Resident Evil hailed ‘near perfect’ as it becomes highest rated video game movie ever

It’s time to return to Raccoon City and face the infected once again as Resident Evil reboots on the big screen – and if the reviews are anything to go by, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Coming from Weapons and Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger, the new take on the franchise appears to have accomplished that rare feat in Hollywood – an actually decent video game adaptation.

The Resident Evil video games from Capcom have had a checkered history when it comes to cinematic offerings. Mila Jovovich led the franchise for six instalments before a Netflix reboot in 2021, with most entries leaving much to be desired – particularly where the critics are concerned.

But with Cregger at the helm, the video game movie curse might well have been broken, with glowing first reviews landing the film a whopping 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes after debuting at 98%.

Critic Zach Pope took to X to sing the film’s praises, declaring it to be a ‘near PERFECT Resident Evil experience.’

‘It’s lean, it’s mean, it’s absolutely insane, and it’s almost everything I wanted from a Resident Evil movie,’ he added.

Dominic Baez gave the film a perfect 4/4 rating for the Seattle Times, writing: ‘At a taut 90 minutes, “Resident Evil” is everything I’ve ever wanted in a “RE” film: It’s scary, it’s clever, and it feels like it could be an “RE” game but doesn’t just do a shot-for-shot remake of an already existing game.’

Meanwhile, Danny Leigh for the Financial Times hailed the film’s tonal balance, claiming it to be a ‘giddy, playful horror-comedy, judged exactly right.’

Other reactions on social continued to rave about the new movie, with reactions showering it with superlatives like ‘outstanding’ and saying it’s a ‘must-watch’ for all horror fans, not just fans of the games.

The film, which follows medical courier Bryan (Austin Abrams) on one very bad night in a snowy Racoon City, is projected to be a hit at the box office as well, with its global debut expected to be in the region of $80,000,000 (£59.78m).

Cregger, whose last film Weapons featured Amy Madigan in an Oscar-winning role and earned $270m worldwide, has decided not to adapt a game directly, and instead is aiming for something that captures the vibe – and the terror – of playing it.

‘I feel like I had a clear idea of what would be my favorite Resident Evil movie and I was lucky enough to have a studio that gave me the resources to make it,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Some gaming fans have been a little sceptical about the fact that the film isn’t bringing any of their favourite characters from the game to the screen, something Cregger has been aware of.

‘I know that when you dive into an IP you’re going to get flack, a certain degree, from the fandom.

‘It would be weird if I were shocked that that was happening. But I think that when the people who love these games the way I do see the movie, my hope is that they feel seen and they feel like this movie is paying homage to the games, because it is, it’s obvious,’ he explained.

Cregger has established himself quickly as one of the most exciting voices in the horror genre with the one-two punch of Barbarian and Weapons, both offering a mix of humour and sinister thrills, making his move to an IP like Resident Evil even more intriguing.

After being let down by other Resident Evil movies in the past, it is looking like Cregger has finally made a cinematic entry worthy of the storied legacy of the games that might just appeal to fans both old and new.

Resident Evil hits cinemas worldwide from September 18, 2026.