‘Street Fighter’ Review: A Mixed Bag of Arcade Nostalgia and Hollywood Flair

‘Street Fighter‘ arrives with nearly four decades of arcade legacy and the weight of two previous live-action adaptations that struggled to find their footing. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film takes us back to 1993, reuniting estranged friends Ryu and Ken as they enter the next World Warrior Tournament. This premise is as straightforward as a joystick and a punch button, which is precisely how it should be.

Andrew Koji portrays Ryu, Noah Centineo takes on the role of Ken, and Callina Liang plays Chun-Li, the enigmatic figure who draws them back into the competition. Cody Rhodes steps in as Guile, while David Dastmalchian embodies the villain M. Filmed in Melbourne, the movie runs just under two hours and features a nostalgic soundtrack filled with classic pop and rock hits to evoke the era.

After the credits rolled, I found myself enjoying certain moments while feeling quietly frustrated throughout. The film shines in short bursts but struggles to maintain a cohesive narrative.

The cast deserves commendation. Centineo clearly enjoys his role, bringing a loose, cocky charm to Ken, while Rhodes provides a physical presence that suits Guile perfectly. Dastmalchian seems to relish being a Street Fighter villain, even if M lacks a sense of real danger. Koji and Liang fully commit to their roles, despite the material not always offering them much to work with.

However, the film struggles with its tone, swinging between playful silliness and earnest emotions without establishing a consistent rhythm. Many jokes fall flat, and the music choices, including a notable use of 4 Non Blondes, often overshadow the script. When the narrative attempts to evoke feelings about Ryu and Ken’s fractured friendship just moments after a joke, the emotional weight feels misplaced.

The animated flashbacks emerge as a surprising highlight. These stunning hand-drawn 2D sequences are beautifully upscaled for IMAX and genuinely more exhilarating than much of the live-action content surrounding them. Strangely, a significant portion of the tournament unfolds off-screen, which is an odd choice for a film with ‘fight’ in its title.

The middle section feels disjointed and messy, and the finale struggles to tie up loose ends. With so many characters and references packed in, newcomers may find it hard to keep up, while longtime fans might wish the film would allow its fighters to engage more. Despite its flaws, the film remains watchable, though it seldom feels sharp.

Nevertheless, I never felt bored, and when the film finally commits to an epic brawl or a burst of animation, it truly shines. I would be interested in a sequel that refines the script and trusts its cast and action. For now, I rate ‘Street Fighter’ 6 out of 10.

Did this adaptation land its hits for you, or did the story leave you on the mat? Who was your favorite fighter on screen? Share your thoughts in the comments.