Danny and Michael Philippou were originally on board to direct, but left in 2024 to focus on Bring Her Back. However, they very briefly cameo as Scott and Max, a nod to the iconic intro of SF II (1991), who were only named by Capcom in 2016.
Anyway, from a story by Dalan Musson and Gary Dauberman, Kitao Sakurai directs and co-writes the third live-action adaptation with T.J. Fixman.
Noah Centineo - Ken Masters
Andrew Koji - Ryu/Dark Ryu
Callina Liang - Chun-Li
David Dastmalchian - Lord M. Bison
Joe "Roman Reigns" Anoa'i - Akuma
Cody Rhodes - Guile
Andrew Schulz - Dan Hibiki
Eric André - Don Sauvage
Vidyut Jammwal - Dhalsim
Orville Peck - Vega
Don Lee - Master Gouken
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson - Balrog
Jason Momoa - Blanka
Hirooki Goto - E. Honda
Mel Jarnson - Cammy
Rayna Vallandingham - Juli
Alexander Volkanovski - Joe
Summary
In 1987, Ryu defeats Sagat in the first World Warrior tournament, with dark persona awakening the deity Akuma, who subsequently murders Master Gouken. This causes Ryu (the Orphan) and his adoptive brother Ken Masters (the Playboy) to drift apart.
Six years later, Shadaloo dictator Lord M. Bison is developing a secret weapon dubbed Psycho Power.
Sports presenter Don Sauvage goes on TV to announce that Bison is hosting World Warrior II in MetroLao City.
Undercover Interpol agent Chun-Li (secretly seeking revenge against Bison for murdering her father), visits Ken and his friend Dan Hibiki, telling them she's on a mission to find the greatest warriors to compete in the upcoming tournament.
For the record, Dan (debuting in SF Alpha) never had a moustache, and is a parody of Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia from SNK's Art of Fighting series.
As fists and feet fly, Bison uses a device to extract Ryu's fighting power, with Akuma waiting in the wings.
Mid-credits
In a dialogue-free anime sequence, a powered-up Bison, with Cammy and Vega, approach Sagat training alone at night. Ripped bastard looks at Bison, suggesting something has been arranged off-screen.
Envy the seed from which evil grows
Is story Shakespearean? No.
Was this dumb and incoherent? Yes.
But fun? Kinda.
The fights are colourful and characters are more representative of video games, but most appear not much longer as they did in trailers.
Apart from Ryu's Hadouken, specials look stupid. Oh, forget about Guile unleashing a Sonic Boom or Dhalsim warming opponents up with Yoga.
Akuma causing Joe (a NPC in the original Street Fighter) to explode in goreless fashion raised eyebrows.
Cammy adopts the look of brainwashed Killer Bee assassin from the Alpha series, which is cool. Unfortunately though, screeching bitch is so fucking irritating - I wanted her DEAD.
As you'd expect, the focus is Ryu, Ken, Bison and Chun-Li.
The jokes (some sexualised) come thick and fast, but I can't remember chuckling once.
Ignoring countless references, the most cringing comes from Bison saying "it was Tuesday", copying the brilliant Raul Julia in Street Fighter (1994).
Traditional anime used in flashbacks was handled by animation studio Titmouse and directed by Khang Le, and definitely when film is at its strongest.
Non-ending has Bison escape unscathed with Akuma's body.
Guile and Dhalsim pick up Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Dan, inviting them to go on a 'Bison hunt', as The Weather Girls' It's Raining Men plays.
WHY?
Anachronisms
The following songs didn't exist in 1993.
Baha Men - Who Let the Dogs Out (2000)
Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It (1995)
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun (1994)
Meredith Brooks - Bitch (1997)
Elastica - Connection (1994)
Like Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021), 4 Non Blondes' What's Up? is used for official trailer.
Before fighting Sagat in 1987, Ken scolds Ryu for listening to track on his walkman. Unfortunately, song wasn't released until 1993. But film redeems itself six years later, when a drunk Ken sings shit on karaoke.
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