‘Street Fighter’ Achieves Franchise-Best Preview Night Despite Poor Reviews

Video game adaptations often have a complex relationship with both critics and audiences. Fans sometimes flock to theaters despite mediocre reviews, while at other times, the initial buzz is all that a film will receive. Now, ‘Street Fighter’ has entered the arena, and its early numbers are in.

The reboot from Paramount and Legendary, directed by Kitao Sakurai and featuring Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, and Callina Liang, debuted on Friday in over 3,500 North American theaters, including IMAX and RealD 3D. This PG-13 adaptation of Capcom’s iconic fighting game series marks the first release under Paramount’s global distribution partnership with Legendary, which co-financed the film with an $82 million budget.

The journey to opening day faced challenges. Critics were not particularly kind, with the Tomatometer hovering around 47%, and presales reportedly lagging at about half the pace of ‘Mortal Kombat II’.

Despite tough reviews, #StreetFighter is poised to score the biggest opening of the franchise & #2 BIGGEST ever for fighting video game adaptations, as PG-13 #StreetFighterMovie grossed solid 4M on THU Previews at US #BoxOffice (only below #MortalKombat2’s 5.2M). If not frontloaded by hardcore fanboys like most videogame adaptations recently, a 30M-35M 3-day opening weekend could be in the cards in the U.S. what would be the #2 biggest opening ever for a fighting game adaptation domestically & by far the biggest for #StreetFighter films, crushing 1994 #StreetFighter’s 6.9M & 2009 #TheLegendofChunLi’s 4.7M opening weekends.

— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) October 16, 2026

Nevertheless, the film kicked off with a solid $4 million from Thursday previews, as reported by Deadline and Variety. Showtimes began at 2 p.m., accompanied by a 7 p.m. fan event. This figure trails behind ‘Mortal Kombat II’, which earned $5.2 million in previews before launching to $38.5 million in May, and is also below the $8.8 million that ‘Resident Evil’ garnered on its preview night in September.

For context, GameSpot highlighted that ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ made even less on its opening day, with $3 million, yet still became a hit. Thus, the preview total serves as a respectable starting point rather than a warning sign. It also marks the second-largest preview night ever for a fighting video game adaptation, only behind the ‘Mortal Kombat’ sequel.

These numbers are particularly noteworthy when considering the franchise’s history. The 1994 ‘Street Fighter’ opened with $6.9 million for the weekend, while 2009’s ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ debuted with $4.7 million, ultimately earning a worldwide total of $12.7 million. If the new movie meets its projections, it will easily secure the title for the franchise’s biggest opening.

Predictions have varied widely. Several sources anticipate a domestic opening between $25 million and $35 million, with tracking indicating something over $30 million. Paramount reportedly expects a figure in the mid-$30 millions, while the lowest estimates dipped to $22 million, and one outlier tracking service suggested $43 million.

A $30 million to $35 million opening would mark the second-largest ever for a fighting game adaptation in the U.S., trailing only the ‘Mortal Kombat’ sequel. Globally, the film is projected to reach around $70 million, with an international debut in the mid-$30 millions. While this would be a decent start, analysts have pointed out that the $82 million budget means the opening weekend alone cannot guarantee profitability.

The critical question remains whether the movie is front-loaded. Hardcore fans often drive preview nights, and early ticket sales for video game films can be misleading. JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray anticipates a figure around $30 million but cautioned that the film could experience a rapid decline.

On the audience side, things look more promising. The Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes has been hovering in the 80s, which could support the film’s hold if word of mouth remains positive. This divide between fans and critics is a familiar pattern for this genre, with ‘Mortal Kombat’ films following a similar trajectory.

Critics have noted that the movie ends abruptly and spends excessive time setting up a sequel, while others have praised its vibrant, affectionate approach and action sequences. Some reviews suggest that the film may resonate most with viewers already invested in the characters, which aligns perfectly with the audience driving the opening.

PERFECT! Watch the New Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. https://t.co/jAAPf1k9jf

— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) September 1, 2026

‘Street Fighter’ is expected to dominate the weekend. A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary ‘You Can See Everything’ earned $1.75 million in previews, while ‘Whalefall’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ each brought in about $1 million. The documentary is screening in far fewer theaters, so it isn’t a direct competitor for the top spot.

Sunday’s actuals will reveal the complete picture. If ‘Street Fighter’ lands in the $30 million range, it will achieve what no film in its franchise has ever accomplished, potentially prompting Paramount and Legendary to discuss a sequel.

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