Review: ‘Street Fighter’ Will Leave You Wanting More

October 15, 2026 - 22:41

Street Fighter (2026)
120 minutes
Rated PG-13
Directed by Kitao Sakurai
Written by T.J. Fixman and Kitao Sakurai
Starring: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Roman Reigns, David Dastmalchian, Jason Momoa, and others
Opening October 16 via Paramount Pictures

Kitao Sakurai's Street Fighter arrives with a chaotic energy that sets it apart from the usual blockbuster formula. The film embraces a maximalist approach that feels almost rebellious against the polished look of modern comic book movies. There is a certain charm in how it prioritizes visual flair and absurdity over narrative logic.

This adaptation of Capcom's long-running fighting game franchise avoids the mistakes of previous attempts. The 1994 version and the 2009 reboot both stumbled by overcomplicating their stories and straying from the source material. This new take stays closer to the games, which works in its favor. Andrew Koji plays Ryu and Noah Centineo plays Ken, two fighters dealing with personal demons through hand-drawn animated flashbacks.

The problem is that the film invests heavily in lore and character backstory while assuming audiences will care deeply about these internal struggles. The emotional weight does not always land. At the same time, the movie feels incomplete. It builds toward something big, placing all the key players on the board, then simply stops. The ending arrives before any real payoff.

Fans of characters like Balrog, Vega, Zangief, and Cammy may find moments to enjoy. But the film functions more as a prologue than a complete story. It leaves you waiting for a conclusion that never comes. For a franchise starter, that is a risky gamble. Street Fighter delivers spectacle and style, but it will leave you wanting more in the worst way.