‘Street Fighter’ Rotten Tomatoes Forecast Takes a Hit Before Critics Weigh In: Is a Rotten Score Looming?

Video game movies have a long, complicated relationship with critics, and few franchises know that better than ‘Street Fighter‘. With the latest reboot days from release, its Rotten Tomatoes forecast has become one of the most closely watched numbers in the genre conversation.

The franchise’s track record doesn’t help. ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ managed just 3% with critics in 2009, and the 1994 film with Jean-Claude Van Damme and the late Raul Julia has long been a punching bag, even if it has since built a cult following. Kitao Sakurai’s new film starts from a clean slate, set in 1993 shortly after the release of ‘Street Fighter II’.

Now the prediction market is flashing a warning sign. According to Kalshi News, traders forecast a 43% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, which would land the film in “Rotten” territory. The market’s chart shows the forecast sitting around 41.9%, a drop of 10.8 points after hovering in the mid-50s for weeks.

The timing is a big part of the story. Press screenings were scheduled for Wednesday with the review embargo lifting Thursday, leaving critics a very short window before the Friday opening. Studios often hold screenings close to release to shorten the gap between early reviews and opening day, and while some read that as nervousness, it isn’t always a bad sign.

A forecast is also not a verdict. Kalshi’s market for ‘Mortal Kombat II’ priced it at around 53% before the film landed a 77% score, a “Fresh” rating and a first for that franchise. These markets settle on the score the Monday after opening weekend, so there is plenty of room for movement.

The first social media reactions were mixed but mostly positive, which is somewhat surprising given the late embargo. Viewers praised the fight scenes and the 2D animated flashbacks, and Andrew Koji’s Ryu and Noah Centineo’s Ken drew the most love. Cody Rhodes also earned plenty of laughs as Guile.

The complaints are familiar ones. Some viewers found the plot unfocused and the jokes hit-or-miss, with one saying the movie feels like half a film. Others noted that certain characters are underused in a crowded ensemble.

PERFECT! Watch the New Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. https://t.co/jAAPf1k9jf

— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) September 1, 2026

The film’s most distinctive swing is its mix of live-action and anime-inspired animation. The animated sequences, produced by the Los Angeles studio Titmouse, which also worked on ‘Big Mouth’ and ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’, explore the characters’ backstories. Sakurai has said the approach let the story dig into the emotional histories of Ken and Ryu without de-aging the actors or casting child actors.

The ensemble is stacked as well. Centineo and Koji lead as Ken and Ryu, with Callina Liang as Chun-Li, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Rhodes as Guile, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog and Jason Momoa as Blanka. All of them are drawn into the World Warrior tournament, where a hidden agenda forces the fighters to face their pasts.

Full reviews arrive Thursday, and Paramount and Legendary have scheduled a fan event called the “Bonus Round” for 7:00 p.m. that evening. The film opens in theaters on Friday, October 16, in IMAX and RealD 3D. If critics agree with the market, ‘Street Fighter’ may end up with another Rotten label, but this franchise has never needed critical love to find an audience.

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