The latest film adaptation of the popular Resident Evil video game series is garnering widespread critical acclaim, with many reviewers calling it the best entry in the franchise and one of the finest video game adaptations ever made. Directed and co-written by Zach Cregger, known for his award-winning hit Weapons, the horror reboot has achieved a 96% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a significant departure from previous instalments which critics had largely deemed ‘rotten’.
Critical Acclaim for New Resident Evil
Critics have lauded the new Resident Evil film for revitalising the long-running series. Julian Roman of MovieWeb declared it “Easily the best Resident Evil film in the franchise,” a sentiment echoed by Owen Gleiberman of Variety, who stated it is “different, and much better, than the other Resident Evil movies.” The film is also being celebrated as a benchmark for video game adaptations. Matt Goldberg of Decoding Everything and Lisa Laman of Land of the Nerds both hailed Cregger’s work as “one of the best video game movies ever made,” while Amelia Emberwing of Pickety Witch noted it “manages to be one of the more impressive video game adaptations of our time.”
Reviewers praised the film for capturing the essence of the games while forging its own path. David Ehrlich of IndieWire noted that the film “better reflects the essence of its source material than any of the previous movies,” adding that it’s the “first Resident Evil movie that actually — and rather viscerally — evokes what it feels like to play Resident Evil.” The film stars Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Johnno Wilson. Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky found the movie “everything that I wanted and everything that I didn’t know I wanted,” and described it as “absolutely terrifying.” More details on the critical reception can be found in the Rotten Tomatoes editorial.
Zach Cregger’s Vision and Box Office Outlook
Director Zach Cregger, an avid fan of the Resident Evil games, approached the adaptation with a fresh perspective, having publicly stated he had not seen any of the previous Resident Evil films. According to Tom Jorgensen of IGN Movies, Cregger “ably adapts the spirit, if not the letter, of the Resident Evil games,” crafting a horror experience that, while taking creative liberties, still feels authentic. This approach, which avoids being a “soulless copy-and-paste job” according to Matt Donato of Daily Dead, has been key to its success. The film’s distinct approach to video game adaptations also brings to mind discussions around other major game-to-screen projects, such as Jason Momoa’s Shocking Street Fighter Transformation.
On the box office front, Resident Evil is forecast for a strong global debut of approximately $80 million, with a domestic start projected between $40 million and $50 million. This would mark a record opening for the franchise domestically, surpassing 2010’s Resident Evil: Afterlife which opened to $26.6 million. The film, which had a production budget of $75 million, is expected to overperform globally, despite conservative promotional spending from co-producer Sony. Key international markets, including the UK, Mexico, and Japan, are anticipated to contribute significantly to its success. Further insights into the box office predictions are available via Deadline. The film’s success as a horror title also puts it into conversation with other major horror releases, an area where M. Night Shyamalan’s thrillers have been in recent focus.
Implications for UK Audiences
For Manchester and Greater Manchester audiences, alongside a general UK audience, the strong critical reception suggests a high-quality horror and action experience. With the UK identified as one of the historical and expanded prime markets for the Resident Evil franchise, the new film’s positive reviews and unique directorial vision are likely to attract both long-time fans and new viewers seeking a standout cinematic horror experience.