First reactions to Sony Pictures’ upcoming Resident Evil movie are rolling in, and critics are hailing Zach Cregger’s studio-backed horror reboot not just as a triumphant franchise entry, but as a landmark achievement for video game adaptations. Following a premiere screening, members of the film press took to social media to praise the kinetic action, visceral body horror, and faithful atmosphere of the 95-minute feature, which opens in theaters on September 18.
Cregger—known for Barbarian and Weapons—appears to have cracked the code by stripping the narrative down to pure survival horror.
Rather than leaning on established legacy figures like Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine, the new film charts an original course. It stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier caught in a catastrophic viral outbreak while making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. Cregger penned the screenplay alongside Shay Hatten, assembling a supporting cast that includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser.
Critics Praise Pure Survival Horror and Relentless Tension
Social media reactions following the premiere were overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers emphasizing the picture’s relentless pacing and unsettling creature designs. Tomatometer critic Mark Cassidy noted that the film successfully taps “into the relentless tension of the games,” describing it on X as very bloody, very funny, and genuinely startling.
SplashReport.com editor-in-chief Kellvin Chavez shared a similarly glowing assessment on X, writing, “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.”
Other critics drew comparisons to classic cinematic horror. Adam Hlaváč highlighted the film’s precision and atmosphere on X, noting that it offered moments that reminded him of Carpenter’s The Thing. Meanwhile, Erik Davis pointed out that the project feels “less an adaptation of a game and more a movie that makes you feel like you’re playing one,” citing its immersive first-person sequences and escalating intensity.
Navigating Franchise Legacy and Fandom Expectations
The path to a fresh cinematic take has rarely been straightforward for this intellectual property. The franchise history spans six previous films beginning with the 2002 Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez film, followed by sequels including Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Retribution, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, as well as Johannes Roberts’ 2021 reboot Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Collectively, the brand has grossed over $1.2 billion at the global box office.
By choosing to bypass familiar heroes in favor of an original narrative centered on an everyday courier, Cregger knowingly courted controversy among hardcore enthusiasts. The filmmaker has admitted he was naive to think he could craft an original story within a pre-existing franchise and get away unscathed from fans. However, early notices suggest that the film’s sheer execution may win over skeptics once general audiences get a look.
Global Box Office declared on X that the project is not only the best and most gigantic entry in the series to date, but also Columbia Pictures’ best film since Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. As the September 18 theatrical release approaches, anticipation is at an all-time high to see whether these enthusiastic early word-of-mouth reactions translate into box office dominance. We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this bold new direction for the franchise in the comments below.
