Zach Cregger‘s Resident Evil has arrived in theaters, and the verdict is clear: this is not just another video game movie. The 2026 reboot, starring Austin Abrams as a hapless medical courier named Bryan, has become the highest-rated video game adaptation in Rotten Tomatoes history with a stunning 97% score based on over 90 reviews. Critics are calling it the best Resident Evil film ever made, a survival horror experience that finally captures what it feels like to play the games.
A New Hero for Raccoon City
The film follows Bryan, a medical courier tasked with making a routine delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. Played by Austin Abrams, Bryan is not a seasoned soldier or a trained fighter. He is an everyday person who finds himself trapped in a nightmare when a viral outbreak transforms the city into a hellscape of mutated creatures.
Austin Abrams carries the film on his shoulders, appearing in nearly every scene. Critics have praised his performance as the perfect audience surrogate. His character’s repeated struggles with weapons, including the now-iconic line “I only use guns in video games,” provide both humor and relatability amid the chaos.
Zach Cregger’s Vision Comes to Life
Director Zach Cregger, known for Barbarian and Weapons, brings his signature blend of horror and dark comedy to the Resident Evil universe. Rather than directly adapting any specific game, Cregger crafted an original story that runs parallel to the events of Resident Evil 2, honoring the spirit of the games while telling a fresh tale.
Cregger’s approach to filming is particularly notable. He frequently uses first-person and over-the-shoulder perspectives to mimic the experience of playing the games, a technique that has earned widespread praise from critics. The film was shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras, making it the first in the franchise to be filmed for IMAX.
A Bloody, Funny, and Terrifying Ride
The 2026 Resident Evil clocks in at approximately 90 minutes, a lean runtime that keeps the tension high and the pacing relentless. Critics have described the film as “chaotic, gory, hilarious, and unapologetically bold”. The R rating warns of “strong bloody violence, gore and language throughout,” and the film delivers on that promise with practical effects that have been compared to John Carpenter’s The Thing.
The film’s balance of horror and comedy has been a major talking point. Zach Cregger revealed that test screenings initially found the movie “too funny,” leading him to cut several jokes to maintain the tension. The final result is a film that knows when to make audiences laugh and when to make them squirm.
A Record-Breaking Achievement
The critical reception for Resident Evil has been nothing short of extraordinary. With a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 79 Metacritic score, it has officially become the best-reviewed video game movie of all time, surpassing all previous adaptations by a significant margin. This is a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that has historically struggled with critics.
Box office projections are equally impressive. The film is tracking for a $40-50 million domestic opening and a global debut of around $80 million, which would make it the highest-grossing opening weekend in the franchise’s history. Some analysts believe the film could even surpass $100 million globally in its first weekend.
The Cast and Crew Behind the Chaos
Austin Abrams leads the cast as Bryan, a role that Zach Cregger said was written specifically for him after their collaboration on Weapons. “There was not another actor that I was considering,” Cregger stated. Abrams brings a natural, honest quality to the role that makes Bryan feel like a real person caught in impossible circumstances.
The supporting cast includes Zach Cherry as Dave, a scientist at the hospital; Kali Reis as Maxine, an ex-military character originally written for a male actor; Paul Walter Hauser as Carl, an Umbrella scientist; and Johnno Wilson as Max, the Arklay County sheriff. Each character adds depth to Bryan’s journey through the outbreak.
Fan Reactions and the Road to Release
The journey to release was not without controversy. When the first trailer dropped, some longtime fans expressed frustration that the film would not feature iconic characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield. Zach Cregger addressed the backlash head-on, admitting he was “naive” to think fans would embrace an original story so easily.
Despite the initial skepticism, early reactions from critics and fans who have seen the film have been overwhelmingly positive. Social media has been flooded with praise, with viewers calling it “a near Perfect Resident Evil experience” and “one of the best video game adaptations of all time”. The film does include Easter eggs for longtime fans, including a green herb and a reference to Leon S. Kennedy’s gun shop.
A One-Off with Sequel Potential
While Zach Cregger has stated that Resident Evil was designed as a one-off film, he has also admitted that he already has ideas for a potential sequel. “I can’t help myself,” he told interviewers, hinting that the door remains open for more stories in this universe. The film ends on a note that leaves room for continuation, though there is no post-credits scene.
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Zach Cregger‘s Resident Evil is a triumph of video game adaptation, a film that understands what makes the games so beloved and translates that experience to the big screen with style, humor, and plenty of gore. Austin Abrams delivers a star-making performance as the everyman hero Bryan, carrying the film with charm and vulnerability. With its record-breaking Rotten Tomatoes score, strong box office projections, and enthusiastic audience reactions, this Resident Evil reboot has set a new standard for video game movies. Whether you are a longtime fan of the games or a newcomer to the franchise, this is one horror ride worth taking.
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