Street Fighter's 2026 Movie Must Avoid Mortal Kombat II's Biggest Mistake

Street Fighter's New Movie Has A Mortal Kombat Problem It Can't Ignore Published Oct 13, 2026, 5:50 PM EDT Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar. When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of. 2026 is a remarkable year for movies, especially for gamers. It's even more special if you enjoy fighting games, considering Mortal Kombat II was released in May. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat are among the genre's biggest names, with legacies spanning decades. Both have roots in the arcade scene and successfully transitioned to home consoles. Mortal Kombat has also proven itself as a franchise with a story worth telling, with recent games leaning heavily into its lore. We can only guess so much from the Street Fighter 2026 trailers, but one element that's immediately apparent is its faithfulness to the source material. Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken (Noah Centineo) both wear their iconic gis. Guile (Cody Rhodes) sports his ridiculous gravity-defying hairdo, and Callina Liang looks incredible as Chun-Li. These nods to the source material aren't just skin deep either. The trailers also showcase famous special moves, including Ryu's Hadouken and Honda's (Hirooki Goto) Sumo Headbutt. The producers even go one step further, with character-specific throws only fans of the games will recognize. It's unclear how M. Bison (David Dastmalchian) will feature, but the trailers seem to embrace the games' silliness. The movie also seems entirely different from the previous live-action Street Fighter. There's plenty for existing fans to get excited about. However, the movie could run into the same issues Mortal Kombat II did, and those can't be ignored. What Mortal Kombat II Did Wrong Mortal Kombat II was divisive earlier this year. Some critics were particularly unimpressed, but many fans of the games also found plenty to love in the 2026 film. We previously mentioned that recent Mortal Kombat games lean heavily into the story, and Mortal Kombat II even features an artifact from the games in The Amulet of Shinnok. The movie was a treat for fans. Karl Urban was a great addition as Johnny Cage, and the film follows a tournament-style structure, which feels appropriate for the story. Even minor characters from the universe got their moment in the spotlight, with Baraka as an unexpected highlight. This kind of fan service is great for audiences invested in the franchise, though it's less impactful for newcomers. Movies based on established franchises have the unenviable task of pleasing both long-time fans and casual audiences. The latter can struggle to get invested, because these characters mean nothing to them before they sit down in theaters. Another trait Street Fighter seems to share with Mortal Kombat II is the enormous cast. Fans are already invested in these iconic warriors, but newcomers will need another hook to draw them in. Street Fighter will hopefully feature intense 1v1 battles, but they will only feel high-stakes if general audiences develop emotional investment in the characters. How Street Fighter Can Avoid Those Mistakes We can only glean so much about the Street Fighter movie based on the trailers. However, one aspect that's particularly prominent in the promotional material is the attention to detail and nods to the games. The production seems to have the fan-service aspect covered. The trickier part will be convincing a general audience to show up for a movie about a game they've never played. The casting could help, as Street Fighter 2026 boasts an impressive lineup of actors. Curious moviegoers may show up to see Jason Momoa as Blanka, for example. Cody Rhodes looks suitably ridiculous as Guile. Audiences may also attend showings to see 50 Cent as Balrog or David Dastmalchian as Bison. Street Fighter could also appeal to a broader audience by succeeding as a lighthearted action movie that transcends its source material. The trailers are full of quippy one-liners and jokes, alongside stylish fighting clips and explosions. It's clearly a busy film with a massive cast, but it could still land for viewers unfamiliar with the games if the wild action is entertaining. With such a large cast, characters can easily feel underdeveloped. However, if the story primarily focuses on a small selection of heroes and villains, it could still remain engaging for viewers outside the fandom. Release Date October 16, 2026 Runtime 119 Minutes Director Kitao Sakurai Cast Noah Centineo Ken Masters Writers Kitao Sakurai, T.J. Fixman, Dalan Musson, Gary Dauberman Producers Cale Boyter, Jason Momoa, Mary Parent, Stefan Makhoul, Takayuki Nakayama Franchise(s) Street Fighter