Street Fighter (2026) Review: Hadoukens Meet a Tournament Conspiracy

Synopsis

This Street Fighter review begins in 1993, with Ryu and Ken Masters living apart after their shared past. Chun-Li appears with a proposal: join the next World Warrior Tournament and fight again.

The tournament is not just a contest of fists. Beneath the spectacle sits a conspiracy, and the heroes soon sense that someone is steering the bouts for their own ends. Old friendships and old wounds are dragged into the ring along with them.

What works

The premise is smart in its simplicity. A fighting tournament gives the film a clear structure, and a 1993 setting lets it lean on the era's look and attitude. Dropping three familiar names into that frame is an easy hook for fans and newcomers alike.

The estranged-friends angle gives the story an emotional engine beyond the combat. Ryu and Ken are most interesting when their history is in play, and the setup makes room for that tension. It is a more grounded starting point than a plain parade of special moves.

Director Kitao Sakurai has the right raw material for kinetic action. A tournament format promises variety in fighting styles, locations and opponents, and the film's 119-minute runtime is generous enough to let the set pieces breathe. The PG-13 rating suggests a punchy but accessible tone rather than a brutal one.

Performances

The cast includes Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Joe "Roman Reigns" Anoa'i, David Dastmalchian and Cody Rhodes. It is a mix of screen actors and wrestling stars, which suits a world built on larger-than-life physicality.

Koji and Centineo have credible action and drama backgrounds, and the casting hints at a pairing with plenty of contrast. Liang is positioned as the catalyst who sets the plot moving. Dastmalchian is a reliably distinctive screen presence, and the presence of two wrestling names promises real heft in the ring.

We will say little about individual character turns here, because the story is built around reveals that deserve to be experienced fresh.

Where it stumbles

Adaptations of fighting games face a familiar challenge: the stories are thin by design, and a feature must invent connective tissue. A conspiracy plot is a common solution, and it risks feeling generic next to the appeal of the fighters themselves.

There is also the pull between fan service and accessibility. Newcomers may not recognise every name or move, while longtime players may want more than a nod. Balancing both within one tournament story is hard, and a large ensemble can leave some characters underdeveloped.

Finally, the 1993 backdrop is a strong idea, but period flavour can easily become surface decoration rather than something that shapes the drama.

Who will enjoy it

• Longtime Capcom fans who want to see Ryu, Ken and Chun-Li on the big screen.

• Action viewers who enjoy tournament stories and ensemble casts.

• Wrestling fans curious to see familiar stars in a cinematic fight world.