Zach Cregger's new film adaptation of Resident Evil has launched to near-universal critical praise, achieving a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer from 69 reviews. This marks a significant success for the long-running video game franchise, which has seen a mixed reception from its previous cinematic outings.
Critics are highlighting Cregger's ability to blend horror and action, drawing parallels to the experience of playing the source material. Polygon's Jake Kleinman described the film as a "near-perfect horror movie" that effectively captures the fight-or-flight tension inherent in the Resident Evil games. He noted that the movie is "funny, scary, gross, and beautiful," managing to translate the franchise's core elements to the screen.
Reviewers have also pointed out that the film is more faithful to the survival horror mechanics of the games than earlier adaptations, such as the Milla Jovovich-led series. It also avoids the pitfalls of the 2021 reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Collider's Carly Lane praised Austin Abrams, who stars as the lead, calling him "a fantastic lead" and Cregger's direction an "expert juggling act of horror and comedy."
While the film is based on Capcom's popular game series, it does not directly adapt a specific game's plot. Abrams portrays a medical courier who, by all accounts, captures the spirit of a player character facing dire circumstances. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. The film is set to release in theaters on September 18.