Sometimes Doing Everything Right MEANS Losing: ‘Street Fighter’ (2026) Review

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this: I’m a big believer in committing to the bit. I will run a joke into the ground. I do play too much. Both of these are threats. If you don’t believe me after clicking that link, listen to more Seal. (Image via WB) I love media that does the same, be it movies, games, or comics. I also love a movie that knows what it is. The beautiful thing about the 2026 pass at Street Fighter, directed by Kitao Sakurai (The Eric André Show, Bad Trip), is that it does both in spades. This movie establishes an absurd but heartfelt throughline between a few of my favorite things – heavy-lined 90s anime, pro wrestling, and 4 Non Blondes. Just look at this. (Image via Paramount) Let’s Get This Out of the Way Up Front This is not a good film. If you go into this wanting a good film, you will be disappointed. This is not a film looking to make you think deeply, tug at heartstrings, or start broader conversations. That said, this movie is everything I wanted out of a Street Fighter adaptation and, if I’m honest, that means it could never have been a good film. The Last of Us. Ghost of Tsushima. Final Fantasy IX. These are games with stellar narratives. Their point, I’d argue above anything else, is to tell a story. Street Fighter, simply, isn’t that. It doesn’t aim to tell a story. At its core, it aims to steal your money.  Take me back. (Image via Bad Machines ESports Bar) Street Fighter, as a series, is a quarter muncher – an arcade mac…