Resident Evil: First reactions before the movie's release

The new "Resident Evil" movie by director and screenwriter Zach Cregger is highly anticipated. Now the first reactions to the film adaptation of the famous video game are in – and the reviews are pretty clear-cut: The horror film starring Austin Abrams has been receiving rave reviews so far. We'll find out soon whether the first brief reactions, which have now been posted on social media, will also be reflected in the detailed reviews, that will follow. Audiences will be able to see for themselves shortly thereafter: "Resident Evil" hits theaters on September 18, 2026.

As for the plot, we can already expect that the protagonist will experience an extremely terrifying night. The synopsis reads:

"Courier Bryan (Austin Abrams) takes on a seemingly harmless job: delivering a biomedical package. What begins as an ordinary workday turns into hell on earth. One night, no way out – and a horror that devours everything."

Will this win over the critics? Below, you'll find out what the initial reactions have been based on selected social media posts.

What the critics are saying about Resident Evil

The reviews so far are practically overflowing with praise. Jonathan Sim, who recently raved about the first 30 minutes of "Resident Evil", is now blown away by the full-length film:

"#ResidentEvil is a PHENOMENAL edge-of-your-seat experience. Zach Cregger's best movie yet. It shines in its simplicity. A one-night thriller about one person trying to survive. Austin Abrams brings so much comedy to this role. Funny, exciting, and demands to be seen with a crowd."

Wendy Lee Szany is similarly enthusiastic. Like many others, she highlights the performance of lead actor Austin Abrams:

"#ResidentEvil fully stressed me out but in a good way. The scares are plenty as well as very disturbing images. Austin Abrams was the perfect choice to lead this film. A frightful good time!"

While Germain Lussier also hints at a slightly more critical tone, overall he too seems very impressed by the film:

"The best thing about the #ResidentEvil games is that you never know what's next. And that's exactly what Zach Cregger's movie is. It's wildly unpredictable, super gross, really funny, and constantly scary. Have one or two small gripes but overall I really enjoyed it."

For Kellvin_Chavez, the film stands out positively among the previous "Resident Evil" adaptations:

"#ResidentEvil has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and NEVER hits the brakes. [...] Pure SURVIVAL HORROR and easily the best Resident Evil movie yet. Austin Abrams is terrific."

Jordan Moreau emphasizes what a genre highlight the new "Resident Evil" movie is:

"#ResidentEvilㅤ is one of the best video game adaptions ever made, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. [...] Austin Abrams is hilarious to watch stumble around killing zombies."

New movie, new director

In the new film adaptation of the video game series of the same name, director Zach Cregger is following in the footsteps of Paul W. S. Anderson, who directed the previous "Resident Evil" films. That said, Anderson's films, starring Milla Jovovich, weren't exactly met with rave reviews. Expectations for Cregger's adaptation are therefore significantly higher – especially since he already made a splash with his last film, "Weapons." The horror hit was celebrated by critics. In addition, Amy Madigan, one of the film's stars, won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Cregger also worked with "Resident Evil" lead actor Austin Abrams on "Weapons." Things are going well for the actor right now in terms of his film career. In addition to "Resident Evil," Abrams will soon be seen in "Whalefall" – and the thriller is already generating a lot of buzz. The film tells the story of a diver fighting for survival after being swallowed by a massive whale. You'd almost think Abrams has a penchant for characters who find themselves in extreme situations. You can get a sense of what his character has to go through in "Resident Evil" from the trailer: