- Primary Subject: Resident Evil (2026 Film)
- Key Update: Zach Cregger's reboot debuted to critical acclaim at Fantastic Fest, earning a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: September 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Yes, critics praise Zach Cregger's Resident Evil as a terrifying, fun adaptation starring Austin Abrams, making it well worth watching for horror fans.
Resident Evil first reactions are here, and critics are now sharing their thoughts about Zach Cregger’s reboot of the iconic Capcom video game franchise.
Before officially hitting theaters on September 18, the movie first premiered at the 21st Fantastic Fest.
So, amid all the criticism over not featuring original game characters and telling a different story, is Cregger’s Resident Evil worth watching?
What Do the First Reactions Say About Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil?
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is the second reboot of the franchise after Johannes Roberts’ 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.
While the first reboot didn’t pan out, it looks like the second one has made it despite the criticisms over its original story set in the game’s universe and following an original character, Bryan (Austin Abrams).
As of this writing, it has a near-perfect critic score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising the Weapons director’s take on the film.
Film critic and journalist Zach Pope claimed the 2026 movie was “a near-perfect Resident Evil experience” and everything a fan would want from an adaptation of the game.
“Zach Cregger didn’t just craft a GREAT Resident Evil movie (he made an awesome video game adaptation that I can already see myself rewatching for years),” he wrote on X.
New Rockstars’ Erik Voss praised Cregger for filling the film with “horrid surprises and grounded dissociative humor.”
From the first two-thirds that were “masterfully shot and perfectly edited” to the final third being “madcap Cabin in the Woods fun,” he likened it to the filmmaker’s previous films, Weapons and Barbarian, for forcing fear through “tonal swings and choices” that viewers had to go with.
He also praised Abrams for his incredible acting, such as “running scared” like what was happening was real.
Cinephile Zero dubbed the reboot as the “best Resident Evil film from the entire franchise” for featuring a “refreshing ground level” from the original roots that was a “true video game adaptation movie.”
And these are just some of the few positive reviews the 2026 Resident Evil has received so far, with almost everyone commending Cregger’s direction and Abrams’ performance.
Will Zach Cregger Make Another Resident Evil Movie?
While it remains to be seen whether Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil will be a success at the box office, its critical reception may be enough to warrant a second movie.
The original Alice series has six movies: Resident Evil, Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife, Retribution, and The Final Chapter. So, with his reboot’s rave reviews, will Cregger return to Raccoon City for another film?
“There’s always ideas,” he told Variety. “You cannot not have ideas.”
He also admitted things are different for this film compared to his 2022 horror mystery Barbarian, which he never thought of making a sequel to.
“With Barbarian, I’ve never entertained the idea of a sequel,” he continued. “But this is different. I want to talk about the ending of this movie so badly.”
But before this happens, the 45-year-old wanted to see what would happen first when the movie hit the big screens, though he could not help but think about the places Bryan’s story could go.
“I can’t help thinking about other places this story could go,” he said in an interview with The Playlist. “I’ve got ideas, but this movie hasn’t even come out yet. Let’s see what happens.”
For starters, the 2026 Resident Evil tells an original story by following medical courier Bryan as he makes a delivery in Raccoon City when the viral outbreak begins.
With praise for both Cregger and Austin Abrams, it looks like Resident Evil 2 is not far from happening.
Resident Evil premieres on September 18 in the US.
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