The upcoming Street Fighter adaptation from Capcom and Legendary seems destined to spark as much debate as the 1994 original starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film leans into a bold, stylized aesthetic packed with professional wrestlers and a frenetic, Eric Andre Show-esque intensity.
Sakurai has clearly paid close attention to the source material, faithfully translating iconic techniques like the Hadouken, the Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, Zangief’s crushing Russian Suplex, and Chun-Li’s signature Spinning Bird Kick to the big screen. The tone suggests the production isn’t taking itself too seriously, which points to a genuinely entertaining theater experience.
The debut trailer is dense with Easter eggs and deep-cut references for the franchise’s dedicated following. While Capcom and Legendary are undeniably targeting a mainstream blockbuster audience, the film makes a concerted effort to reward the long-time faithful.
Here are some of the most clever and nostalgic nods we’ve spotted in the Street Fighter trailer.
A classic Chun-Li vs. Vega showdown
Image: Legendary, Capcom
Vega is certainly taking a beating in the footage, trading blows with both Chun-Li (Callina Liang) and Guile (Cody Rhodes). A quintessential villain, the masked assassin is best remembered for his pursuit of Chun-Li in the 1994 cult classic, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.
Many eagle-eyed viewers are connecting a specific shot of Chun-Li to that film’s infamous shower scene—a moment notorious for its gratuitous nature. Following that sequence in the original animation, the two engaged in a beautifully choreographed, if somewhat lurid, combat sequence.
Image: Legendary, Capcom
However, the context in the new film might be entirely different. Given that later trailer clips show Ryu (Andrew Koji) and E. Honda (Hirooki Goto) sparring in a sauna, it is more likely we are witnessing a high-stakes, steamy training session rather than a direct callback to the 1994 exploitation moment.
Balrog’s subtle branding
Image: Legendary, Capcom
Any veteran fan is well-acquainted with the legendary naming confusion that plagued the series’ Western transition, resulting in the swapped titles of M. Bison, Balrog, and Vega. It was a strategic shift to distance the Mike Tyson-inspired brawler from legal trouble.
In this trailer, we catch Balrog (played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) donning gloves emblazoned with “Buffalo” branding—a clever nod to the Bison genus. It’s the kind of subtle trivia that serves as the perfect post-movie conversation piece.
A 1994 cinematic homage
Image: Legendary, Capcom
A poignant snapshot captures a young Ryu and Ken (Noah Centineo) during the inaugural 1987 World Warrior Tournament. Their attire in this photo is a direct visual quote from the opening moments of the original 1994 live-action film.
Image: Universal Pictures
The classic car-crushing bonus stage
Image: Legendary, Capcom
It wouldn’t be Street Fighter without a nod to the infamous car-smashing bonus rounds. Ken is seen unleashing his fury on a parked sedan—a fan-favorite tradition dating back to Street Fighter II. The film also seems to populate the background with extras performing stylized, looping movements, perfectly mimicking the stiff, iconic animation of the original arcade cabinet backgrounds.
The surprise appearance of El Fuerte
Image: Legendary, Capcom
While the focus remains on the classic roster, Street Fighter 4’s luchador, El Fuerte, makes a fleeting appearance. He’s seen quickly dispatched by Ken, suggesting he likely plays a very minor role in the broader narrative.
A musical mystery
The trailer’s sound design is packed with hits, incorporating original sound effects from Street Fighter II. Musically, it leads with an exclusive version of 2Pac’s “Ambitionz Az a Ridah”—produced for Mike Tyson in the ’90s—and features 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?”. Interestingly, the latter was also prominently used in the trailer for Capcom’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, creating a strange, unintended pattern for the studio’s recent marketing.
Street Fighter hits theaters on Oct. 16.
Source: Polygon
