Director Kitao Sakurai intentionally steered the recently released Street Fighter movie toward a "gonzo" style, prioritizing over-the-top action and silliness over a gritty, grounded approach. "There’s a silliness to it, and there’s an absurdity to the world and the characters and how they interact," Sakurai explained to The Hollywood Reporter. He credited producer Cale Boyter at Legendary with championing this "gonzo energy" vision for the film.
Sakurai's experience on "The Eric Andre Show" significantly influenced his filmmaking approach for Street Fighter. He noted that while not every moment needs to be outright hilarious, "every minute needs to be interesting." This philosophy allowed for elements that might not track narratively or make sense conceptually, but which fit within the film's overall energy and feeling.
In a gesture of goodwill, Sakurai invited the original Street Fighter movie directors, the Philippou brothers, to make cameo appearances. They were cast as two people fighting in the street, a role Sakurai felt communicated a message of unity. "There's no bad blood. We're all part of the same family. There was no animosity, and it’s all love,” he stated.
The film, which stars Noah Centineo as Ken, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Andrew Koji as Ryu, Jason Momoa as Blanka, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, and David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, has grossed over $55 million worldwide since its October 16 release.