Thirty years ago, on December 23, 1994, the Street Fighter movie stormed into theaters. As a Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle loosely based on a video game, expectations were… low. For many, including myself at the time, it seemed like a recipe for cinematic disaster. Having seen Van Damme’s previous action flicks and possessing no deep connection to the Street Fighter game franchise, I anticipated little more than a forgettable, bargain-bin action movie. However, revisiting Street Fighter three decades later reveals a surprising truth: this movie, especially Raul Julia’s iconic portrayal of General Bison, is far more enjoyable and self-aware than its initial reputation suggests.
Promotional movie poster for Street Fighter featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile and Raul Julia as Bison.
My initial viewing experience back in 1994 was, in retrospect, colored by low expectations and perhaps a touch of cinematic snobbery. I remember leaving the theater unimpressed, quickly consigning Street Fighter to the depths of my memory. Ironically, shortly after seeing it, I experienced cinematic bliss with Before Sunrise, a film that would become a personal favorite and effectively erase memories of lesser movies, including, or so I thought, Street Fighter.
Fast forward to 2024. My deep dive into the filmography of the late, great Raul Julia for my podcast, Fade Out, led me back to Street Fighter. Knowing it was Julia’s final film role before his tragic passing added a somber layer to the viewing experience. It felt almost cruel that such a talented actor’s last cinematic outing was in a video game adaptation.
However, upon re-watching Street Fighter with fresh eyes and a more open mind, a remarkable transformation occurred in my perception. Yes, the movie undeniably has a B-movie aesthetic. And yes, Jean-Claude Van Damme, while physically capable, still doesn’t exude leading man charisma for many. But what struck me this time was the film’s surprising embrace of its own absurdity. Street Fighter isn’t trying to be high art; it’s in on the joke, and that self-awareness is its secret weapon, generating genuine laughs and a sense of unexpected fun.
The screenplay and direction by Steven E. de Souza, known for action classics like 48 Hrs., The Running Man, and Die Hard, efficiently establishes the narrative: In the fictional Southeast Asian nation of Shadaloo, a brutal civil war rages between the tyrannical General Bison (Julia) and the Allied Nations, spearheaded by Colonel William Guile (Van Damme) and his team of freedom fighters. The movie cleverly uses newsreel footage featuring real-life newsman Sander Vanocur to ground the outlandish premise, and even incorporates a voiceover cameo from Adrian Cronauer (of Good Morning, Vietnam fame) with a “Gooooooood morning, Shadaloo!” Within minutes, Street Fighter establishes its tone – knowingly silly and action-packed.
Another element that resonated deeply on this re-watch was Raul Julia’s performance as General Bison. Knowing Julia’s declining health during filming (he passed away shortly before the film’s release, which is poignantly dedicated to him) casts a different light on his portrayal. Initially, his gaunt appearance was distracting, contributing to the feeling that this was an unfortunate end to a brilliant career. However, understanding Julia’s motivations – providing for his young family and wanting to do a film his children would enjoy – reshapes the perspective. Julia clearly relishes the opportunity to play a larger-than-life villain, channeling a scenery-chewing energy akin to a classic comic book antagonist like General Zod. And who can blame him for wanting to have his own iconic villainous role?
Raul Julia as General Bison delivering a memorable line in Street Fighter movie.
Julia’s sheer enjoyment as Bison is palpable. He dispatches enemies with theatrical flair, revels in his opulent, fascist-inspired lair (complete with questionable art choices), and delivers wonderfully over-the-top lines. When showcasing a diorama of his future Bisonopolis, he casually suggests, “We should make the food court a little bigger.” In a particularly memorable scene, after Chun-Li (Ming-Na Wen) delivers a passionate monologue about Bison’s atrocities and her quest for justice, Bison dismissively retorts, “For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday.” This line alone encapsulates the film’s delightful blend of camp and action, anchored by Julia’s committed performance as General Bison.
It’s important to be clear: Street Fighter is not a forgotten masterpiece. De Souza works with evident budgetary constraints and the well-documented challenges of directing Jean-Claude Van Damme. Stories from the set paint a picture of production delays and a star less than cooperative, stretching an already tight budget. The effects, particularly when a captured soldier is transformed into a super soldier, are undeniably cheesy, reminiscent of low-budget television from decades prior. One can only speculate what a Street Fighter movie with a larger budget and a different lead, perhaps someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger at the time, could have achieved.
Despite these limitations, Street Fighter proved to be a significant box office success. My initial negative impression was clearly not universally shared. The film also thrived on home video, and Capcom, the owners of the Street Fighter franchise, reportedly still earns millions of yen annually from the movie. (The original article humorously included a fictional image of the Capcom accounting department rejoicing – which unfortunately cannot be replicated here).
Interestingly, coinciding with the movie’s release was a one-shot comic book adaptation published by DC Comics. Titled Street Fighter: The Battle for Shadaloo, this 60-page comic, drawn by Nick Napalitano and Bob Downs and written by Mike McAvennie, leans heavily into extreme 90s action, prioritizing fighting over the film’s surprisingly witty tone. While packed with Extreme!!! action, it misses the self-aware humor that makes the movie so rewatchable. Notably, the comic omits the movie’s gloriously cheesy hero team shot, a moment ripe for comic book adaptation.
Comic book cover for Street Fighter: The Battle for Shadaloo, a tie-in to the 1994 movie.
Film-to-comic adaptations often rely on early scripts or rough cuts. The Street Fighter comic includes the film’s original post-credits scene, where Bison survives and vows revenge in classic villain fashion. Director Steven de Souza removed this scene from the theatrical release out of respect for Raul Julia’s passing but reinstated it for home video.
The Fade Out podcast provides a valuable opportunity to revisit films within an actor’s broader career. Movies remain static, but our perspectives evolve. Revisiting Street Fighter has been a rewarding experience, allowing for a reassessment of Raul Julia’s final role. Instead of viewing it as a sad conclusion, it’s now possible to appreciate Street Fighter as a chance for a gifted actor to have fun, embrace a larger-than-life character like General Bison, and create something his family could enjoy. That’s a cinematic legacy far more meaningful than many critically acclaimed films achieve.
MORE RETRO REVIEWS
- BUCKAROO BANZAI: A 40th Anniversary Salute to Anarchic Film Magic. Click here.
- BRENDA STARR: The Movie That Didn’t Do Right by DALE MESSICK or RAMONA FRADON. Click here.
ROB KELLY is a podcaster, writer, and film commentator. His work can be found at robkellycreative.com.
