The 1990s were the decade video game fighting games made a huge impact on the world. Leading the charge was Street Fighter II, the groundbreaking game for many gaming counsels during that era. With popularity comes media adaptations, and the Street Fighters films have left a lot to be desired. In 1994, Street Fighter was a pretty bad film, despite being one that has its fans. The 2008 adaptation, The Legend of Chun-Li, was of even worse quality while being an unmitigated financial disaster. But it’s 2026, the market has changed alongside the changes in film, and Street Fighter got another crack with a new adaptation. This time, it mostly succeeded.
Cody Rhodes in Street Fighter (photo credit: Skydance).
The general premise is that in 1987, Ryu participated in the first World Warrior Tournament in Thailand while winning with his adopted brother, Ken by his side. In order to win, he embraced a dark power. When Ryu and Ken's master is murdered after the tournament, the two go their separate ways. Ryu went into hiding, while Ken entered the entertainment business.Over six years later, M. Bison brought back the tournament in Metrolao and assigned Chun-Li to send an invitation to the top best fighters on Earth, including Ryu and Ken. Bison has his own plans for all the fighters. He wants all of their power and his team of scientists figured out how to infuse him while putting the fate of the world in peril.
The film finds its vision and is at its best when it seamlessly incorporates animation sequences to depict its flashbacks. This is a clever way to distinguish the timelines, while also recognizing the narrative history of the games. This ultimately sparked debate within the fan base about whether or not the film should have simply been an animated feature throughout the entirety of the runtime, but clearly, based on the marketing, the studios wanted to create a live-action experience.
For fans of the film, there are easter eggs that enrich the experience as well. The different levels from Street Fighter II, namely Bison’s temple hideout, will excite those who knows the source material while also not being too inside baseball for those who may be experiencing the Street Fighter universe for the first time.
Certain actors, like Cody Rhodes, make thin dialogue and so-so jokes worthwhile, but beyond that it’s ultimately a thin script that isn’t helped by amateur direction. That said, there are highlights in how it utilizes the lore of the characters. For instance, Ken and Ryu's brotherly bond was a particular highlight of the film. There’s a torn conflict, and there’s an emotional spark when the two reuniate having spent years apart. There’s the Chung Li arc, and her goal to avenge her father’s death toward Bison that allows more problems to reveal themselves. All things considered, it could have been worse.
By far the weakest part is the soundtrack, unfortunately. There’s a good soundtrack in this film, ranging from the grunge scene with a Soundgarden Black Hole Sun needle drop to West Coast rap with MC Hammer’s 2 Legit to Quit. For a story that takes place within the 1990s with a contemporary-to-its-era soundtrack, it’s hard to imagine how 50 Cent’s Many Men (Wish Death) and Baha Men’s Who Let the Dogs Out slipped through the cracks. When the viewer is in a period piece, the music should match not the energy or vibe of the period, but the period. The audience is being asked to transport themselves to the ‘90s, and the audience should be treated as if the immersion is real for the full effect.
Overall 2026's Street Fighter was very fun despite the sloppy inclusions that were included in the film! Viewers don’t need to be familiar with the video game to enjoy the film, but it definitely enhances the experience since it’s one of the more faithful adaptations. As much as the film sets up a potential second installment, it's doubtful that the film will ever happen due to the poor worldwide box office this past weekend. Hopefully, much like the 2021 Mortal Kombat, this could lead to eventual cult status.