The first reviews for director Zach Cregger’s live-action Resident Evil movie are in and critics are calling it the best video game movie ever made. Cregger, best known for directing two criticially acclaimed horror movies in 2022’s Barbarian and last year’s Weapons, returns with a fast-paced, atmospheric adaptation riding the strengths of its direction, sharp writing, deft blend of comedy and horror, and Austin Abrams’ charismatic performance as an organ courier named Bryan.

Cregger’s Resident Evil isn’t a 1:1 adaptation of Capcom’s survival horror games. Rather, it’s set in its own universe with familiar elements from the games like Raccoon City, the RPD and more. Bryan is an original new character in the movie, tasked with taking an important package to Raccoon City General Hospital on the fateful night of the T-virus outbreak. Most critics agree this is easily the best Resident Evil movie yet (not that the bar was very high) but beyond that, it’s also one of the best horror movies of the year in general.



As of writing, Resident Evil holds a 97% approval rating on RottenTomatoes based on 89 reviews.

Resident Evil Review Roundup

Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter gave it a positive review, stating:

“Cregger very much makes the film his own while displaying his obvious affinity for the source material. He’s crafted a propulsive, simultaneously terrifying and hilarious thrill ride that showcases both his cinematic chops and perverse sense of humor.”

“Zach Cregger changes the game for modern video game adaptations by capturing the monstrous spirit of Resident Evil in a darkly hilarious original story. He pulls no punches here.”

“A near PERFECT Resident Evil experience! 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) Brutal. Funny. Gory. Completely WTF-inducing.”

“By backing away from the stories and characters of the video games, Cregger dodges the giant bullet of “that’s not my Leon Kennedy” and instead lets us finally experience Resident Evil ourselves, through our own eyes. The artifice of a campy action movie is gone, and we’re left with a terrified guy who runs from one set of problems, only to encounter something far worse.”

“It’s akin to saying ‘Terminator: Dark Fate is the best Terminator since Terminator 2!’, but Resident Evil is automatically up there with Exit 8 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as the best live-action video game movie ever made.”

“Cregger shows that even a video game can be made into an absorbing film, guiding his audience through a procession of frightening situations with depraved glee. It’s viscerally charged, dementedly playful, masterfully orchestrated, and a whole lot of fun.”

“Bolstered by the same craft and creativity that made Cregger’s last two features so effective, Resident Evil is a great (and bleak) horror movie that goes for the jugular to arrive at the core of the horror experience.”