Every ‘Street Fighter’ Movie in Chronological Order

Since Capcom launched the ‘Street Fighter‘ video game franchise into a global phenomenon in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the property has inspired a wide variety of cinematic adaptations. These projects span theatrical blockbusters, standalone animated features, and independent martial arts films, each interpreting the lore of World Warriors such as Ryu, Ken Masters, and Chun-Li through distinct narrative lenses.

Because the franchise lacks a single unified continuity across its multimedia history, experiencing these adaptations is best approached through their chronological order of release. Spanning from the landmark anime and live-action releases of 1994 through the modern studio reboots, the films chart the evolution of fighting game storytelling over more than three decades.

‘Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie’ (1994)

Directed by Gisaburo Sugii and produced by animation studio Group TAC, this Japanese anime feature adapts Capcom’s hit fighting franchise into a full-length animated narrative. The plot centers on M. Bison and the criminal syndicate Shadowlaw as they attempt to locate and brainwash the world’s most formidable martial artists. Interpol investigator Chun-Li and United States Air Force Captain Guile team up to locate the nomadic warrior Ryu before Bison can capture him, leading to an eventual confrontation with a brainwashed Ken Masters. The film gained recognition for its technical fight choreography, incorporating hand-drawn animation techniques and rotoscoping alongside an alternative rock soundtrack in its English-language localization. Released theatrically in Japan by Toei Company in August 1994, it was subsequently licensed and distributed internationally by Manga Entertainment.

‘Street Fighter’ (1994)

Written and directed by Steven E. de Souza, this live-action Hollywood adaptation stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel William F. Guile. Guile leads the military forces of the Allied Nations into the fictional Southeast Asian nation of Shadaloo to confront General M. Bison, played by Raul Julia in his final theatrical screen performance. The storyline reframes the original arcade lore into a military action-adventure, incorporating characters like Chun-Li as an undercover television reporter and Ryu and Ken as small-time arms dealers. The production grossed nearly $100 million at the worldwide box office following its December 1994 theatrical premiere by Universal Pictures. Capcom later capitalized on the film’s aesthetic by releasing arcade and home video game spin-offs that incorporated digitized footage of the movie’s actors.

‘Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie’ (1999)

Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi and produced by Group TAC, this direct-to-video anime movie adapts the aesthetic and character roster of Capcom’s prequel video game series. The narrative follows Ryu as he struggles against the corrupting influence of the Dark Hadou while encountering a mysterious young boy named Shun, who claims to be his long-lost brother. Along with Ken Masters and Chun-Li, Ryu travels to an underground fighting tournament organized by the deceptive scientist Dr. Sadler, who plans to harvest warrior energies to enhance his own cybernetic strength. The project was originally released in Japan as an original video animation before receiving an international English dub distributed by Manga Entertainment under the title ‘Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie’.

‘Street Fighter Alpha: Generations’ (2005)

Produced by Japanese studio A.P.P.P. and directed by Ikuo Kuwana, this animated production was created specifically for the English-language home video market. The storyline serves as a character study focusing on Ryu’s return to the secluded dojo of his deceased master, Gouken, where he is haunted by visions of the demonic warrior Akuma. Through multiple flashback sequences, the narrative explores Gouken’s early training alongside Akuma under Master Goutetsu, illustrating the devastating toll of the Dark Hadou. The feature emphasizes stylized, close-quarters combat while exploring the familial and spiritual ties binding the franchise’s central combatants. Manga Entertainment released the movie on DVD in late 2005, though it did not receive an official Japanese release until years later as a bonus disc inclusion.

‘Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind’ (2009)

Directed by Jiro Kanai and animated by Studio 4°C, this 65-minute anime film was produced to accompany the home console release of the fourth mainline video game entry. The storyline acts as a narrative bridge exploring an international investigation led by Cammy and Delta Red into unusual energy readings linked to a shadowy weapons manufacturer known as S.I.N. As Chun-Li and Guile investigate the mysterious disappearance of prominent fighters worldwide, secret operative Crimson Viper targets Ryu to weaponize his Dark Hadou for military use. The film was officially released on a bonus disc included with the collector’s edition versions of ‘Street Fighter IV’ in February 2009.

‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ (2009)

Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, this live-action reboot explores the origins of one of the franchise’s most iconic heroines, portrayed by Kristin Kreuk. The plot follows Chun-Li as an accomplished classical pianist in Bangkok whose peaceful life is shattered when her father is abducted by the ruthless syndicate leader M. Bison, played by Neal McDonough. Under the mentorship of martial arts master Gen, Chun-Li learns to channel her spiritual power to fight Bison’s criminal empire while crossing paths with Interpol agent Charlie Nash. Released theatrically by 20th Century Fox in February 2009, the movie generated approximately $12.8 million against a reported $50 million production budget.

‘Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist’ (2014)

Directed and co-written by Joey Ansah, this live-action martial arts film was developed independently with Capcom’s official licensing to provide a faithful origins story. The plot details the secluded training of Ryu and Ken Masters in the Japanese mountains under their martial arts master, Gouken, as they practice the sacred and dangerous art of Ansatsuken. While the young students gradually learn the physical disciplines and spiritual dangers of their fighting style, flashbacks reveal the tragic history between Gouken and his brother Gouki prior to Gouki’s transformation into Akuma. After premiering as an episodic web series on Machinima in May 2014, the project was assembled and released as a continuous feature-length film on television and home media platforms.

‘Street Fighter: Resurrection’ (2016)

Directed by Joey Ansah as a live-action follow-up to ‘Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist’, this project serves as a narrative tie-in designed around Capcom’s fifth mainline game. Set years after the events of their wilderness training, Ryu and Ken are called upon to investigate an arms smuggling ring tied to Decapre and the remnants of the Shadaloo syndicate. During their mission, the duo encounters Charlie Nash, who has mysteriously returned from the dead with enhanced cybernetic capabilities and unclear allegiances. The production premiered as a live-action miniseries on the streaming service Go90 in March 2016 before being distributed internationally as a unified feature film.

‘Street Fighter’ (2026)

Directed by Kitao Sakurai and produced by Legendary Pictures in partnership with Capcom, this live-action theatrical reboot premiered in October 2026 through Paramount Pictures. Set in 1993, the plot centers on Chun-Li as she investigates a new World Warrior tournament orchestrated by the dictator M. Bison, who seeks to lure Ryu out of hiding. The storyline sees an aimless Ken Masters forced to confront his past alongside Ryu, reuniting the former sparring partners as they enter Bison’s dangerous global arena. The ensemble cast includes Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, and Roman Reigns as Akuma. The production combines live-action martial arts choreography with hand-drawn animated sequences used to illustrate pivotal character flashbacks and lore.

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