Thescreescore – The ever-evolving cinematic landscape is once again buzzing with anticipation as Hollywood gears up for another high-profile video game adaptation. This week marks a pivotal moment for Sony Pictures, as it re-enters the iconic, zombie-infested world of Capcom’s Resident Evil with a fresh vision. Historically, the journey of video game properties to the big screen has been a perilous one, fraught with critical disappointments and commercial misses, interspersed with occasional, unexpected successes. However, the latest iteration, helmed by director Zach Cregger, is already defying expectations, shattering franchise records and setting a new benchmark for the genre.
Following his acclaimed work on Weapons, Cregger’s Resident Evil has premiered to an astonishing 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on an initial aggregation of 57 critical reviews. While this impressive figure remains fluid as more critical assessments are tallied in the coming days and weeks, the early prognosis is overwhelmingly positive. This 2026 entry currently stands as the most critically lauded live-action installment in the venerable Resident Evil cinematic saga, which first began its big-screen journey in 2002. It is only surpassed by the animated Resident Evil: Damnation (2012), which holds a perfect 100% score, albeit from a significantly smaller pool of just five reviews.
The new film’s critical reception presents a stark contrast to many of its live-action predecessors. The original 2002 Resident Evil garnered 36%, while subsequent entries like Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) languished at 18% and 21% respectively. Even the more recent Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) managed only 30%. This dramatic shift in critical favor underscores the potential for Cregger’s reimagining to redefine the franchise’s cinematic legacy.
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Beyond its internal franchise dominance, Cregger’s Resident Evil is also making history across the broader spectrum of video game adaptations. It now proudly holds the title of the highest-rated video game movie on Rotten Tomatoes, eclipsing previous high-performers. This includes 2023’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (86%), 2021’s Werewolves Within (86%), 2019’s The Angry Birds Movie 2 (72%), and this year’s Mortal Kombat II (64%). Other notable titles it has surpassed include Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (69%), Pokémon Detective Pikachu (68%), Gran Turismo (65%), and the original Sonic the Hedgehog (64%).
The glowing critical consensus is exemplified by thescreescore.com’s own Brandon Zachary, who awarded the film a resounding 9/10. Zachary lauded the film as "the most John Carpenter-inspired film I’ve ever seen," while unequivocally affirming its distinct authorial voice, declaring it "unmistakably by the same auteur behind Barbarian and Weapons." He further commended its "clever cinematography, audacious horror," and the "bluntly hilarious" portrayal of its dim-witted protagonist, highlighting a memorable line – "Yeah! Video games!" – as ripe for internet meme culture.
As the film prepares for its wider release, the true test will, of course, be the audience reception. This reboot offers a fresh entry point for newcomers, unburdened by the convoluted lore of past installments. In a year already rich with horror releases and a genre experiencing unprecedented box office success, Cregger’s latest endeavor, following the critical and commercial triumph of Weapons, is undoubtedly one to watch closely. The highly anticipated Resident Evil is slated for theatrical release on Friday, September 18.
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