerful, managed to convey the demonic nature of the character he played.
Let’s also mention Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki. In the SF series Dan is always the butt of the joke, which Schulz captures well, while also nicely working in his friendship and loyalty toward Ken. Also worth a mention: Orville Peck as Vega, Olivier Richters as Zangief, and Hirooki Goto as E. Honda (the Honda vs. Ryu showdown in the sauna is as great as it is hilarious). Add UFC fighter Alexander Volkanovski as Joe, Eric André as the crazy Don Sauvage, and Mel Jarnson as the psychotic Cammy (if I’m not mistaken, she was brainwashed in the SF timeline). Then there’s Rayna Vallandingham as Juli; this 13-time taekwondo world champion won audiences over as Zara in the sixth season of “Cobra Kai.” And a nice touch: Don Lee lends his voice (in the animated scenes) to Ken and Ryu’s master, Gouken.
Critics vs. audiences
This one deserves its own little subheading.
Metacritic: critics 44/100, audience 6.7/10
IMDb: overall rating 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: critics 40%, audience 79%
The gap is drastic.
In all honesty, I think the critics seriously underrated, or completely missed the point of, this film. Let’s bust a few myths:
Apparently, some critics find the film a bit dumb and childish… We’re talking about a franchise that turns 40 next year. It features a green jungle guy who shoots electric attacks, a yogi who breathes fire and can stretch his arms and legs, and a fighter who fires a Kamehameha-style energy blast. There’s also a sumo wrestler whose rapid-fire hand strikes can hit several meters in front of him… shall I go on? A realistic version was made with Van Damme, and we all know how that film got buried.
The focus is on fighting… just like in all the Bruce Lee films, or Van Damme’s “Bloodsport” and “The Quest” (which literally revolve around a tournament). If anything, it’s a shame for the film that there wasn’t more fighting.
Sexist and inappropriate jokes… the film is set in the early ’90s. People back then were more resilient and didn’t take offense at every joke or feel called out. Deal with it.
M. Bison is a fascist, fetishist pervert… that’s like writing that Hannibal Lecter is a psychopath. It’s a fact; that’s how the character was designed.
Ken Masters comes across as a clown… well, he is a rich, flashy American who loves the camera and attention, especially as a younger fighter.
But the film does have flaws, even for me as a fan:
The story: it is lukewarm, and I think Kitao Sakurai was aware of that too. That’s why he brought in Akuma from the start and merged two stories into one. I also think we should have gotten a bit more history and deeper motives for why the fighters enter the tournament.
Not enough focus on the tournament: I think films centered on martial arts tournaments often don’t feel “confident” enough to devote more screen time to the fights. But this film is literally called “Street Fighter.” It has unusual fighters with unusual fighting styles, and I think audiences would love to see more choreographed action. The film runs almost two hours; it could have afforded more fighting.
The humor: sometimes it hits dead center, sometimes it’s charming, but it fairly often misses and falls flat with the audience.
Too many fighters, too little fight time: Guile barely fights at all (WHERE IS THE SONIC BOOOOOM!!!), Akuma gets only a couple of minutes in the finale, and Ryu is sidelined for a good part of the film. Dhalsim and Cammy should also have gotten more fight scenes.
The editing: to be honest, I have a feeling a lot of material was cut to squeeze everything into two hours, because the transitions between scenes are often abrupt and a bit unexpected. If a Director’s Cut is planned, that would be good news.
The open ending: the film simply leaves too many questions open for a sequel to answer. I assume the studio decided to gamble and is hoping the film earns enough to justify making a sequel.
All in all, “Street Fighter” (2026) may not be big enough to go down in the annals of film history… but it’s a hell of a fun movie. It laughs at itself before you do, and that’s exactly why you can forgive it a lot of its “holes.” The costumes are faithful to the game, and the special moves are performed with their names shouted out loud, just like from the speakers of an arcade machine. Fighters take fireballs, crash onto cars, and get back up as if they’ve just lost a chunk of their health bar (HP). I recommend it to everyone who broke joysticks in the ’90s, to fans of action comedies, and to anyone who wants two hours of pure fun with popcorn, preferably in an IMAX theater (it’s worth it).
(And yes, the film runs circles around “Mortal Kombat II”… hats off to Karl Urban, but the poor guy had to carry almost the entire film on his own.)
Rating: 3.5/5 (I might even bump it up by another 0.25, but hey, gotta stay as objective as possible!)
Worth Your Time If: You grew up playing Street Fighter video games, want to forget that the previous theatrical adaptations ever existed, just want to kick back and have a blast, feel nostalgic for the ’90s, love great action, have been waiting forever to see a video game adaptation finally done right on the big screen, or have suddenly become a huge fan of Kalina Liang…
Imdb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Premiere: 2026
Format: Movie
Duration: 119 minutes
Where to watch: for now in theatres (recommendation for IMAX format)
