Rotten Tomatoes reviews slam Street Fighter, signaling a rough start
Critics aren’t pulling punches on Street Fighter, and Rotten Tomatoes shows just how bruising the verdict is.
When the first reviews landed Thursday, Paramount ’s new take on Street Fighter was already in a scrap. The reboot opened at 28% on Rotten Tomatoes from 25 early write-ups; a few hours later, as more critics weighed in, the score nudged up to 42% off 36 reviews. Expect it to keep shifting as the count grows, but the initial read is bumpy.
The score ticked from 28% (25 reviews) to 42% (36 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes by Thursday afternoon.
What critics are saying
Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the movie swings big with a chaotic, high-energy mix of action and camp. Even mixed reviews singled out its stylish 2D-animated flashback sequences and bursts of high-octane fight choreography as highlights.
The knocks are louder: a messy script, thin character work, and an overstuffed plot that struggles to juggle its ensemble. Some reviewers leaned into the B-movie absurdity and had fun with it; others called the whole thing incoherent and unengaging as a translation of Capcom’s fighting classic.
WWE stars draw notice
One bright spot in the pile-on: the wrestlers. Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns are getting singled out, with Rhodes earning especially warm notices. Co-star Andrew Schulz said Rhodes impressed so much during filming that producers expanded his screen time.
Here’s who’s playing who in the ensemble:
- Cody Rhodes — Guile
- Roman Reigns — Akuma
- Andrew Koji — Ryu
- Noah Centineo — Ken
- Callina Liang — Chun-Li
- Jason Momoa — Blanka
The franchise ’s track record with critics hasn’t been kind: the 1994 and 2009 films both sit at 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. Early preview screenings for the new movie are underway ahead of its wider box-office push, and it’s now playing in theaters.