By The critics have spoken — and they are not kind. The new “Street Fighter” movie, headlined by WWE superstars Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes alongside NJPW’s Hirooki Goto, has debuted with a rough 34% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes based on the first 29 reviews.
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes in Street Fighter (Credits: Paramount)
Embargo Lifted Just Before Opening
Paramount lifted the critical review embargo just hours before the film’s early Thursday preview showtimes, ahead of its official theatrical release on Friday, October 15. The timing means reviews dropped right as fans were already lining up for first screenings — a risky move for a movie banking on crossover appeal from wrestling and gaming fandoms.
Over on Metacritic, the film isn’t faring much better, holding a 46/100 score as of publication. Both scores are likely to fluctuate as more reviews pour in over opening weekend, but the early consensus points to a film that failed to land with critics.
Wrestling Stars Take on the Big Screen
The movie’s biggest draw is unquestionably its cast. Reigns — the former WWE Undisputed Universal Champion and one of wrestling’s biggest crossover stars — and Rhodes, who recently signed a new five-year WWE contract extension, carry major star power into the video game adaptation. Goto brings puroresu credibility from New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Video game adaptations have had a rough critical history, though audiences sometimes tell a different story — films like the “Sonic” and “Mario” franchises proved that fan reception can outrun Rotten Tomatoes scores at the box office. Whether the combined star power of Reigns and Rhodes can muscle past the critics remains the weekend’s big question.
Also Read: Cody Rhodes Signs Five-Year WWE Contract Extension, Confirms Deal On FLAGRANT
Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
