Dir. Zach Cregger · 2026 · 94 min · in cinemas
Written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, with Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser. Sony Pictures Releasing, with Columbia and Constantin Film.
A medical courier named Bryan (Abrams) has a package to deliver to a hospital in Raccoon City, the town the games made famous for the Umbrella Corporation and the outbreak it caused. Then the outbreak starts, and a simple delivery job turns into a run through the dark. That is the whole first act, and the film is wise to keep the premise this small. It is not a retelling of any one game: the filmmakers wrote an original story set inside the 1998 world, which has annoyed some fans and delighted most critics.
The reviews agree on one thing: this is the first film in the series that feels like playing the games. Brian Tallerico at RogerEbert.com calls it one of the most video game-inspired cinematic experiences you could have, and credits Abrams with a committed physical performance as an everyman who is constantly running, panting and screaming. /Film's Chris Evangelista gives it 7.5 out of 10 and praises the creature designs, the clear night-time cinematography and the comedy. Andrew J. Salazar at DiscussingFilm gives it four stars, finding the suspense in how little Bryan knows.
probably his most entertaining movie so far
Chris Evangelista, /Film
The aggregate numbers back the critics up. Rotten Tomatoes' round-up of first reviews reports a Tomatometer around 96%, and per Wikipedia's summary the film is the best-reviewed video game adaptation on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. It runs a lean 94 minutes, which suits a story built like a level: get from here to there, and things get worse.
The complaints are consistent too, and they are mostly about the end. Tallerico finds the final scenes clunkier than the rest and the film slightly too short. Evangelista calls the script thin, with the fatherhood theme underdeveloped and the last act rushed. Salazar admits the closing punchline may not work for everyone. Rotten Tomatoes' round-up adds that some critics felt the humour sometimes undercuts the scares. If you want a grim, slow-burn horror, the jokes may bother you.
It is for people who want a fast, gory, funny night out, and for anyone who liked Cregger's earlier horror films but wanted something looser. Series completists will have opinions about the original story. Everyone else gets a standalone film that needs no homework. Try the checklist below.
Can you take body horror?
Is horror-comedy fine with you?
Do you like films that stay short and quick?
Answer all three.
It opened in UK cinemas on 18 September 2026 per Flicks, the same day as the US. Availability and dates vary by country, so check your local cinema listings.
Score: 4 out of 5. Critics are warm but not unanimous about the ending, and the score reflects both.