Somebody call Jean-Claude Van Damme because a new Street Fighter movie is in the works.

It’s been 29 years since JCVD set the bar for video game adaptations. Granted, that bar was set inches from the ground, but it was nonetheless set. Often imitated but never replicated, the simply dreadful film was based on the Street Fighter II gaming franchise. The movie even got its own PlayStation game, complete with a digitized JCVD. 

In an age when Hollywood may finally start treating video games with respect, Legendary has purchased the rights to Street Fighter. A new live-action flick is reportedly in the works, and there’s a chance this one could actually be a decent movie. That will surely impact the secondary market for all things Street Fighter

STREET FIGHTER #1 (1993)

In the early 1990s, practically every franchise beloved by teenagers worldwide got its own comic book adaptation. Naturally, that applied to the world of video games with the Nintendo properties leading the charge. With the hugely popular Street Fighter II still burning up consoles two years after its release, Malibu grabbed the publishing rights and adapted the story into its first comic series.

Suppose Street Fighter actually gets a worthy movie, then collectors will put this comic first on their shopping lists, but it won’t come cheap. Just last year, the graded 9.8 averaged $228 and sold for as much as $290. So far in 2023, there’s only been one 9.8 to trade hands online after a March sale netted $140. 

STREET FIGHTER #1 GOLD EDITION (1993)

While you are building your Street Fighter collections, you’ll want to be on the lookout for one particular variant: the gold edition. As part of Malibu’s SF series, this alternate cover was published alongside the standard cover in 1993. It’s also harder to find, which helps explain its higher price tag. However, let’s put an asterisk next to the $400 it earned this past March.

After all, the previous sale had been for $180 in 2020, so we’ll need to wait and see if that is the new trend or an outlier. 

STREET FIGHTER II #1 (1994)

Most video game fans are much more familiar with Street Fighter II as opposed to its predecessor. In fact, the majority of gamers had never heard of Street Fighter when the sequel dominated the sales charts in 1991. When Tokuma unveiled its Street Fighter II title, the name alone felt warm and familiar. 

As for FMVs, something strange is afoot at the Circle K. Back in 2020, the graded 9.8 was basically a $50 comic, and there were few sales. Fast forward to December 31, 2022, and suddenly the price tag swelled to $899. 

STREET FIGHTIN’ MAN

Sure, the most recent Mortal Kombat movie was a huge step forward from the dreadful MK movies from the 1990s. While the film had its moments, let’s not kid ourselves into believing it was an honestly good movie. Naturally, any new Street Fighter movies will be compared to the MK franchise, which doesn’t exactly set the bar high.

Still, if Legendary puts together an entertaining hit, it will have an impact on the secondary market.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.