Zach Cregger‘s Resident Evil has scared up some serious praise. The film had its world premiere at The United Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and the first reactions from critics and press are calling it one of the best video game adaptations ever made. The Sony Pictures reboot, which hits theaters on September 18, 2026, has been praised for its relentless tension, practical horror, and a breakout performance from Austin Abrams.
Critics Call It a Blood-Soaked Triumph
The early response to Cregger’s take on the iconic survival horror franchise has been overwhelmingly positive. Critics took to social media after the premiere to share their thoughts, with many highlighting the film’s intense action and faithful approach to the source material.
Variety‘s Jordan Moreau didn’t hold back, writing on X:
“Zach Cregger is the f—— man and #ResidentEvil is one of the best video game adaptations ever made, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Incredible title drop, Austin Abrams is hilarious to watch stumble around killing zombies, 10/10.”
Tomatometer critic EJ Moreno also shared high praise, calling it a film “you have to see on the biggest screen with a big crowd! A true horror blockbuster.” He added that “Zach Cregger goes bigger, scarier, and at his most fun. This is how you make horror into a cinematic spectacle.”
Kellvin Chavez, editor-in-chief of SplashReport.com, wrote:
“HOLY SHIT!!! #ResidentEvil has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and NEVER hits the brakes. Zach Cregger delivers relentless suspense, gloriously gory action, and some seriously twisted, Thing-esque creature designs. Pure SURVIVAL HORROR and easily the best ‘Resident Evil’ movie yet.”
Mark Cassidy of Rotten Tomatoes noted that the film taps “into the relentless tension of the games,” calling it “the most faithful take yet. Very bloody, very funny, and it made me jump at least 3 times (no easy task).”
Eric Goldman of IGN described the film as “a blast” that “evokes playing a video game” in a fun way. Courtney Howard said Cregger is “cookin’ with napalm,” praising the film’s “demented body horror.”
Not every reaction was without criticism. Joey Magidson called the film “real fun” but noted he “didn’t dig the ending,” though he still praised its “forward momentum.”
What the New Resident Evil Movie Is About
The new Resident Evil follows Bryan (played by Austin Abrams), a medical courier whose routine delivery run to Raccoon City General Hospital turns into a nightmare. After accidentally hitting a strange woman on a snowy mountain road, Bryan stumbles into a full-blown outbreak involving horrifying mutations and bio-engineered monsters.
Director Zach Cregger previously explained at CinemaCon that the film is a standalone story set during the events of the games but not intersecting with any of the main game characters. He described it as “a roller coaster ride of non-stop action” where Bryan finds himself in “an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.”
The screenplay was written by Cregger alongside Shay Hatten. The film was produced by Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions, in association with Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures. It was filmed for IMAX, which critics noted makes the horror even more intense.
Cast and Where You Can Watch It
The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, marking his second collaboration with Cregger after Weapons. Zach Cherry plays Dave, Kali Reis plays Maxine, Paul Walter Hauser plays Carl, and Johnno Wilson plays Max, the Arklay County sheriff.
Resident Evil opens in theaters worldwide on September 18, 2026. The film will be available in IMAX and standard formats. For audiences in India, the film will release in four languages. Theater listings have shown a runtime of approximately 95 minutes.
The film had its Fantastic Fest screening on September 17, 2026, one day before its global theatrical release.
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Zach Cregger Says This Is His Only Franchise Movie
While promoting the film, Zach Cregger confirmed that Resident Evil was designed to be a one-off and that he currently has no plans for a sequel.
“It was designed to be a one-off,” Cregger said. “The itch was scratched to explore the world.”
He did leave the door slightly open, adding, “But I can’t help myself. Like there are always ideas percolating, and I already have some thoughts of like what could happen … going forward. So who knows, dude; anything can happen.”
Cregger also stated that this would be his only franchise film ever, noting that he pitched his original idea to Constantin Film after the success of Barbarian in 2022.
The positive early reactions are a strong sign for a franchise that has struggled with film adaptations in the past. With Austin Abrams leading the charge and Zach Cregger at the helm, this Resident Evil looks set to deliver the survival horror experience fans have been waiting for.
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