Movies Like ‘Street Fighter’ That Echo the Reboot’s Tournament Spirit
The new live-action ‘Street Fighter’ arrives in theaters on October 16, with Legendary Pictures and Capcom behind the production. Andrew Koji plays Ryu, Noah Centineo plays Ken, and Callina Liang plays Chun-Li, with Paramount handling distribution.
Anyone looking for movies like ‘Street Fighter’ will find a wide field. The options span fighting game adaptations, tournament thrillers, martial arts comedies and even superhero adventures. The films below each share something with the reboot, whether that is a rivalry, a competition or a sense of play.
‘Mortal Kombat’
The 2021 film follows MMA fighter Cole Young, who learns he is tied to an ancient conflict between warriors from different realms. It is the most obvious companion piece, since it also brings recognizable game characters and signature moves to the screen.
Where ‘Street Fighter’ leans into colorful action-comedy, this one takes a darker, supernatural tone. Looper notes that the two current ‘Mortal Kombat’ films also balance fun and humor better than the original movies did.
‘Tekken’
This live-action adaptation centers on Jin Kazama, who enters a major fighting competition run by the powerful Tekken Corporation in a dystopian future. The tournament puts a roster of game fighters into one story, much like the reboot.
The film does not always capture the exaggerated personality of its source material, but it remains relevant for viewers interested in fighting game cinema.
‘Enter the Dragon’
Bruce Lee plays a martial artist recruited to investigate a criminal operation, and he uses a prestigious tournament to uncover the truth. That setup of a competition hiding a larger conflict is familiar territory for ‘Street Fighter’ fans.
Den of Geek describes the film as basically the prototype for fighting games like ‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘Street Fighter’. Looper goes further and calls it probably the most important of the tournament movies that inspired the genre.
‘Bloodsport’
Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Frank Dux, a martial artist who enters an underground fighting competition in Hong Kong. Each opponent brings a different technique, which builds the sense of a growing challenge.
Looper points to the film’s brutal tournament, which sometimes ends in battles to the death, as a foundation for later fighting games and their movie versions.
‘Kickboxer’
Kurt Sloane travels to Thailand after his brother is defeated by a powerful kickboxing champion, then trains under a skilled master. The story is built on personal rivalry and the effort to earn real strength.
Like Ryu, Kurt must develop his abilities before facing an opponent who seems almost unbeatable, though the film lacks the colorful ensemble of the game adaptation.
‘Kung Fu Hustle’
Sing is a small-time criminal who wanders into a neighborhood full of extraordinary martial artists, and the result is a chaotic clash with comic misunderstandings. Stephen Chow directs and stars, blending martial arts with broad comedy and exaggerated effects.
That mix speaks to the action-comedy side of the reboot. Both treat fighting as something that can be spectacular and ridiculous at once.
‘Warrior’
Two estranged brothers enter a major mixed martial arts tournament for different reasons, with Tommy a former Marine and Brendan a teacher facing financial trouble. Their paths meet inside the ring.
The reboot’s logline also centers on estranged fighters Ryu and Ken, who are forced to face each other and the demons of their past. Viewers drawn to that emotional hook may find this the most natural match.
‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’
Scott, a young musician, has to defeat Ramona Flowers’ evil exes if he wants to pursue a relationship with her, and the story is full of video game references. The fights follow video game logic, with impossible feats treated as part of the entertainment.
It is a comedy more than a tournament film, but it captures the arcade side of the reboot. Which of these stories do you think comes closest to the arcade spirit that ‘Street Fighter’ is chasing, and does ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ belong near the top of your watchlist?
