Film review: Street Fighter

Can this 2026 reboot top the 1994 cult classic?

Capcom’s Street Fighter is returning to the silver screen in a town near you with a fresh reboot, and like it’s world warriors there have been many forms on screen of the immensely popular video game hailing from all corners of the globe.

A highlight includes when in 1994 audiences saw an anime production of Street Fighter go head to head with a Hollywood live action version; the anime was a critical and commercial success notable for epic displays of graphic violence and an excellent nu metal soundtrack, while the Hollywood live action featuring Jean Claude Van Damme as the lead character Guile, Kylie Minogue as Cammy and Rual Julia’s final movie performance as Bison was with the exception of Julia, widely panned. However it was the 2009 American reboot The Legend of Chun Li which earnt itself a billing as “one of the worst movies ever committed to film”. How far have Hollywood video game film adaptions come since then?

Round 3 of the Hollywood production blends the anime and live action formats to create a brilliant aesthetic which doubles up as an excellent narrative device whilst also drawing on the heritage of the franchise, which has always been stylistically close to manga and anime. It’s set a year earlier in 1993 (the same year that Capcom released Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (which introduced the fan favourite character Cammy) and the production is stated by cast and crew to be a labour of love made by and for fans as a tribute to the game. This is evident from the attention to detail in the build of the vibrant hyper real and nostalgic world of yesteryear, to the set and costume design, most of which have moved with uncanny accuracy from sprites to cinema.

The core storyline revolves around esoteric eastern martial artists Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken (Noah Centineo) who are recruited by Chun Li (Callina Liang) to compete in the World Warrior tournament, which unbeknownst to them will force them to face their past demons. Of course there is more to the tournament than meets the eye, as Lord Bison played David Dasmalchian (who channels his finest British accent for maximum villain effect) and his accomplices headed by British Intelligence officer Cammy (Mel Jarnson, also channelling her finest accent) have other plans. While the plot is perhaps not the strongest point of the film, the character lore is respected. Nonetheless it moves with the pace and excitement of the anticipation of unlocking a secret character, and you’re never quite sure what’s round the corner. There's a few abrasive cuts in the editing that hopefully get filled in with a special edition on home release.

The eclectic cast draws together movie stars, martial artists, musicians and comedians. The comradery and competitive spirit between the fighters is refreshing and maintains a mostly light hearted mood, and it’s complimented by a charming level of self awareness that keeps the humour levels high.

The cast have completed a physically demanding and exceptionally high standard of martial training and body conditioning to replicate the appearance, movement and fight choreography of the pixelated characters. Highlights include the incredible flexibility of Dhalsim (Vidyut Jammwal), and impressive athletic appearances of Noah Centineo and Callina Liang as Ken and Chun Li.

There are many excellent supporting cast members including Jason Momoa as the feral savage Blanka, who is an electrifying combination of live action and digital effects, but conversely also a gentle brute, a character type that Momoa knows well. 50 Cent's Balrog is a rambunctious rogue that's bound to please audiences.

The special effects are dazzling and plentiful, the scope of which is well suited to an IMAX screen for maximum impact. The fantastic physical stunts will have you wincing with every slam, and the special moves provide an injection of awe and adrenaline.

The soundtrack is mostly an eclectic selection from the 90s that mixes up pop nostalgia, grunge and metal heavy hitters like White Zombie and Soundgarden with more recent tracks, including the 50 Cent track Many Men (Wish Death) from 2003. The choice of music is well matched to the screen action.

2026 sees Street Fighter arrive hot on the heels of two other recently revived culturally classic properties from the childhoods of those who are not as young as they used to be; Masters of the Universe and the second instalment of the highly entertaining Mortal Kombat reboot which is characterised by a typically more excessive display of gore than Street Fighter, which is an amusing morph of the two. It’s got a more comic edge to it than Mortal Kombat but retains the expertly executed and choreographed fight scenes. It earns it's place next to these titans.

If you're a fan of the game you'll definitely enjoy this outing, and if not it's a great introduction.