The prospect of a new Street Fighter film, three decades after the cult classic starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, had generated considerable buzz among fans. Legendary Pictures and Capcom had teamed up, entrusting the project to director Kitao Sakurai, known for his work on Bad Trip. Early trailers for the 2026 Street Fighter adaptation even hinted at a delightfully over-the-top, uninhibited spectacle.

The production spared no expense in assembling a formidable cast, featuring Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Jason Momoa as a green-painted Blanka, wrestler Roman Reigns as Akuma, David Dastmalchian as the tyrannical M. Bison, and rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) as Balrog. However, as reports from EcranLarge and other outlets now confirm, a strong ensemble proved insufficient to save a sinking ship. The film has been thoroughly lambasted by critics across the Atlantic.

© Paramount Pictures France

Reviewers have cited a litany of grievances. A primary concern is the film's excessive number of characters and game references, which reportedly make it impenetrable for newcomers while failing to fully satisfy long-time fans. The Hollywood Reporter noted it "struggles to balance fan service and accessibility," leaving both new and veteran fans dissatisfied. The overall tone has also come under fire, with critics pointing to a deluge of crude jokes and lowbrow humor that disrupt the pacing of what should be dynamic martial arts sequences.

Total Film described the movie as "overloaded and over-edited, crammed with crude jokes and struggling to carry multiple plots." The narrative itself is largely dismissed as a flimsy pretext, incapable of providing a coherent structure for the adaptation. Even director Kitao Sakurai's involvement, given his prior success with the hilariously transgressive Bad Trip, left critics perplexed. The Playlist questioned why Sakurai's "audacity disappeared" in Street Fighter, lamenting the film's perceived timidity.

Noah Centineo and Andrew Koji in Street Fighter

Aggregator site Metacritic reflects the critical consensus with a meager score of 45/100. While this technically surpasses the 1994 film's 34/100 and the abysmal Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li's 17/100, it remains a profoundly disappointing showing. Given this frosty reception and lukewarm box office projections, the prospect of a sequel seems highly unlikely, despite any optimistic statements from the filmmakers. It's anticipated that the film may find a second life, albeit a modest one, on VOD platforms.

A scene from Street Fighter Critics are delivering a K.O. to the film.

Street Fighter was released in theaters on October 14, 2026.