Resident Evil, the latest cinematic adaptation of Capcom’s long-running survival horror franchise, arrived in theatres on September 18, 2026. Directed and co-written by Zach Cregger, the filmmaker behind Barbarian and Weapons, the new movie takes a different approach from earlier Resident Evil films by focusing on original characters and a self-contained survival story.
Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier whose routine work takes an unexpected turn when he becomes involved in a dangerous situation in Raccoon City. Instead of following established characters such as Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, the film introduces its own protagonist and places him inside a rapidly worsening outbreak. The story draws on the atmosphere and mechanics associated with the video games while creating a separate narrative for the movie.
The film’s approach is one of its most noticeable differences from previous live-action Resident Evil adaptations. Cregger does not attempt to reproduce one particular Capcom game on screen. Instead, the movie uses familiar elements of the franchise, including confined environments, dangerous creatures, limited resources, sudden attacks and the constant need to find a way forward.
Bryan’s journey is structured around a series of increasingly difficult situations. His movement through different locations gives the film a progression that several reviewers have compared to the experience of playing a survival horror video game. Rather than remaining in one location for the entire story, the film continually introduces new environments and threats, helping maintain its fast pace.
The movie has a reported runtime of approximately 90 minutes, allowing Cregger to maintain a relatively compact structure. The Associated Press noted that the film moves Bryan through a series of increasingly dangerous environments while combining horror with moments of humor.
One of the major strengths highlighted by early reviews is the film’s emphasis on survival horror. Cregger uses darkness, confined spaces, sudden movements and creature encounters to create tension. The movie also includes violent and graphic sequences, making it a film aimed primarily at audiences comfortable with intense horror imagery.
The creature design is another prominent part of the film. Early critics have highlighted the variety and visual impact of the monsters, with some reviews noting the use of practical effects alongside digital enhancements. The creatures become increasingly unusual as Bryan progresses through the story, giving the film a visual progression that mirrors its escalating threats.
The movie also attempts to balance horror with comedy. This is consistent with Cregger’s filmmaking style, which often combines tension with unexpected humor. Several reviewers have noted that Resident Evil contains frequent comic moments alongside its darker sequences. The humor can provide a break from the violence, although some critics have also argued that certain comedic moments reduce the impact of the horror.
Austin Abrams carries much of the film as Bryan. The character begins as an ordinary medical courier rather than an established action hero, allowing the audience to experience the increasingly dangerous situation from his perspective. His transition from an everyday worker into someone forced to survive an extraordinary outbreak provides the film with its central character arc.
The supporting cast includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Johnno Wilson and Paul Walter Hauser. Their characters contribute to the story at different points, although reviews have generally focused more heavily on Abrams and the film’s visual and horror elements.
Cregger’s decision to avoid established game protagonists is also significant. Fans familiar with the franchise may expect recognizable characters, locations and storylines, but the new film instead takes place on the periphery of the established Resident Evil universe. This allows the director to create a new story while retaining the atmosphere associated with the games.
The film nevertheless includes elements designed to connect with longtime fans. These include familiar types of enemies, survival mechanics, environmental progression and references to the wider Resident Evil world. At the same time, the movie has been designed so that viewers who have not played the games can follow the story without extensive knowledge of the franchise.
The visual style has also received attention. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski uses darkness, changing light sources and movement through different environments to create an atmosphere of uncertainty. Some reviews have noted that the camera language occasionally reflects the perspective and tension associated with the games, particularly when the audience is encouraged to anticipate what might appear around the next corner.
The film’s pacing is another area that has attracted positive comments. Because the story moves quickly from one dangerous situation to another, there is relatively little time for the tension to disappear completely. The compact runtime also helps the movie avoid becoming overly dependent on lengthy explanations of franchise mythology.
However, the critical response has not been completely uniform. While several reviewers have praised the film’s energy, horror sequences and game-inspired structure, some have raised concerns about the later stages of the story. The Rotten Tomatoes roundup noted that certain critics found the conclusion less satisfying or considered some of the film’s humor distracting from the horror.
The Associated Press also offered a more measured assessment, praising the balance between horror and humor while noting that the movie loses some narrative momentum toward its later stages. The review gave particular attention to Abrams’ performance, the creature work and the variety of locations used throughout the story.
Other reviews have been considerably more enthusiastic. Variety described the movie as a fresh and energetic interpretation of the franchise, while The Hollywood Reporter highlighted Cregger’s approach to the material and the film’s combination of horror, action and humor.
The early critical response has therefore focused on the film’s ability to capture the feeling of survival horror without simply reproducing an existing game. Critics have particularly discussed the balance between accessibility for newcomers and recognizable elements for longtime Resident Evil fans.
The movie also represents another attempt to translate video game design principles into live-action cinema. Instead of treating the game source material as a collection of characters and storylines to reproduce, Cregger appears to focus on the experience associated with playing the games. Limited resources, dangerous environments, unpredictable creatures and successive challenges form the basic structure of the movie.
For longtime Resident Evil fans, this approach may offer a different kind of adaptation from previous films. For viewers unfamiliar with the games, the original characters and straightforward survival story provide an entry point without requiring extensive franchise knowledge.
Resident Evil was released theatrically on September 18, 2026. The film is directed and co-written by Zach Cregger, with Shay Hatten also credited as a co-writer. The main cast includes Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Johnno Wilson and Paul Walter Hauser.
Overall, the early reviews suggest that Cregger’s Resident Evil places greater emphasis on the experience of survival horror than on faithfully reproducing a specific game storyline. Its short runtime, original protagonist, escalating monster encounters, graphic horror and moments of humor give the movie its own identity while maintaining connections to Capcom’s franchise.
The response from critics has ranged from highly enthusiastic to more cautious, particularly regarding the final act and the balance between comedy and horror. However, there is broad discussion around the film’s energetic pacing, creature design and attempt to capture the interactive feeling of a Resident Evil game within a standalone movie.