Street Fighter Movie Review: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji and Vidyut Jammwal Bring the Gaming Franchise to Life
The iconic Street Fighter video-game franchise returns to cinemas with a live-action adaptation directed by Kitao Sakurai. Featuring Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang and Indian action star Vidyut Jammwal, the film combines martial arts, comedy, colourful characters and references to the popular fighting games that inspired it.
Centineo plays Ken Masters, Koji portrays Ryu, and Liang takes on the role of Chun-Li. Jammwal appears as Dhalsim, marking his Hollywood debut. The ensemble also includes David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Jason Momoa as Blanka and several performers from the worlds of professional wrestling, music and comedy.
Released in theatres on October 16, 2026, the film attempts to appeal to longtime fans while introducing the franchise to a new generation of moviegoers. Early reviews have offered mixed reactions, praising its energetic performances and humour while questioning its storytelling and the consistency of its action sequences.
Story: Ken and Ryu return to the fighting arena
Set in 1993, the film centres on Ken Masters and Ryu, two skilled fighters whose relationship has changed since their earlier days of training together. Although they once shared a close bond under their master, Gouken, they have become estranged and are pursuing different lives.
Ken has embraced celebrity and public attention, while Ryu has withdrawn from the world of competitive fighting. Their separate paths change when Chun-Li approaches them with an invitation to participate in the next World Warrior Tournament.
The competition appears to offer an opportunity for fighters from different backgrounds to prove their abilities. However, the tournament conceals a more dangerous plan involving M. Bison, whose ambitions place Ryu and Ken at the centre of a larger conflict.
As the story develops, the fighters must confront old rivalries, personal conflicts and threats that extend beyond the competition itself. The tournament provides the narrative structure for the film's martial arts confrontations, while the relationships between the characters offer opportunities for humour and emotional drama.
The premise gives the filmmakers plenty of material, drawing on a franchise known for its distinctive fighting styles, memorable characters and exaggerated battles. However, some critics have argued that the film introduces too many characters and plot elements, making it difficult to maintain a consistent narrative focus.
Noah Centineo and Andrew Koji lead the action
Noah Centineo plays Ken Masters, a fighter whose confidence and public persona contrast with Ryu's quieter approach. His performance brings humour and personality to the role, helping establish the difference between the two central characters.
Andrew Koji portrays Ryu, whose disciplined fighting style and complicated relationship with Ken form an important part of the story. The characters' history provides the film with a personal conflict that runs alongside the tournament's larger stakes.
Their contrasting personalities help create some of the film's more entertaining exchanges. The tension between their friendship and rivalry also reflects the source material, in which their individual fighting journeys are closely connected.
Reviews have praised the chemistry between the lead actors and highlighted the film's willingness to embrace the franchise's exaggerated tone. However, the screenplay's frequent shifts between action, comedy and background stories sometimes weaken the emotional impact of the central relationship.
Vidyut Jammwal makes his Hollywood debut as Dhalsim
One of the film's major talking points for Indian audiences is Vidyut Jammwal's appearance as Dhalsim. Known for his martial arts background and physically demanding action performances, Jammwal brings his experience to a franchise built around distinctive combat techniques.
Dhalsim is one of the recognisable characters from the Street Fighter games, known for his unusual fighting abilities and spiritual identity. The character offers Jammwal an opportunity to combine physical performance with the fantastical style associated with the franchise.
His casting also brings Indian representation into a major international video-game adaptation. Indian entertainment coverage has highlighted his debut as an important aspect of the film's appeal to local audiences.
However, some reviewers have questioned how much space the film gives Jammwal's character within its crowded ensemble. While his physical presence stands out, the larger narrative must divide its attention among numerous fighters and storylines.
For Indian viewers following Jammwal's international career, his role is a notable milestone, even as the film's character development remains a point of discussion.
Humour, nostalgia and the fighting-game atmosphere
Street Fighter draws heavily on the visual identity and exaggerated personalities of the original games. Its colourful characters, recognisable fighting styles and references to 1990s popular culture are designed to appeal to fans who grew up playing the franchise.
The film also embraces comedy rather than treating every confrontation as a serious dramatic event. Banter between the characters and deliberately exaggerated moments help establish a playful tone.
Some reviewers have welcomed this approach, arguing that the film understands the absurdity of its premise and uses humour to make the action more entertaining. Others have found that the jokes and self-aware dialogue do not always work, especially when they interrupt the story's momentum.
The nostalgia factor is therefore an important part of the film's identity. Viewers familiar with the games may appreciate the character references and visual callbacks, while newcomers may judge the film more heavily on its storytelling and the clarity of its central conflict.
Action sequences and direction
Kitao Sakurai directs the adaptation, bringing together martial arts, tournament combat and a large cast of performers with varied backgrounds. The film features fighters with different abilities and personalities, allowing the action to move between individual duels and larger confrontations.
The scale and variety of the cast provide opportunities for inventive matchups. Yet the number of characters also creates a challenge: each fighter needs enough screen time for audiences to understand their motivations and appreciate their role in the larger story.
Several reviews have criticised the plot for feeling crowded and the action for becoming repetitive. Others have found the energetic style and comedic approach entertaining, particularly when the film allows its characters to interact rather than simply move from one fight to the next.
This mixed response suggests that the adaptation's biggest challenge is not a lack of material but the way it organises that material. A tighter storyline and more consistent development of the central characters might have strengthened the impact of its action scenes.
Final verdict
Street Fighter brings a recognisable video-game franchise to the big screen with Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Andrew Koji as Ryu and Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim. Its combination of martial arts, comedy, colourful characters and 1990s nostalgia gives it a distinctive identity.
The film's humour, ensemble performances and references to the games have received praise, but its crowded storyline and uneven action have divided critics. Jammwal's Hollywood debut is a key attraction for Indian audiences, although his character competes for attention within a large cast.
For fans of the games and viewers who enjoy exaggerated action comedies, the film offers familiar characters and energetic confrontations. Those looking for a tightly structured story or deeper character development may find the experience less satisfying.
Ultimately, Street Fighter is an ambitious attempt to translate an arcade favourite into a live-action spectacle, with its reception depending largely on how much viewers enjoy its mix of nostalgia, humour and over-the-top fighting.
