The classic video game series Street Fighter is getting an all-new live-action movie adaptation from Legendary Entertainment, and there are a ton of exciting updates. Developed by Capcom and debuting back in 1987, the Street Fighter franchise is perhaps the most beloved fighting game of all time and helped to popularize the genre throughout its six main installments. The concept of the game is rather simple and pits players against one another in one-on-one duels. Outside the main games, Street Fighter has spawned countless spinoffs and sequels across multiple gaming platforms.
The lucrative video game franchise quickly blossomed into other forms of media, and Street Fighter was expanded into comic books, animated series, and even a live-action feature film in 1994. Street Fighter featured an all-star cast including Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raúl Juliá, but is generally considered one of the worst video game movies of all time despite maintaining a cult following. Various other attempts to bring the franchise to life in live-action have fallen under the radar, but Legendary Entertainment’s acquisition of the film and TV rights means another major studio will take a stab at Street Fighter.
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The Street Fighter Movie Latest News
A Release Date Is Revealed
Just weeks after the developing film lost its directors, the latest news confirms that the newest Street Fighter movie has set a release date. Even as tumultuous changes take place behind the scenes, Legendary’s Street Fighter is now slated to arrive in theaters on March 20, 2026. The distant release date implies that development is still moving along slowly, and it’s important to note that the film still hasn’t found a replacement in the director’s chair. As with any far-off release date, the Street Fighter movie’s premiere is subject to change.
The Philippou brothers were originally attached to direct, but have since departed.
The Street Fighter Movie Release Date
The Video Game Movie Arrives In 2026
Positioning itself as the new hotbed for IP-related movies and shows, Legendary Entertainment snatched up the film and TV rights for Street Fighter in April 2023. With video game movies finally starting to turn a profit, and films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s becoming blockbusters, the fighting game franchise is a hot commodity. With that in mind, Legendary has already placed its new Street Fighter movie on the schedule, penciling it in for a theatrical release on March 20, 2026.
a lengthy pause in news is a bad sign for the film’s progress.
Despite having a release date locked in, the Street Fighter movie has largely seemed to stall in the development phase. The Philippou brothers (the directors of Talk to Me) were originally slated to helm the project, but have since departed. Legendary hasn’t found a replacement for the directing pair, though that role is crucial in the development of the movie. While things could still be happening behind-the-scenes, a lengthy pause in news is a bad sign for the film’s progress.
The Street Fighter Movie Story Details
Nothing Is Known About The Film’s Story
Perhaps the trickiest part of adapting a Street Fighter game into a movie is finding the right story to tell. After all, the franchise is somewhat loose on plot and puts all of its effort into amazing fighting mechanics and smooth gameplay. With that said, it’s totally unknown how Legendary’s Street Fighter will dream up a story, though it will likely involve the annual tournament that serves as the game’s framework. The classic character Ryu is the most logical candidate to serve as the movie’s protagonist, and he’s been the face of the franchise since 1987.
Much like the recent Mortal Kombat movie, Street Fighter will need to find a way to modernize the classic franchise without stripping away too much of what makes fans love it. While the aforementioned Mortal Kombat is known for its bloody kills and over-the-top violence, Street Fighter has always been a bit more cartoonish and fun. That tone is crucial to the movie’s success, but Legendary will need to walk a fine line in order to avoid the pitfalls of the previous live-action Street Fighter adaptation.
Street Fighter
- Platform(s)
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Arcade
, Nintendo Entertainment System
, PC
, PS2
, PS4
, PSP
, TurboGrafx-CD
, Xbox One
, Switch - Released
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August 30, 1987
- Engine
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unity
- ESRB
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