Resident Evil Reboot Reviews Praise Zach Cregger’s Horror, Humor and Wild Set Pieces
Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil reboot is receiving strong reviews from critics following its theatrical release, with particular praise for its combination of horror, humor, action and over-the-top set pieces.
The film, starring Austin Abrams as medical courier Bryan, takes a fresh approach to the long-running video game franchise rather than directly adapting one of the existing games. Cregger, known for Barbarian and Weapons, directs the reboot and uses the structure of a survival-horror game to drive the story.
Resident Evil Reviews Highlight Horror and Humor
Early reviews have emphasized the movie’s ability to move between genuine scares and comedic moments without completely abandoning its horror atmosphere.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film at 95% on the Tomatometer from 237 critic reviews, alongside a 91% audience score from more than 5,000 verified ratings. The site’s critics consensus highlights the movie’s scares, brisk runtime and Austin Abrams’ comedic timing.
The score can change as additional reviews and audience ratings are added.
Austin Abrams Leads the Resident Evil Reboot
Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier who becomes caught in a terrifying outbreak while attempting to complete a delivery.
The character is deliberately presented as an ordinary person rather than an experienced action hero. That allows the movie to follow Bryan as he learns how to survive increasingly dangerous encounters.
The Guardian praised Abrams for bringing humor and vulnerability to the character, particularly as Bryan tries to understand the rules of the dangerous world around him.
Zach Cregger Takes Resident Evil in a New Direction
Rather than continuing the previous live-action movie continuity, Cregger’s film largely stands on its own.
The story follows Bryan through an outbreak in Raccoon City while incorporating elements designed to recreate the experience of playing a survival-horror video game.
The British Film Institute noted that Cregger largely moves away from established franchise lore and instead focuses on the fundamental experience of survival horror.
Cregger has also explained that he approached the project as a fan of the games, rather than attempting to simply reproduce the earlier film adaptations.
Critics Praise the Film’s Set Pieces
One of the most frequently mentioned elements in the Resident Evil reboot reviews is its action and creature-driven set pieces.
The movie features Bryan moving through increasingly dangerous environments while encountering zombies and other threats connected to the outbreak.
Ars Technica described the film as successfully balancing horror, humor and extreme gore, while the Guardian praised Cregger’s control of pacing and comic-horror timing.
The result is a fast-moving film that attempts to reproduce the tension of navigating a dangerous video-game environment.
The Movie Embraces Resident Evil’s Video Game Roots
Although the reboot tells an original story, it contains numerous references and details familiar to players.
Reviews have pointed to recognizable gameplay concepts, environmental exploration, weapons and Easter eggs. The movie’s structure also places Bryan in situations where survival depends on searching his surroundings, managing threats and figuring out what to do next.
Rotten Tomatoes’ early review roundup described the film as a brisk and funny adaptation that captures the spirit of playing the games.
Not Everyone Agrees on the Franchise Connections
The reboot has also generated discussion among fans about how closely it connects to established Resident Evil lore.
Some audience reactions praised the movie for capturing the feeling of playing the games without directly adapting their stories. Others criticized its relatively loose relationship with established franchise mythology.
That distinction is important because Cregger’s film is designed around an original protagonist and story rather than simply bringing familiar game characters to the screen.
Resident Evil Cast
Alongside Austin Abrams, the film features Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Johnno Wilson.
Abrams carries much of the story as Bryan, while the supporting cast helps expand the world surrounding the outbreak.
The film’s relatively compact runtime of around 90 minutes keeps the story moving quickly and leaves limited room for lengthy exposition.
Resident Evil Reboot Is Already a Box Office Success
The strong critical response has been accompanied by significant box-office results.
The film opened with approximately $60 million in North America, giving the franchise its biggest domestic opening weekend. It also generated $48.3 million internationally during the same weekend, bringing its reported worldwide total to about $108.3 million.
The film was produced on a reported budget of approximately $75 million before marketing.
Resident Evil Reviews Reflect a Different Kind of Reboot
The critical response suggests that Cregger’s version is being evaluated less as a continuation of previous Resident Evil movies and more as a new interpretation of the survival-horror concept.
Its combination of scares, humor, gore, game-inspired mechanics and an inexperienced protagonist gives the reboot a different tone from earlier adaptations.
The BFI described the movie as a standalone zombie thriller that pares the franchise back toward the essentials of survival horror.
Resident Evil Is Now in Theaters
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is now playing in theaters, with Austin Abrams leading the cast as Bryan.
The film’s early reception has centered on its blend of horror, comedy, action and elaborate set pieces, while discussions among fans have focused on how its original storyline fits within the wider Resident Evil universe.
With strong critic and audience scores reported by Rotten Tomatoes and a franchise-best opening weekend, the reboot has quickly become a significant new chapter for the long-running video-game movie series.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the new Resident Evil movie about?
The 2026 Resident Evil follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who becomes caught in a terrifying outbreak and must fight to survive.
2. Who directed the Resident Evil reboot?
The movie was directed and co-written by Zach Cregger, known for Barbarian and Weapons.
3. Who stars in Resident Evil?
The film stars Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Johnno Wilson.
4. Is the 2026 Resident Evil movie a remake?
It is a reboot and reinvention of the live-action Resident Evil film franchise rather than a direct remake of one of the previous movies.
5. Is Resident Evil based on the video games?
Yes. The movie is inspired by Capcom’s Resident Evil video-game franchise, although it tells an original story rather than directly adapting one particular game.
6. What are critics saying about Resident Evil?
Critics have praised the movie’s horror, humor, pacing, action sequences and Austin Abrams’ performance. Some discussion has centered on its loose connection to established franchise lore.
7. What is the Resident Evil Rotten Tomatoes score?
At the latest check, the film had a 95% Tomatometer score from 237 critics and a 91% Popcornmeter score from more than 5,000 verified ratings.
8. Is Austin Abrams the main character?
Yes. Abrams plays Bryan, the medical courier at the center of the reboot’s survival story.
9. How long is the new Resident Evil movie?
The film has a runtime of approximately 90 minutes.
10. Where can I watch Resident Evil?
Resident Evil is currently playing in theaters.
