A Gen Z perspective on Kitao Sakurai’s action-packed reboot, where electrifying fights, a colorful cast and video game nostalgia overcome an uneven story.
When I was about to go into this year’s Street Fighter reboot, I genuinely had strong expectations for the action. I played Street Fighter 6 with my friends a few years ago and I’ll admit, I began getting into the insane world of this game. Given my excitement up to now, I’ve been wondering what direction Kitao Sakurai would take, with respect to previous adaptations. Fortunately, what Sakurai brings to the table is an all-out fightfest that never ceases to keep you hooked.
That’s because Sakurai’s Street Fighter prioritizes what fans want to see the most: the fights between these iconic characters. They’re all lined up to fight in M. Bison’s competition, which is actually being used to get Ryu’s power. However, Ryu’s brother, Ken Masters takes it upon himself to prove his worth. In the midst of it all, Chun-Li has her own score to settle with M. Bison, which causes all their paths to collide.
With all of these interconnected storylines, one may think that Street Fighter might have a hard time balancing everything. At certain times, that thought proves true. Yet, because of its realization that it doesn’t need to take itself too seriously, it surprisingly works for the better.
Street Fighter (2026)’s Cast Carries This Action-Packed Reboot
The huge cast of Street Fighter really makes this film as exciting as it is. Sakurai specifically focuses on a few faces, which makes those respective performances stand out the most. These include Callina Liang, Andrew Koji, David Dastmalchian, and even Noah Centineo. That said, because of how stacked Street Fighter‘s cast is, it’s a tough balancing act.
Liang does a good job highlighting Chun-Li’s underlying determination, but still offers a nice bite to her confidence. This really shows in some of the hidden interactions with Ken, which shouldn’t have been just saved for the end. Dastmalchian delivers an impressively unhinged performance as M. Bison, giving the dictator such a burning intensity. Yet, he also revels in that comedic space, especially in a scene he shares with Koji’s Ryu later on. These two stars really do the heavy lifting in terms of getting you hooked, but it’s Ken and Ryu’s brotherhood that serves as the main focus.
Koji and Centineo do the best with what Ryu and Ken are given.
Some setups involving them, particularly when they’re reunited, can be slightly contrived. As an example, there’s a particular third act sequence that tries to mesh the action with the emotional pain Ken and Ryu have for each other.
Sure, the stunt choreography is great, but every little piece of lore that’s built to this moment almost disappears considering the weight of the narrative intertwining. However, it still has its hilarious moments, like a recurring bit involving a Masters of the Universe-inspired joke that becomes the catalyst.
As for the rest of Street Fighter‘s ensemble, there are a few spotlights. Cody Rhodes gives Guille a bit of an optimistic, if narcissistic, flair through his dedicated performance. Mel Jarnson confidently imposes herself like a siren as the dominating Cammy, who revels in the chaos and jealousy against Chun-Li.
Andrew Schulz and Eric Andre are a comedic force to be reckoned with, which shouldn’t be surprising since Sakurai worked with Andre in The Eric Andre Show. Even Vidyut Jammwal’s Dhalsim adds to that comedic charm with the character’s playful, philosophizing teases. That said, some characters, like Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s Balrog and Jason Mamoa’s Blanka, are relegated to a few scenes or two because of this.
Ryu and Ken’s Brotherhood is Street Fighter‘s Core, Even If It Loses Sight
The focus of Street Fighter is supposed to be on the reconnection between Ryu and Ken as they’ve been separated for so long. As a unique creative choice, the decision to explore their history through animation just felt right. Although these scenes feel inspired by the likes of the 1990s Japanese anime, they really do their best in making the duo’s brotherhood feel impactful. As said before, certain scenes between the two do work, like a mini-apartment brawl where Ryu tests Ken’s agility.
These animated scenes, which do cover other characters outside Ken and Ryu, do infuse Street Fighter with that special spark. Not only do they truly emphasize the fears of both brothers being sidelined by the other, but it also brings out a different fear: Akuma. Akuma (played by Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i) is supposed to be this intimidating force, which proudly shows in the animated segments. However, by the climax, it’s almost as if he were underutilized as he gets his dues very quickly.
This is also because of how Street Fighter leaves itself open-ended. By the time that the main trio gets to the big fight, it feels like everything has flown by too quickly. One can say that the way this film ends is going to lead to a sequel, yet it just feels slightly off.
Plus, given how much time is spent with Chun-Li’s investigation, I would’ve loved to see more of her backstory explored. That said, the backstory and depth we do get with Chun-Li and her struggle between duty and getting personal vengeance is serviceable. The good news is that Sakurai stays true with all of these characters and really emphasizes how extravagant each one is.
Street Fighter’s Amazing Stuntwork Does the Heavy Lifting
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Street Fighter film with some fun fights. Fortunately, that’s what Sakurai and his team show, whether that be through M. Bison’s competition or those outside duels. Each fight combines CGI and practicality in a way that makes each strike hit hard and true, especially later on.
The fast-paced, on-the-go cinematography from Ken Seng and colorful, bombastic visuals from Luke Lynch really make each bout stand out. There’s a whole hallway sequence reminiscent of Oldboy that cuts back and forth that I would’ve loved to see the full cut off. Of course, the animated fights are some of the best ones this franchise has given fans.
That said, the entire choreography team behind Street Fighter has to be given props. John Valera’s stunt and action choreography really does emphasize each character’s skill set quite well. In addition to how dedicated the entire cast was, especially with Liang’s physical routine, you can’t help but admire how everyone, both behind and in front of the camera, gave it their all.
Verdict
Street Fighter is bombastic, fun, and deeply nostalgic for long-time fans of the franchise. The fast-paced action is electrifying, with director Kitao Sakurai bringing incredible energy to the film alongside this packed cast. While a few story beats could use more development, this reboot is ultimately a movie made for the fans.
Street Fighter releases in theaters on October 16.
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Chris Gallardo
Christopher Gallardo is a New York City-based freelance entertainment writer and critic. He is currently writing for Tell-Tale TV, Nerdtropolis, Popternative and Eulalie Magazine with previous contributions to The Hollywood Handle and CoveredGeekly. He has been featured other sites including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Direct, Collider, IGN, and much more. He is also a massive fan of animated shows and movies, ranging from Princess Mononoke to Invincible and Arcane, as well as a big Greek mythology fan who loves Percy Jackson, God of War, and the Hades games. You can find him on X and Instagram (@chrisagwrites)!
