Street Fighter Looks Like The Most Fun Blockbuster Movie 2026 Still Has To Offer

Published Sep 3, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

The bulk of attention has gone directly toward the epic showdown set for December 18, when Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday hit theaters. Dunesday, as it has been coined, will be the biggest weekend of the year as the massive ensemble sequels square off. They're expected to be among the year's biggest hits, with hopes of both also delivering from a quality perspective.

But sometimes blockbusters are all about just having fun. Franchises like Fast & Furious, Jurassic, and Transformers have become known for chasing entertainment value over everything else. While those are set to sit out 2026, the fun-first spirit that they strive for won't be completely missing from the big screen. There is one remaining blockbuster this year that is shaping up to be the most fun audiences will have in theaters.

That would be Paramount's reboot of the hit video game franchise, Street Fighter. The PG-13 action-adventure movie is set to release on October 16. While it walks into theaters with a baked-in passionate fanbase, it's not one that, admittedly, I was all that excited for coming into 2026. But I've been completely won over by the movie's marketing and how it stands out amongst the year's remaining tentpole films.

Street Fighter's Trailers Have Made The Movie Look Like An Action-Packed Blast

Paramount has been busy promoting Street Fighter since late 2025, hoping to ensure the movie becomes a big hit and franchise starter. The film certainly has the makings of a breakout success based on how entertaining it looks to be, both for hardcore fans of the fighting games and novices.

The one element Street Fighter had to nail was its action and fight choreography. Thankfully, all indications are that this is the case. Every fight in Street Fighter that has been teased so far looks to be wildly fun. There are big powers, a tournament setting, and epic character pairings. It's been impossible to watch the trailers and not be impressed by what the movie looks to have accomplished with its fights, and those should be only more impressive on the big screen.

Another plus for Street Fighter is a very winning cast. Noah Centineo's Ken Masters, Andrew Koji's Ryu, and Callina Liang's Chun-Li all look great and have fully bought into these roles. Add in the likes of Cody Rhodes, Jason Momoa, and Roman Reigns, and the action pedigree of the movie increases. It looks like everyone is having a blast, and that should translate to audiences.

It also helps that the film has fully embraced Street Fighter's wackiest elements. There is no effort to ground the universe in realism or move away from outlandish designs. Keeping Guile's game-accurate hair is perhaps the best example. It all goes to show that Street Fighter isn't taking itself too seriously. It's a testament to director Kitao Sakurai's vision, which has won me over.

Street Fighter's Tone Sets It Apart From 2026's Remaining Blockbusters

A key part of what makes Street Fighter look so fun, though, is its tone. The movie won't be a full-on comedy, but a good amount of humor has been present throughout the marketing. So in addition to entertaining audiences with some spectacular fight scenes, the film will also aim to keep the mood light so there is a great chance of viewers having a good time.

It's a very different approach than 2026's other blockbusters. Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday will both be more serious, even if the latter has more humor than the trailers are letting on. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be another more dramatic blockbuster, while Godzilla Minus Zero will be quite grounded amid the destruction. 2026's other video game movie, Resident Evil, should be fun but in the horror vein of delivering scares and using some comedy to relieve tension.

That's not to say that those films won't be fun or entertaining in their own ways, but none are taking on a lighter tone like this. The only one that will come close is Sony's Jumanji: Open World, but Street Fighter looks more fun and exciting. Now I just hope that the movie lives up to the increasing hype.