This week on Shat the Movies, we’re kicking some serious butt with Street Fighter (1994)! Join us as we dive into the live-action adaptation of the iconic video game, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel Guile. It’s a chaotic, campy, action-packed ride full of over-the-top performances, questionable fight scenes, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're a fan of the game or just love ‘90s action flicks, tune in for a hilarious deep dive into this cult classic!
Plot Summary
In the 1994 action film Street Fighter, directed by Steven E. de Souza and loosely based on the hit video game series, Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Colonel Guile, the all-American military hero leading a multinational force to stop the evil warlord General M. Bison, played with over-the-top flair by Raul Julia in his final film role. Set in the fictional nation of Shadaloo, the movie follows Guile’s mission to rescue hostages and bring down Bison’s plans for world domination.
Bison has kidnapped dozens of civilians and demands a massive ransom, threatening their lives. While Guile prepares for a full-scale assault, a tangled web of subplots unfolds: Chun-Li (Ming-Na Wen), a reporter with a personal vendetta against Bison, works undercover to get close to her enemy; meanwhile, hustlers Ryu (Byron Mann) and Ken (Damian Chapa) are caught between working with arms dealer Sagat (Wes Studi) and Guile’s forces. Add to the mix Dhalsim, Blanka, Zangief, Cammy, E. Honda, Balrog, and Vega—many of whom are barely recognizable from their video game counterparts—and the film becomes a chaotic patchwork of characters and plot threads.
Despite its wildly uneven tone, cheesy dialogue, and loose connection to its source material, Street Fighter has earned cult status thanks to its campy fun and Raul Julia’s scene-stealing performance. His portrayal of Bison is operatic, charismatic, and quotable—offering the movie’s most memorable moments.
Join our podcast review as we revisit this infamous 90s video game adaptation, exploring whether its action, absurd charm, and unintentional comedy make it a guilty pleasure or just a first-round KO.
Subscribe Now
Help Support the Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!