I’m So Excited That Street Fighter’s Wackiest Element Made It To The Movies

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The trailer for the new Street Fighter movie features a surprisingly strange and energetic track from the game, and it’s really gotten me hyped! This movie is the newest attempt to adapt the beloved Street Fighter video game series, which has been turned into films a number of times before.

Past attempts to bring Street Fighter to the screen haven’t quite captured the mix of intense action and quirky fun that makes the series special. However, the trailer for the 2026 film suggests this version will be different, packing in plenty of exciting moments and exaggerated visuals. One scene, in particular, really shows that the filmmakers understand what fans love about Street Fighter and why it’s remained popular for so long.

Street Fighter Will Pit Someone Against A Car

A surprisingly fun part of the Street Fighter trailer is a scene where a character destroys a car. This moment, which appears near the end of the trailer and takes place in what looks like a big arena, is a direct reference to a classic move from the original Street Fighter games.

Based on other scenes in the trailer, this moment appears to show a fighter demonstrating their power by ripping apart a car with their hands. While incredibly strong in reality, it’s something many of the franchise’s top fighters could do without much effort.

Okay, so this part of the game totally reminded me of the car-smashing bonus stage from the original Street Fighter II! You’re basically told to just destroy this car, and it’s not just mindless button-mashing. It actually teaches you that you can’t just keep repeating the same attacks – you need to switch things up, or you won’t do as much damage. It’s also just a really fun, silly little detail that shows how over-the-top the fighting in this game can be!

Seeing a sumo wrestler pummel a car is definitely weird, but it’s not even the strangest thing in Street Fighter. The movie includes it as a quick, memorable scene, which shows it’s happily adopting the games’ unusual and quirky details – and that makes me really glad.

Street Fighter Is A Weird Series, And Is Best When It Embraces That

The Street Fighter series has long been a top-tier gaming franchise. Its bright, distinctive characters and visuals set it apart from games like Mortal Kombat, which are more violent, and Virtua Fighter, which aims for realism. This unique, quirky style is really what makes Street Fighter so appealing.

A key ingredient for a successful video game movie is staying true to the original story, because when it’s missing, the film quickly fades from memory. The 1994 Street Fighter movie is a good example of this – it changed many characters and gave them completely new origins.

The film’s weakest parts didn’t capture the over-the-top energy and unique style of the original game. This made the movie feel like a typical action film. Thankfully, some moments – like Raul Julia’s delightfully dramatic portrayal of M. Bison and Andrew Bryniarski’s hilariously simple Zeigief – fully leaned into the game’s inherent absurdity.

This unique quality is what makes Street Fighter special, adding a lighthearted and colorful touch to its intense battles and unusual characters. It’s a key reason why the games have remained popular and stand out from other fighting games.

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The new Street Fighter movie is a promising sign, and moments like a character destroying a car for a crowd’s amusement are more than just a playful nod to fans. They establish the film’s unique and strange atmosphere, showing us this world operates by different rules.

I was hoping the new Street Fighter movie would be exciting, and the trailer suggests the creators feel the same way. Unlike previous attempts, like the disappointing The Legend of Chun-Li or the uneven 1994 Street Fighter film, this one appears to really get the series’ unique blend of action and humor.

As a longtime gamer, I’m really hyped for the new Street Fighter movie, and honestly, it’s because the filmmakers seem to get it. The fact that they’re actually including the car-fighting scene – not just as a quick Easter egg, but as a real part of the story – tells me they understand what fans love about the games. It’s a great sign!

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2025-12-22 00:19