“Who is Sonny Chiba? He is… he is bar none, the greatest actor working in martial arts movies today.” (Clarence Worley, “True Romance”)

We’re tipping our hat to the late, great, Sonny Chiba (who passed away in 2021) with a screening of one of his most famous roles, as lethal assassin Terry Tsurugi, in the legendary Japanese martial arts classic THE STREET FIGHTER. Originally released in Japan as “Gekitotsu! Satsujin ken” (CLASH! KILLER FIST), the film is notorious for a few scenes of explicit, gory violence that earned it an “X” rating in the US, where it was released in 1974. THE STREET FIGHTER would spawn sequels, spinoffs, and help cement Chiba’s status both domestically and abroad as a bona-fide action star for the duration of his incredibly robust career.

If you’ve got to fight…fight dirty! Meet the meanest and most lethal karate master to ever rule the streets. He’s Sonny Chiba, one of the greatest martial arts actors to ever ignite the screen. In THE STREET FIGHTER, Chiba stars ad  Terry Tsurugi is a brutal mercenary and deadly assassin, a killer for hire if the price is right. When a rich businessman leaves millions to his daughter, the Mafia hires Terry to kidnap her. But when the Mafia refuses to pay for his services, and even put a hit on this life, Terry unleashes his inner Street Fighter in a violent assault for revenge and justice.

“Brutal and brilliant!” (Empire Magazine)

Sunday, July 31
Doors 9:30 pm | Movie 10:00 pm *Start times subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets HERE

*Minors permitted. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service. Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office.
*If you are looking to redeem your tickets to either a canceled Rio Theatre screening or a Rio Theatre gift certificate, please email <[email protected]> with info including your name, canceled receipt number, gift certificate info, what you are wanting to see and when, and we can make the switch for you in advance. Alternately, you can bring this information with you to the venue, and we will do our best to help you at the box office.

THE STREET FIGHTER “Gekitotsu! Satsujin ken” (Shigehiro Ozawa, 1974 / 91 mins / Japanese with English subtitles. Terry Tsurugi is a mercenary who has been hired by both the yakuza and the mafia to kidnap a wealthy heiress. But when he isn’t paid, a violent clash ensues.