The Critics Called ‘Street Fighter’ Rotten; Now the Audience Calls Them Wrong
Few franchises have been punished by critics as consistently as ‘Street Fighter’. The 1994 film sits at 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 2009’s ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ landed at just 3%. Yet the first one still grossed $99.4 million worldwide on a $35 million budget, proving this property has never needed critical love to find an audience.
So when Paramount’s new reboot arrived with a rough start, the reaction from many longtime fans was a collective shrug. The question quickly became whether the critics missed what the movie was actually trying to do.
When the review embargo lifted on October 15, ‘Street Fighter’ debuted at 34% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 29 reviews, with a Metacritic score of 46. Some early tallies were even lower, with a 28% score appearing when only 25 reviews had posted. The score has since crept upward as more critics weighed in.
The latest snapshot shows the film at 41% on the Tomatometer from 92 reviews, which is still firmly in rotten territory. But the Popcornmeter tells a very different story, with audiences giving it 80% from more than 500 verified ratings. That 39-point gap is exactly what has fans arguing that the critics got it wrong.
It’s worth noting that the critical response isn’t a total pan. Metacritic lists the film as mixed or average based on 22 reviews, with most falling in the mixed category rather than the negative one. Even critics who disliked the movie tended to find things to enjoy, from its colorful style to the hand-drawn flashback sequences produced by Titmouse.
Those animated scenes have been compared to a modernized ‘Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie’. Reviewers also pointed to the fight choreography and an enthusiastic cast, and both Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns reportedly earned positive notices, with Rhodes standing out in particular.
The main criticisms are about the script and the tone. Some writers said the dialogue is predictable and uninspired, and others felt writer-director Kitao Sakurai never quite decides what kind of movie he’s making. Several reviews also noted that the film packs in so many characters and references that casual viewers can struggle to keep up.
Those complaints are real, but they’re also the kind that don’t always bother fans. Early reactions after the Los Angeles premiere on October 12 suggested that people who play the games were having the most fun, praising the campy tone, the fight scenes and more than 100 Easter eggs.
The disconnect partly comes down to expectations. The movie is set in 1993, the same year ‘Street Fighter II’ conquered arcades, and it leans hard into a ’90s throwback feel with silly humor and an over-the-top cast. Viewers who grew up feeding quarters into those machines may welcome that more than critics judging a conventional action movie.
Video game adaptations are also in a strong moment. Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ set a franchise record with a reported $60 million debut and a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, and ‘Mortal Kombat II’ opened to $38.5 million. Against that backdrop, audiences may be more willing to embrace a movie that takes its source material seriously, even if it doesn’t please every reviewer.
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
Early audience scores tend to skew toward the most dedicated fans, and 250 ratings is still a small sample. A high Popcornmeter on opening weekend doesn’t guarantee a lasting reputation, and the film’s flaws are still real. It’s possible that both sides are partly right, with critics noticing structural problems and fans simply enjoying the ride anyway.
The box office will help settle things. Tracking projections ahead of the weekend ranged from about $22 million to $40 million domestically, depending on the forecaster. For comparison, the horror film ‘Other Mommy’ topped the chart last week with a $27.5 million opening despite an 18% Rotten Tomatoes score and a D+ CinemaScore, though its audience reaction was the opposite of this one.
Whatever the final numbers, the movie already has a vocal fan base and a clear identity. Rhodes has said he wants a sequel, and there is talk of a possible second round if the box office cooperates. With a strong audience score behind it, the film has a path to building the kind of loyal following earlier adaptations never had.
Do you think critics got Street Fighter wrong?
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