Zach Cregger's Resident Evil is now the highest-rated video game movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes. Upon its release, the film has garnered a 96% approval rating from critics on the review aggregation website. This score places it ahead of other well-received adaptations such as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Werewolves Within, both holding 86% critic ratings, and The Angry Birds Movie 2, which sits at 72%.
Video game adaptations have historically struggled to impress critics, with many releases dating back to the early days of the industry, like 2001's Tomb Raider and 1993's Super Mario Bros., receiving poor reviews. More recent years have also seen a number of poorly received projects, including both Five Nights at Freddy's films and 2024's Borderlands, despite varying levels of audience reception.
Cregger, known for his recent horror successes, faced a challenge in adapting the Resident Evil franchise. While some fans expressed disappointment that the movie does not closely follow the established lore or feature familiar characters like Leon S. Kennedy, Cregger stated his intention was to capture the feeling of playing the games rather than retelling their specific stories. The film focuses on an original character named Bryan in a Raccoon City that differs from fan expectations. Cregger acknowledged the frustration some fans might feel about not seeing direct game storylines but emphasized his deep respect for the franchise.
Despite potential fan skepticism regarding the departure from direct game narratives, the film has also resonated with audiences, achieving a 91% score from over 500 verified Rotten Tomatoes ratings. Cregger expressed hope that viewers would recognize the love and effort put into the film, stating it is a genuine Resident Evil story rather than a project merely using the name for budget purposes.
Resident Evil is off to a strong start critically and is also projected to break the franchise's box office record. IGN awarded the film an 8/10, praising it as a "simple and exciting survival horror story that benefits greatly from director Zach Cregger’s sensibilities."