The Unusual Song Choice That Closes the New Street Fighter Movie

The soundtrack for the new Street Fighter movie from Capcom and Legendary is a vibrant mix that captures the essence of the ’90s, the era in which the film is set. With tracks like Tupac’s “Ambitionz Az A Ridah,” Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” and Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch,” the music resonates with nostalgia, while also venturing into other decades. It’s no surprise that 50 Cent’s “Many Men (Wish Death)” features during a fight scene with Balrog, a character portrayed by 50 Cent himself, even if it feels a bit out of sync with the film’s timeline.

One standout ’90s hit, “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, plays a surprisingly pivotal role in the storyline of Ken and Ryu’s adventure. However, the film’s closing track feels like an unexpected twist. The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men,” a one-hit wonder, leaves viewers with a mix of confusion and cheer.

Director Kitao Sakurai revealed that the choice of “It’s Raining Men” was intentionally random, aligning with the film’s quirky tone. This decision came late in the editing phase, as Sakurai explained in a video interview.

He shared that during the editing process, they struggled to find the right song for the post-climax scene. “We had a take where [the cast] just started singing ‘It’s Raining Men’ as a joke,” Sakurai recalled. “I looked at it, and we set it to music, and I was like, ‘This is kind of incredible. It just works.’ The interaction between Ken and Ryu in that moment is so sincere and real; it felt like the perfect, absurd choice to end the movie.”

Sakurai emphasized the film’s carefree spirit, saying, “The thesis of our style is just being like, ‘Forget it, man.’ The Weather Girls? Why not? It emotionally works, you know?”

Street Fighter is currently showing in theaters.

Not even Ryu can Hadouken his way out of this one.