title: "Street Fighter movie drops first trailer, and it’s pure 1993 chaos with Ken" front and centre excerpt: "The first Street Fighter movie trailer is here, and it leans hard into campy" 90s energy, brutal fights, and a very sad Ken Masters karaoke scene. category: esports date: '2026-04-17T08:02:07+08:00' author: Aimirul tags:
- Street Fighter
- Capcom
- Fighting Games
- Movies
- Ken Masters featured: false coverImage: /images/esports/street-fighter-movie-drops-first-trailer-and-it-s-pure-1993-chaos-with-ken-front-and-centr.jpg
The first trailer for the new Street Fighter movie is finally out, and bro, this thing is not playing it safe.
Instead of going for a super serious prestige-game-adaptation vibe, the film looks like it is fully embracing messy 90s energy, big personalities, and plenty of violence. The biggest takeaway from the first footage is simple: this is basically Ken Masters' movie right now.
The trailer opens on a version of Ken played by Noah Centineo, and yes, he is singing "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes at a karaoke bar. It is weird, very campy, and honestly exactly the kind of swing that makes this trailer memorable instead of disposable.
From there, the clip shows Ken as a washed-up fighter who looks completely lost. Chun-Li, played by Camille Liang, gives him some very aggressive motivation, while Ryu, played by Andrew Koji, pushes him to enter the World Warrior Tournament, a contest featuring the strongest fighters from around the world.
That tournament is not just about proving who is strongest, either. According to the film's official logline, there is a larger conspiracy behind it all, one that forces these characters to fight each other while also dealing with the demons from their past. Another detail that helps the movie stand out: it is set in 1993, which explains the throwback aesthetic all over the trailer.
For longtime fans, there are also a few direct nods to the games. The trailer ends with Ryu pulling off his signature fireball move, and the announcer-style audio reportedly sounds very close to the classic game effects. That kind of detail matters, especially for a franchise like Street Fighter, where fans will immediately notice if the adaptation gets too generic.
The cast is stacked with some very unexpected choices. Alongside Centineo, Liang, and Koji, the film features Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Balrog, Jason Momoa as Blanka, Orville Peck as Vega, Andrew Schulz as Dan, and Mel Jarnson as Cammy.
Behind the camera, Kitao Sakurai is directing after Talk to Me and Bring Her Back directors Danny and Michael Philippou stepped away from the project in 2024. The screenplay is credited to T. J. Fixman and Sakurai, with story credits going to Gary Dauberman and Dalan Musson.
Why should Malaysia and the wider SEA crowd care? Easy. Street Fighter is still one of the most recognisable fighting game brands in this region, whether you grew up with arcade cabinets, console sessions with cousins, or still follow the FGC today. Even if you are not deep into tournament play, Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Bison are legacy characters here. A movie that actually leans into the franchise's personality instead of sanding it down could hit hard with local fans.
Also, the 90s setting might genuinely work in SEA. A lot of Street Fighter nostalgia in Malaysia comes from that exact era, when arcade culture and fighting games had real weight. So if the movie can balance fanservice, camp, and decent action, there is a good chance it lands better here than a more sterile adaptation would.
The new Street Fighter movie is set to arrive in cinemas on October 16.
Source: GamesRadar
