Sony’s latest attempt to revive the long-running Resident Evil movie franchise has received its first wave of reactions following the world premiere of the new film in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The latest adaptation, directed by Weapons and Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger, premiered at The United Theater in Los Angeles ahead of its global theatrical release on Sept. 18. Press screenings have also taken place, allowing early audience members and festivalgoers to share brief reactions online before full reviews are published.
Sony has placed an embargo on full reviews of the film until 9 a.m. PT on Sept. 16. The movie is also scheduled to screen at the 2026 Fantastic Fest on Sept. 17, one day before it arrives in theaters worldwide.
Zach Cregger Takes ‘Resident Evil’ Back To Raccoon City
The new Resident Evil returns audiences to Raccoon City, the setting at the center of the video-game franchise, as another viral outbreak unleashes monsters and throws the city into chaos.
Austin Abrams leads the film as a medical courier who becomes caught in the middle of the outbreak and is forced to fight for survival. The cast also features Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.
Cregger’s involvement represents a fresh creative direction for the property. Known for films including Barbarian and Weapons, the filmmaker has approached the new adaptation without relying heavily on the familiar characters from the video games.
That decision had already generated questions among fans ahead of the premiere. Cregger has also discussed changes made to the movie after test screenings, including removing a number of jokes in response to audience feedback.
The first reactions arriving online suggest that the completed film has generated a notably positive response from the early audience, although the full critical picture will not emerge until the review embargo lifts.
Another Attempt To Revive The Franchise
The new film marks another major attempt to bring the Resident Evil property back to the big screen after several previous adaptations.
The original movie franchise, led by Milla Jovovich, began in 2002. It eventually expanded into six films released over a 14-year period, including Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Retribution and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.
Sony and Constantin Film subsequently attempted to restart the series with 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Directed by Johannes Roberts, the reboot featured a new cast that included Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell and Tom Hopper.
However, the 2021 film struggled both commercially and critically, according to the supplied source. The franchise faced another setback the following year when Netflix canceled its Resident Evil television series after one season.
With Cregger’s film, the studio is once again trying to establish a new cinematic direction for the property.
Early Audience Response Builds Interest
The decision to permit short social-media reactions before full reviews has allowed the first impressions of the film to circulate ahead of its theatrical release.
While the embedded social-media posts in the supplied material do not provide their text in accessible form, the source characterizes the early reaction as overwhelmingly positive. That response comes after Cregger made adjustments to the movie following test screenings, including cutting several jokes.
The early response is particularly notable given the expectations surrounding a franchise with a large existing fan base. The new film is not built around the most recognizable game characters, making its reception among both established fans and newcomers an important part of the movie’s rollout.
Still, the social-media reactions represent only an initial snapshot. Full reviews remain under embargo until Sept. 16, meaning a broader assessment of the film will become available shortly before its theatrical debut.
When Does ‘Resident Evil’ Release?
The new Resident Evil will screen at the 2026 Fantastic Fest on Sept. 17 before beginning its global theatrical rollout on Sept. 18.
The release comes after years of attempts to continue the franchise across film and television. With Cregger now offering a new interpretation of the video-game property, the upcoming theatrical launch will determine how audiences respond to another version of the Resident Evil story.
For now, the first reactions have provided an encouraging early indication of audience interest, while the full critical response remains pending until the review embargo lifts.
