Capcom and Legendary are redeeming themselves with another attempt at a Street Fighter movie, opening in theaters on October 16. Fans of the game are bound to have their fingers crossed in hopes that the new film will be better than the cursed Jean-Claude Van Damme version from the ’90s (11% on Rotten Tomatoes) and, yes, even the disastrous Legend of Chun-Li movie released in 2009 (3% on Rotten Tomatoes). With the film confirmed to include names like Jason Momoa, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns on the roster, chances seem strong that we could get a movie that’s actually… good (Rotten Tomatoes score pending). But while a brand-new movie might be great, the brand-new Street Fighter sneakers that accompany it could be even better. PUMA has the official movie pairs, but one of the most intriguing Street Fighter sneakers ever made is a Nike Air Force 1 that quietly slipped out in 2021 without anyone noticing. We’ve got that story below.
PUMA Suede x Street Fighter Ryu, Ken Masters, and Chun-Li Pack (2026)
To celebrate the upcoming film, PUMA has released a three-pair Street Fighter Suede pack, with a pair for Ryu, Ken Masters, and Chun-Li (three of the franchise’s most loved characters). Three 3 are also at the center of the reboot film. Ryu is played by Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo is Ken, and Callina Liang is the new Chun-Li.
But even if you’re not a fan of the film, these shoes are also perfect for Street Fighter fans in general. The Ryu pair is mostly white with red accents and the classic Hadouken artwork. The Ken pair swaps the theme around (the white and the red change places). This time with Shoryuken graphics. Chun-Li’s colorway is obviously blue with silver studs and gold details.
Look closely and you’ll see each pair has the character’s name on the outsole. There’s also a cool “World Warrior Tournament” hangtag.
The pairs are reported to cost around $120 and will release through PUMA and select retailers.
John Trottier’s Street Fighter “Ryu” Air Jordan 1 Tear-Away Custom
Considering that the franchise has previously collaborated with some pretty well-known sneaker brands (from adidas to Reebok), it was interesting to see them choose PUMA for this new project. Meanwhile, sneaker artist John Trottier has us dreaming about a Jordan Brand x Street Fighter team-up thanks to his “Ryu” Air Jordan 1 design.
The sneaker has tear-away canvas uppers inspired by the martial artist’s signature white gi, with red collars and Swooshes to represent his headpiece and gloves. Also included are a tan suede base and black laces for his skin and hair, plus “RYU” text on the tongue.
Honestly, this would be an epic design for their next collab, and we’re not the only ones who think so. One Instagram user commented, “I cosplay Ryu wearing Jordans (and Akuma), and I hella need a pair,” while another said, “This one gave me GOOSEBUMPS.”
If you’re also interested in getting your hands on a pair of these Street Fighter sneakers, DM Trottier via his page. Until then, check out some of Capcom’s previous SF sneaker collabs below.
BAIT x adidas x Street Fighter Ozweego and Lexicon Collection (2022)
BAIT and Street Fighter chose to rope in sneaker brand adidas for their 2022 capsule collection. The trio toasted the new year with vintage-esque designs featuring four iconic characters from the ’90s (Ryu, Honda, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim) on the adidas Ozweego and Lexicon models of the same era. You could find everything from skulls to spikes and even Japanese script decorating the collection. And of course, it came with matching apparel. Each pair cost $140.
Akedo x Street Fighter High-Top Sneakers (2021)
Of course, the leaders of all things geek chic, Akedo, would cook up their own official sneaker collab with Street Fighter. Back in 2021, they dropped a simple high-top design that included an image of Ryu on one foot and Akuma on the other. The sneaker was available in both black and white colourways to offer fans a more versatile look.
Diesel x Street Fighter V 30th Anniversary Sneakers (2017)
Diesel also threw a sneaker collab in the ring in 2017. The retail brand helped celebrate Street Fighter’s 30th anniversary with five different sneakers, each representing Ryu, Chun-Li, Nash, M. Bison, and Birdie from the game. The colour scheme for each shoe was designed to reflect its respective character, plus their signature moves were showcased on the soles. However, there was only a limited amount of each design, so you had to act quickly to grab a pair. Each pair reportedly cost $200.
Feiyue x Street Fighter Fe Lo 1920 Martial Arts Sneakers (2023)
Feiyue fittingly used their martial arts-inspired “Fe Lo 1920” model as the canvas for their Street Fighter crossover in 2023. Both Ryu and Chun-Li had their own designs, but there was also a black pair highlighting the Street Fighter game itself. The shoes also came with graphic-covered insoles for a nice finishing touch. We’d call these a KO.
Nike Air Force 1 Low “Street Fighter” Evo Moment 37 Sneakers (2021)
Though not an official collaboration with Capcom, Nike delivered one of the most subtly detailed nods to the Street Fighter franchise in 2021. The pair was inspired by the Evo 2004 Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Losers Semifinals and Daigo Umehara’s epic comeback, but there are also plenty of game references included. The canvas upper is a tribute to Ken’s white gi, the doubled-up branding nods to the KO sign, and the double Swoosh is thought to nod to a Street Fighter III super attack. These Street Fighter sneakers have a beautiful design and tell a great story; it’s a shame they didn’t receive the release they deserved, and all because of the Covid pandemic and the controversy that also cancelled Evo 2020. The pair was eventually released quietly in July 2021, and it took until Evo 2022 for the fighting game community to notice.
Nike SB Dunk “Street Fighter” Pack: Chun-Li, Ryu, and Akuma (2010)
Funnily enough, the AF1 design was not the first time Nike had released Street Fighter-inspired kicks. Back in 2010, Nike SB released three sneakers dressed up as fan-fav characters: a blue nylon-and-suede Dunk Low based on Chun-Li, a white canvas Dunk Mid inspired by Ryu, and a black and blue P-Rod 4 Hi representing Akuma. Each style included a custom insole with the respective character printed on it. These designs are still pretty epic, even by today’s standards.
Onitsuka Tiger x Street Fighter V “Chun-Li” Mexico 66 SD Sneakers (2019)
In 2019, Onitsuka Tiger worked with Street Fighter V to offer two dragon-print Mexico 66 SD sneakers in honour of Chun-Li. One shoe has a bright yellow base with blue accents, while the other is white with yellow and blue touches. Only 5,000 pairs were produced, but the shoes were also accessible as part of an unlockable outfit, with a code that came in the box.
Onitsuka Tiger x Street Fighter 6 Endactus Sneakers (2023)
Onitsuka Tiger and Street Fighter teamed up for a third collaboration in 2023. This collab is a little different, as the two brands cooked up an entirely new silhouette that was featured in the SF 6 game, as well as being physically released to fans. The exclusive sneakers were available in both grey and yellow colourways, featuring Street Fighter branding at the heel and on the insoles. Maybe not the prettiest pair, but definitely unique.
ÖUS Imigrante Essential x Street Fighter Skate Shoes With Lenticular Heel Tabs
Brazilian skate brand ÖUS also teamed with Street Fighter on a collection featuring Chun-Li, E. Honda, and Dhalsim. Each shoe is wrapped in colours inspired by the fighters’ costumes, with their image also featured on the tongue. However, our favourite detail has to be the lenticular heel tabs with images of the character on the left shoe. That way, your favourite character performs a special move every time you take a step.
Reebok x Street Fighter 35th Anniversary Collection (2022)
Reebok was a worthy contender in the battle of the kicks. They released one of the biggest collaborations with Capcom and Street Fighter in 2022. The duo unveiled a whole eight sneakers (plus two pairs of slides) in honour of the games’ 35th anniversary, including a Shaq Attaq Champion Edition design. Most of the fan favourites are present, as well as many others. Prices ran from $45 for the slides to $200 for the Shaq Attaq.
Paramount’s Street Fighter reboot opens exclusively in theaters, including IMAX, on October 16.
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