Street Fighter Box Office Might Still Get KO’d Despite Strong Opening

Street Fighter had decent Thursday previews, but its opening-weekend projections suggest a more uncertain box-office outlook. The video game adaptation now faces questions about whether it can sustain that momentum.

Street Fighter grossed $4 million during Thursday previews, according to The Numbers. The film is projected to earn $25 million to $35 million domestically during its opening weekend. Its worldwide opening weekend could reach $70 million, against a reported production budget of $82 million.

Although the preview total marks a solid start, early ticket sales often come from hardcore fans. The opening-weekend total will show whether the film can meet expectations despite its mixed-to-negative critical reception. Its preview total also fell short of the $8.8 million Resident Evil earned in Thursday preview in September.

Street Fighter faces a tough fight beyond its opening weekend

Several other new releases are receiving stronger reviews than the Kitao Sakurai-directed film. At the time of writing, Disney’s Whalefall holds a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 113 reviews. A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything scored a perfect 100% rating across 81 reviews, while Focus Features’ Sense and Sensibility has a 76% Tomatometer score from 80 reviews.

By comparison, Street Fighter has a 44% Tomatometer score based on 72 reviews. Despite the mixed critical reception, the film has an 82% audience score. The gap between critic and audience scores could work in the film’s favor if positive word of mouth spreads. A weak critical score, however, could make it harder to attract casual moviegoers in subsequent weeks

While some critics praised the fight choreography and animated sequences, others have criticized the film’s convoluted storytelling and overcrowded subplots. ComingSoon gave the movie a 6/10, saying, “The emotional groundwork is shaky, the screenplay is cluttered, and the editing can be frustratingly uneven.”

The movie features a massive ensemble including Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, and more. Legendary Pictures co-financed the adaptation alongside Capcom, which Paramount Pictures distributes.

Street Fighter is now playing in theaters.

Source: Comingsoon.net