Street Fighter Review: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Street Fighter is a silly, fan-friendly action film that celebrates the game instead of trying to make it serious. The fights and performances are fun, but the artificial look and forced camp keep it from being a knockout.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Platform: Theatres
Genre: Action
Director: Kitao Sakurai
Cast: Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, David Dastmalchian, Vidyut Jammwal, Callina Liang
Video game movies have a rough record, and the ones that actually work are even rarer. Street Fighter doesn’t try to change that by being deep or dark. It goes the other way and leans straight into the silliness that made the arcade game so much fun, and that choice mostly pays off.
The story starts in 1987, when Ryu, played by Andrew Koji, wins the World Warrior Tournament. Then his master is murdered, and Ryu disappears from the fighting world. His best friend Ken Masters, played by Noah Centineo, becomes a flashy celebrity fighter with endorsements and TV appearances, but he has no idea where Ryu went.
Fast forward to 1993. The villain M. Bison, played by David Dastmalchian, announces a second World Warrior Tournament. He invites Ken, hoping the bait will pull Ryu out of hiding. Bison wants the psycho power of the world’s best fighters, and only Ryu has enough strength to stand against him. It’s a simple setup, but it fits a film that is mostly about people fighting each other.
What works best is how the film respects the game’s absurd spirit. The fights are built around the special moves fans know, including Honda’s Hundred Hand Slap and Dhalsim’s Yoga Lance. You don’t just get a single Hadouken at the end, as many game films do. These moves appear several times, and they feel natural instead of forced.
This is also the first live-action Street Fighter film that is truly built around a tournament, and every character gets a moment to shine, even if a few fighters get knocked out off-screen. The 1993 setting adds fun pop culture touches and music from that era, and the flashbacks are shown in anime style, which looks great.
David Dastmalchian is the standout. His Bison has a creepy, loner vibe that is very different from the famous 1994 version, yet he still makes the threat feel real. Noah Centineo plays Ken as a brash showman with a bit of self-doubt hiding underneath, and he does it well. Vidyut Jammwal is perfect as Dhalsim and makes you wish he had more screen time.
Not everything clicks, though. Some reviewers felt the friendship between Ryu and Ken lacked chemistry, which weakens the emotional side. The film is clearly more interested in fun than feelings, so those moments don’t hit hard.
The film’s look is its biggest problem. The main fighting arena feels fake, as if no real crowd was ever there, and too many scenes take place in dark rooms when the game is full of colour. The film also tries too hard to be campy in places, from Ken’s diva behaviour to Bison’s silly speeches.
The 1994 movie felt campy because it was so sincere about its own nonsense, and this one sometimes feels like it is winking at you. The anime flashbacks may also run a little long for viewers who just want live action.
Street Fighter isn’t a perfect film, but it is lively, loud, and loyal to the game. If you grew up playing it, you will find plenty to smile about, and even newcomers can enjoy the simple story. It also sets up a possible sequel.
If you are lining up more watches, our Aasha review covers a tense Malayalam thriller carried by Urvashi, our Tenzing review looks at a stunning Everest biopic, and our Masterplan review is for fans of lighter heist comedies.