5 Must-Watch Martial Arts Movies If You're Excited For Street Fighter

Published Oct 14, 2026, 11:03 AM EDT

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Summary

• 1) Street Fighter aims to recreate arcade spectacle: 1993 World Warrior Tournament with a star cast.
• 2) Classic martial arts films show three models: tournament spectacle, disciplined realism, and inventive stuntcraft.
• 3) To satisfy fans, the movie must blend flashy special moves with clear, believable hand-to-hand choreography.

Few video games have made punching someone in the face look quite as entertaining as Street Fighter. From Ryu's devastating Hadouken to Chun-Li's lightning-fast kicks, Capcom's fighting franchise has spent nearly four decades turning martial arts into an extravagant spectacle. Now, Hollywood is taking another swing at bringing its most recognizable characters to the big screen.

Directed by Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter arrives in theaters on October 16, 2026, with Andrew Koji playing Ryu, Noah Centineo portraying Ken Masters, and Callina Liang stepping into the role of Chun-Li. Set in 1993, the movie reunites Ryu and Ken for the World Warrior Tournament, where their rivalry becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy.

The movie's extensive lineup of recognizable video game fighters includes David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Jason Momoa as Blanka, and WWE star Cody Rhodes as Guile. With such an outrageous collection of characters, there's considerable pressure to deliver the kind of action that makes audiences feel as though they're watching their favorite arcade battles come to life.

Fortunately, martial arts cinema has already provided decades of inspiration for filmmakers attempting to capture that excitement. Long before video games could recreate elaborate combat sequences, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jean-Claude Van Damme were demonstrating how thrilling a perfectly executed fight could be.

Some of the greatest martial arts movie fight scenes feature techniques that would look perfectly at home in a Street Fighter game. Others favor a more realistic approach, making each punch and kick feel genuinely punishing.

Whether you're excited to see Ryu and Ken reunite or simply want spectacular hand-to-hand combat, these five martial arts movies offer an excellent way to prepare for Street Fighter. Each delivers something the new adaptation will need to get right if it hopes to satisfy longtime fans.

Bloodsport (1988)

Jean-Claude Van Damme's Bloodsport might be the closest thing to watching a live-action Street Fighter tournament without actually adapting the video game. Van Damme stars as Frank Dux, an American martial artist who travels to Hong Kong to compete in the Kumite, a secretive underground fighting competition. His opponents represent different disciplines, creating a series of increasingly spectacular confrontations that culminate in a showdown with the brutal Chong Li (Bolo Yeung).

The parallels with Street Fighter are obvious, from the international collection of combatants to the emphasis on distinctive fighting techniques. Van Damme's spectacular kicks also helped establish the kind of larger-than-life action associated with the genre. He would eventually play Guile in the 1994 Street Fighter adaptation, although Van Damme might have been a more natural fit for Ken Masters. For fans anticipating the new World Warrior Tournament, Bloodsport is practically required viewing.

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Bruce Lee's final completed film, Enter the Dragon, remains one of the most influential martial arts movies ever made. Lee plays a Shaolin martial artist recruited to investigate a criminal operation run by the mysterious Han (Shih Kien). His mission takes him to a private island where fighters from around the world have gathered to participate in an elaborate tournament. Among them are Roper (John Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly), whose contrasting personalities make the competition particularly entertaining.

The premise should sound familiar to anybody excited about Street Fighter, especially with the new movie combining a worldwide fighting competition with a criminal conspiracy. Lee's extraordinary physical precision gives every confrontation a sense of purpose, culminating in his famous battle against Han in a hall of mirrors. The film even features a brief appearance by a young Jackie Chan, who would become another martial arts legend. More than 50 years later, Enter the Dragon remains an essential example of how to make a fighting tournament compelling cinema.

Ip Man (2008)

Donnie Yen delivers some of the most impressive martial arts choreography of his career in Ip Man, a dramatized account of the legendary Wing Chun practitioner's life. Set in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the movie follows Ip Man as his family's comfortable existence is destroyed by the Japanese occupation. Forced to confront increasingly dangerous opponents, he demonstrates extraordinary skill through a fighting style built around rapid strikes, efficient movement, and precise defensive techniques.

While Street Fighter embraces extravagant special moves, Ip Man offers a reminder of how thrilling disciplined martial arts can be without supernatural abilities. Yen's celebrated fight against 10 Japanese karate practitioners is especially memorable, showcasing the distinctive techniques and philosophy of Wing Chun. Director Wilson Yip allows the choreography to remain clear and easy to follow, giving each exchange tremendous impact. Anyone hoping for convincing hand-to-hand combat in Street Fighter should appreciate what Ip Man accomplishes.

The Raid (2011)

Gareth Evans' The Raid, released internationally as The Raid: Redemption, is among the most relentlessly entertaining martial arts action movies of the 21st century. Iko Uwais stars as Rama, a rookie police officer whose tactical unit becomes trapped inside a Jakarta apartment building controlled by a ruthless crime lord. With armed criminals waiting on practically every floor, the surviving officers must fight their way through an increasingly dangerous series of encounters.

The movie showcases the Indonesian martial art of Pencak Silat, with Uwais demonstrating remarkable speed and precision. Its confrontations frequently resemble elaborate video game battles, as Rama faces progressively more formidable opponents before reaching a punishing final showdown. Unlike the fantastical action of Street Fighter, however, every blow feels painfully real. The film also proves that carefully choreographed fighting can carry an action movie without relying on expensive visual effects or elaborate exposition.

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Police Story (1985)

Jackie Chan's Police Story demonstrates what happens when a martial arts superstar combines exceptional fighting ability with an almost reckless willingness to perform dangerous stunts. Chan plays Hong Kong police inspector Chan Ka-Kui, whose efforts to bring down a powerful drug lord repeatedly leave him facing impossible odds. The resulting action sequences are extraordinarily inventive, transforming everyday locations into elaborate arenas where practically anything can become a weapon.

The film's legendary shopping mall finale features shattered glass, astonishing acrobatics, and one of the most dangerous stunts of Jackie Chan's career. Although its choreography is grounded in physical performance, Chan's creative approach to combat captures the playful spectacle that has always distinguished Street Fighter. His combination of athleticism, comedic timing, and environmental improvisation also offers something the new adaptation could benefit from: memorable fights that reveal the personalities of the people throwing the punches.

Cast

• 

  Noah Centineo

  Ken Masters

• 

  Andrew Koji

  Ryu

• 

  Callina Liang

  Chun-Li

• 

  Cody Runnels

  Guile