This movie is not trying to be gritty prestige cinema. It is loud, colorful, slightly ridiculous, and proudly over the top. Which is exactly what Street Fighter should be. Ryu and Ken look like Ryu and Ken. Chun Li looks like she walked straight out of an arcade cabinet. Guile has arms the size of small countries. And Jason Momoa as Blanka is such a chaotic casting choice that it circles back around to genius.
The whole thing is set in 1993 and honestly, thank you. That decision alone explains everything. This is giving strong original Mortal Kombat movie energy, and I mean that in the best possible way. Brutal but kid friendly. Serious but fun. Completely unashamed of its source material.
Also, personal moment here, I was ridiculously happy to hear Joey Valence’s PUNK TACTICS blasting through the trailer. I’ve been following him for years, watching him grind, evolve, and build something genuinely fresh, and hearing his music front and center in a major franchise trailer felt earned. That track fits this movie’s energy perfectly. Loud, punchy, unapologetic. Seeing artists like him finally get this level of recognition is one of my favorite parts of moments like this.
The cast list is unhinged in the most delightful way. Wrestling legends, martial artists, musicians, comedians, action stars, all thrown into the World Warrior blender. David Dastmalchian as M Bison alone should be studied in a lab. And yes, Roman Reigns as Akuma makes terrifying sense.
This movie knows exactly what it is. It is not embarrassed. It is not apologizing. It is here to throw fists, chew scenery, and make arcade kids very happy.
October 16, 2026 cannot come fast enough.
