Zach Cregger’s reboot opened to a franchise-record $60 million domestic weekend and a 96% Tomatometer score. Critics are calling it the best film the series has ever produced.
“Genesis” Johnny North, a lifelong fan of the games, walked out of Resident Evil 2026 with a more measured verdict: 3.5 out of 5. It is a good horror movie. It is just not the Resident Evil movie many longtime fans walk in expecting.
That gap between the critics and the fans is the most interesting thing about this film, and it is worth understanding before you buy a ticket.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- The verdict: Johnny North gives the film 3.5 out of 5 stars. Fun, scary and respectful of the games, but not what franchise fans may expect.
- No legacy heroes: Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield and the rest of the classic cast are nowhere to be found. This is an all-new story set in the Resident Evil world.
- Back to horror: Cregger trades the action-movie excess of the old film series for creepy, jump-scare survival horror.
- The comedy splits opinion: Critics love Austin Abrams’ comic timing. Johnny found some of the jokes cringey.
Table of Contents
What Is Resident Evil 2026?
This is a full reboot from Zach Cregger, the director behind Barbarian and Weapons, who co-wrote it with Shay Hatten. Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier whose last job of the night drops him into a fight for survival against infected creatures in Raccoon City. Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Johnno Wilson and Paul Walter Hauser round out the cast.
Quick Facts
Commercially, it is already a hit. The $60 million debut matched Resident Evil: Afterlife for the franchise’s best opening, on a $75 million budget. Cregger has become the draw himself, and horror audiences turned up for his name as much as the brand.
Johnny North’s Resident Evil 2026 Review: 3.5 Out of 5
Johnny saw it the day of the 799th episode of Wrestling Uncensored, and his take comes from someone who knows the games inside out.
His bottom line: if you like horror movies, you will have fun. The film lives in the Resident Evil world, full of monsters and mutations, but with brand-new characters you have never heard of. It feels like the direction the franchise itself has been heading, building new stories inside the same universe rather than recycling the old ones.
“If you like horror movies, it’s fun to watch for a horror movie. But if you’re expecting this is going to be the next big Resident Evil installment, it’s fun for what it is. It just really has the Resident Evil name, not the star power.”
— Johnny North, Wrestling Uncensored, October 2, 2026
What Works
Cregger takes the series back to its roots. The old Paul W.S. Anderson films turned into action movies where things just got blown up. This one goes back to creepy, jump-scare survival horror, the feeling that made the original games terrifying.
The homages land, too. The monsters, the set pieces, and even the padlocks that block your path at every turn (annoying in the games, and lovingly annoying here) show real respect for the source material.
What Does Not
If you walk in hoping to see Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield, you will be disappointed. None of the big legacy characters appear, are discussed, or are even mentioned.
The comedy is the other sticking point. Some of the jokes felt weak to Johnny, and horror that leans into comedy can turn cringey fast.
Resident Evil Movie Review Scores: Where Johnny Breaks From the Critics
Here is where it gets interesting. The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus specifically praises Austin Abrams’ “crack comedic timing” as providing “crucial levity.” The exact element Johnny found weakest is the one critics singled out as a strength.
| Source | Score | The Take |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny North | 3.5 / 5 | Fun horror, weak comedy, no legacy characters |
| Rotten Tomatoes critics | 96% (281 reviews) | Scary, sleek, funny |
| Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter | 91% (5,000+ ratings) | Audiences love it |
| CinemaScore | B+ | Solid, not universal |
That is the thing about legacy franchises. Critics judge the movie in front of them. Fans judge it against 30 years of games and seven previous live-action films. A B+ CinemaScore next to a 96% Tomatometer suggests many ticket buyers landed right where Johnny did: entertained, not fully satisfied.
It is the same tension Johnny raised in his Coyote vs Acme review last month. A movie can be good on its own terms and still miss what fans of the brand were hoping for.
Should You See Resident Evil 2026?
Yes, with the right expectations. If you love horror, or you have never touched a controller (Dave Simon has never played a single Resident Evil game, and his brother loved the movie), this is an easy recommendation. It is scary, efficient at 94 minutes, and clearly made by people who care about the source material.
If you are a die-hard fan waiting for the definitive Resident Evil movie with the characters you grew up with, take it as its own thing. Do not walk in wanting Jill and Chris, because you will not get them.
Prediction: with a franchise-best opening and a director this hot, a sequel is coming, and it will tell us whether the Zach Cregger Resident Evil universe ever brings the legacy heroes back. That is where the fan score could finally catch up to the critics.
Johnny’s full review aired on the 799th episode of Wrestling Uncensored, the same show that paid tribute to the late PAC. Catch more from “Genesis” Johnny North every Friday at 10 PM ET.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Resident Evil 2026 worth watching?
Yes, especially for horror fans. Johnny North rates the film 3.5 out of 5: it is scary and respectful of the games, but die-hard fans should not expect the classic characters.
Are Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield in the new Resident Evil movie?
No. Zach Cregger’s reboot follows an all-new cast led by Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier in Raccoon City. None of the legacy game characters appear or are mentioned.
What is the Rotten Tomatoes score for Resident Evil 2026?
Resident Evil 2026 holds a 96% Tomatometer score from 281 reviews and a 91% Popcornmeter audience score from more than 5,000 verified ratings. It earned a B+ CinemaScore.
How much did the new Resident Evil movie make at the box office?
The film opened to $60 million domestically and $108.3 million worldwide, tying Resident Evil: Afterlife for the franchise’s best opening. Its production budget was $75 million.
Who directed the new Resident Evil movie?
Zach Cregger, the director of Barbarian and Weapons, directed the film and co-wrote it with Shay Hatten. It runs 94 minutes and is rated R.
