The road to Resident Evil (2026) has certainly been an interesting one. Hot off the critical and commercial successes of his 2022 solo feature debut, Barbarian, and his 2025 follow-up, Weapons (which won an Oscar for actress Amy Madigan this year), an exciting filmmaker like Zach Cregger getting free rein with beloved gaming IP would usually be met with open arms. Instead, many self-described Resident Evil fans have voiced their skepticism and outright rejection of Cregger’s vision in typical gamer fashion. In other words, Cregger has faced plenty of online backlash for making a Resident Evil movie with a completely original story, rather than adapting any of Capcom‘s mainline games. Is most of this “gamer outrage” warranted? Obviously not.
However, it’s fair to understand why certain fans would be disappointed to see another original Resident Evil story on film at this point. After all, we have been subjected to over two decades of failed attempts at the source material and self-indulgent inaccuracies (looking at you, Paul W.S. Anderson). Yes, the Milla Jovovich-led Resident Evil movie franchise of the 2000-2010s does have a cult following — believe it or not. Yet iconic characters like Jill Valentine and Leon Kennedy haven’t truly gotten the big-screen adaptations they deserve, leaving many people unsatisfied. Well, after the first 20 minutes of Cregger’s Resident Evil, it becomes clear we can all wait a little longer for that because this is equally as awesome.
An Original Story that Understands the Fundamentals
Written by Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten (Ballerina, Rebel Moon), Resident Evil immediately drops viewers into what is about to become the worst night of one medical courier’s life. Allured by the promise of double pay, Bryan Hodukavich (Austin Abrams) accepts an extra, last-minute delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. This sensitive healthcare package is of the highest priority and must reach its destination ASAP, coming from a neighboring town on a cold, snowy night. Partially distracted by tensions with his girlfriend, Bryan’s delivery quickly takes a drastic turn as he unknowingly gets caught in the schemes of the Umbrella Corporation, which is responsible for letting the destructive T-Virus loose on the unsuspecting citizens of Raccoon City.
Cregger has long described his Resident Evil film as a straightforward survival-horror narrative where audiences follow a lone character’s treacherous journey from point A to point B. This couldn’t be more accurate; Resident Evil is strikingly simple in its plot structure. After the nuances and complexities of Weapons’ storytelling, this could have easily felt like a setback rather than a perk. However, Resident Evil’s simplicity matches not only with Austin Abrams’ “everyman” protagonist but also with its video game-esque set pieces and breakneck momentum. This may not be a direct adaptation of any of RE games, though it is an authentic interpretation that feels like it could be easily made into a video game beat by beat.
Zach Cregger Captures the True Monstrous Spirit of Resident Evil
It’s ironic that Zach Cregger has received so much criticism for not making a direct adaptation, because Resident Evil (2026) captures the spirit of Capcom’s iconic horror game franchise better than any prior cinematic attempt. It’s impressive how swiftly Cregger moves viewers from scene to scene by applying the narrative tools and logic of many classic Resident Evil games. It’s all about survival, which leads to a constant search for more ammunition, bigger guns, and new ways to take out certain zombies. You can feel Bryan’s survival instincts “level up” throughout the movie as the infected grow deadlier, and he’s forced to switch between different weapons and ammo in his very limited inventory — basically, whatever he can carry.
Speaking of the infected, Cregger also pays homage to a famous Resident Evil trope by creating his own original monstrosity that constantly chases Bryan around Raccoon City and only appears at the most inconvenient times. It’s no Tyrant bioweapon like Mr. X or Nemesis, but something else entirely that’s both uneasy to look at and perfect for the film’s gross-out tone. In fact, all the various infected on screen feel right at home in the Resident Evil universe while still providing unique threats for this specific story. Some truly disgusting scene-stealers are even hard to forget. Design-wise, certain infected clearly draw inspiration from Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village, which Cregger has cited as among his favorites.
Austin Abrams is a Hilarious NPC-Turned-Protagonist
What cannot be left unsaid is that Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil plays as much like a black comedy as it does like a horror movie. Dark, unsettling humor has always been one of the director’s key traits; think Justin Long’s introduction in Barbarian and Austin Abrams’ chapter in Weapons. Yet that humor lands so sincerely that you can actually imagine someone behaving like that in real life, which makes the whole bit even funnier given how batshit insane the film’s scenario is. Resident Evil takes this ethos and amplifies it, essentially asking what if an NPC suddenly got thrust into becoming the lead of a cruel horror game? This gives Abrams a feast of opportunities to chew on.
Abrams, soon to be seen in Whalefall (2026), is effortlessly hilarious from the get-go, with his initial ignorance and relatable naivety setting the whole movie on a path to success. He really is just an average bozo who takes a wrong turn and unexpectedly finds himself in the heart of the zombie apocalypse. Moreover, Cregger’s black comedy is tailor-made for anyone who has ever spent hours playing a Resident Evil game. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the annoying puzzles required to pass a level, scarce ammo, or an endless number of padlocks, then Bryan will feel quite relatable. Abrams and Cregger’s sensibilities seem made for each other, and Resident Evil soars high because of their chemistry.
Following the Online Backlash, this Director Gets the Last Laugh
The final cherry on top, and one both horror fans and Resident Evil players will greatly appreciate, is the visual language on display. Writer-director Zach Cregger crafts genuine, edge-of-your-seat suspense by always staying on Bryan’s unknowing perspective. This includes first-person pov shots of Bryan nervously walking down pitch-black corridors with a shaky flashlight and a shotgun ready to fire. Bryan isn’t privy to Umbrella’s activity in Raccoon City, so whatever repulsive creature waits around every corner shocks him as much as it does the audience. Cregger’s script and visuals work hand in hand to keep the movie consistently scary, building to a grotesque finale that rightfully earns its gallons upon gallons of blood.
Even though it’s an original story, Cregger’s take on Resident Evil sets a new high bar for video game movies by capturing the source material’s demented spirit while doing something clever and inventive with it. He ends his film with one last punchline, a note that might not work for everyone, but keeps the fans in on the joke and solidifies this darkly humorous, adrenaline-filled interpretation as 100% his own. In the end, Cregger gets the last laugh. By sticking to his guns and instincts, he molded something that will be long remembered for shaking up modern video game film adaptations, instead of conforming to them.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
‘Resident Evil’ hits theaters on September 18!
Release Date: September 18, 2026.
Directed by Zach Cregger.
Screenplay by Zach Cregger & Shay Hatten.
Based on Resident Evil, created by Capcom.
Produced by Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Robert Kulzer, Miri Yoon, Carter Swan, & Asad Qizilbash.
Executive Producers: Oliver Berben, Robert Bernacchi, Nicole Brown, Victor Hadida, & Richard Wright.
Main Cast: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser, & Johnno Wilson.
Cinematographer: Dariusz Wolski.
Composers: Hays Holladay & Ryan Holladay.
Editor: Joe Murphy.
Production Companies: Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Constantin Film, Davis Films, Vertigo Entertainment, & PlayStation Productions.
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Runtime: 90 minutes.
Rated R.
