Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’: First Reactions From the Premiere You Should Know
Resident Evil is back! Again. Sony’s second reimagining of its long-running action horror movie franchise, based on the popular video games, had its world premiere at The United Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, as well as press screenings, and early reactions to the film have already hit social media.
Sony has allowed festivalgoers to post brief thoughts on the film after its screening, with full reviews for Resident Evil embargoed until 9.a.m. PT on Sept. 16. Resident Evil will also screen at the 2026 Fantastic Fest on Sept. 17 before the film hits theaters globally on Sept. 18.
Directed by Weapons and Barbarian filmmaker Zach Creggar, Resident Evil takes us back to Racoon City, and another viral outbreak that is turning people into monsters. The film stars Austin Abrams as a medical courier who gets caught up in the outbreak and must try to survive. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.
Resident Evil has had various screen adaptations over the years. The Milla Jovovic-led original film series debuted in 2002, and was followed by six films in 14 years — Resident Evil (2002), Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016).
Sony and Constantin Films first rebooted the film franchise in 2021, with Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Johannes Roberts’ film had an all-new cast led by Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell and Tom Hopper. The film was a commercial and critical flop, however. The franchise took a further knock in 2022, when Netflix canceled the Resident Evil TV series after one season.
Cregger has faced some questions from fans before the film’s premiere about not using familiar characters from the game series. He also talked to The Hollywood Reporter about making some adjustments to his film following test screenings, taking out a number of jokes. However, the early reaction to the finished film seem to be overwhelmingly positive.
Read below for the social media reaction to Resident Evil.
Zach Cregger’s #ResidentEvil absolutely rocks! Less an adaptation of a game and more a movie that makes you feel like you’re playing one.
From creepy first-person sequences to chaotic monster fights, the film keeps scaling up the intensity and never really lets you catch your… pic.twitter.com/s1XuWGI7CW
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is filled with horrid surprises and grounded dissociative humor. I really enjoyed it. The first two thirds is masterfully shot and perfectly edited survival horror. The final third is madcap Cabin in the Woods fun.
Like Weapons and Barbarian,… pic.twitter.com/8O1bNbD7aT
— Erik Voss (@eavoss) September 16, 2026
95 minutes of pure adrenaline. #ResidentEvil was fantastic, top to bottom. It’s stripped down, simplified, but executed with precision and with moments that reminded me of Carpenter’s The Thing. Austin Abrams is so great!
Yeah, I need to see this again immediately. pic.twitter.com/CH6DOqrlN6
— Adam Hlaváč (@adamhlavac) September 16, 2026
Resident Evil is Zach Cregger at his bloodiest and goofiest. A fun time, paced in distinct 30m blocks but it mostly works. Austin Abrams is really our funniest little freakazoid. #ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/CjUaQvkmaL
— Erik Anderson (@AwardsWatchErik) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger’s RESIDENT EVIL is outstanding. Far and away one of the best video game adaptations I’ve ever seen, and also one of the best horror comedies I’ve ever seen. Cannot believe how many hilarious beats this movie has without ever diminishing the stakes or sheer terror of… pic.twitter.com/u6K389Cdac
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger continues to impress and blew me away with #ResidentEvilㅤ . This film is absolutely bonkers and exactly what fans of the game have been waiting for. For 90 relentlessly stressful heart pounding minutes I was at the edge of my seat. Easily one of the best horror… pic.twitter.com/0vTT7j2WWp
— Junior Felix (@JuniorFett) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger's #ResidentEvil is the filmmaker's third time out of the gate and he delivers.
Barbarian and Weapons were both darkly comedic, but Resident Evil cranks it up several notches thanks to the brilliant Austin Abrams (skittish and clumsy James in Weapons) as hapless… pic.twitter.com/HSZTwVBpK0
— Sonya Alexander (@wordslinger1) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil : Zach Cregger is cookin’ with napalm. It’s a wild, hilarious, unpredictably bonkers thrill ride from start to finish. Kinetic action leans heavily on demented body horror. Mutant mayhem galore! Austin Abrams is perfect as our doofy, hapless hero. pic.twitter.com/zsn63rD4Ej
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) September 16, 2026
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. pic.twitter.com/1JbW6jQVbP
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) September 16, 2026
#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… pic.twitter.com/4fW8s6CuyU
— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil is a near PERFECT Resident Evil experience!
Zach Cregger didn’t just craft a GREAT Resident Evil movie (he made an awesome video game adaptation that I can already see myself rewatching for years)
Brutal. Funny. Gory. Completely WTF-inducing. It’s packed with… pic.twitter.com/NSwiGbHYDl
— Zach Pope (@ZachhPope) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil is a relentlessly thrilling, blood-soaked and pulse-pounding thrill ride from start to finish. Simple in concept, but robust in execution, Cregger makes sure this one is all gas and no brakes, rarely giving the audience a moment to catch their breath, seamlessly… pic.twitter.com/NECd69fWid
— Tom Chatalbash (@TomChatalbash) September 16, 2026
#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! @zcregger you’ve done it again.
Stay tuned for review coming soon! pic.twitter.com/LQODCzdrCv— Wendy Lee Szany (@WendyLeeSzany) September 16, 2026
Resident Evil is a blast! Unrelenting once it gets going. Super freaky and intense, but also really funny. Evokes playing a video game (and moving through different levels) in a really fun way and Austin Abrams is incredibly enraging and likable as a very everyman hero. https://t.co/25EYmwNZJM
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) September 16, 2026
Resident Evil is real fun, whether you love the games or come in fresh. Zach Cregger sprinkles in Easter Eggs galore, but this is his own story in that world. Does everything work? No (I didn’t dig the ending), but the forward momentum is impressive.@ResidentEvil #ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/YyuGp3OgNg
— Joey Magidson (@JoeyMagidson) September 16, 2026
RESIDENT EVIL is a lot of fun. At times thrilling, scary, and funny, Zach Cregger proves he knows how to provide an entertaining film. It's all I want from a moviegoing experience. Austin Abrams delivers exactly what the film needs from him
It will probably make a lot of money pic.twitter.com/7M3wT9kupY
— Ben Miller (@NebIsBen) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil continues Zach Cregger’s nasty streak, and I’m all for it! A real nail-biter that combines the franchise’s knack for infected scares and tongue-in-cheek humor. Most importantly, it’s a blast on the big screen. pic.twitter.com/eOkYmsVrgB
— Jeff Nelson (@SirJeffNelson) September 16, 2026
Resident Evil harnessed the momentum of Weapons’ third act & mixed in the nervy fear of Barbarian’s “what’s behind the next locked door?” Zach Cregger dropped a lot of subtle game references too. Glad he didn’t over highlight them. Captures the panicked spirit of the games. pic.twitter.com/j9VXamOc41
— Dan Pfleegor (@DanPfleegor) September 16, 2026
RESIDENT EVIL (2026): free of bloat with an unfussy linearity, clever about being stupid (Abrams, running all but a one-man show here, nails this), gushy and gleefully sadistic, this is Cregger’s best work yet. Another fine addition to the Errands Movie canon!
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) September 16, 2026
I know he's got bigger stuff to think about but Bruce Campbell's point that you can be funny and scary is perfectly illustrated by the new RESIDENT EVIL.
— Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) September 15, 2026
Resident Evil is a freaking blast. It wasn't at all what I expected, but in a good way. Lots of fun nods to the games and some truly wild visuals. Austin Abrams is so good! He really is how I play the game – screeching and missing shots 🤣. I had way too much fun. #ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/aTcyrF6d9C
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) September 16, 2026
‘RESIDENT EVIL’ is a heart pounding experience from beginning to end. Zach Creggar delivers another fantastic film that is as fun as it is anxiety inducing. He gets really creative with the camera and you can tell he had a lot of fun making this.
The visuals are amazing, the… pic.twitter.com/i8VJ8BFCtz
— The MontyVerse (@TheMontyVerse) September 16, 2026
RESIDENT EVIL is absolutely relentless!
Hysterical and brutal from top to bottom, the movie never really lets up, with something always lurking over your shoulder. But it delights in every gory detail as it grows bigger and bigger.
A true survival horror flick. Dug it. pic.twitter.com/iu3Y7NFmzo
— Daniel Howat (@howatdk) September 16, 2026
RESIDENT EVIL is a psychological horror and survival horror thriller that reconfigures the franchise. Cregger uses claustrophobic tracking shots, a minimalist sound design, and expressionistic lighting to prioritize spatial tension over digital gore. It is extremely fantastic! pic.twitter.com/xshA3KM8Rg
— Jairo Jiménez (@jairojimenez_) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil may not feature recognizable characters/storylines, but by tapping into the relentless tension of the games, Zach Cregger has actually delivered the most faithful take yet. Very bloody, very funny, and it made me jump at least 3 times (no easy task). The fella… pic.twitter.com/QjgumVECDH
— Mark Cassidy (@RorMachine) September 16, 2026
With #ResidentEvil Zach Cregger once again proves his title as one of the best horror directors this decade. A story that simultaneously makes you laugh with the chaotic Bryan but also anxious and tracing around the screen. Cregger perfectly combines both in an attempt to… pic.twitter.com/MrDDXORrQA
— Ryan (@ryaieon) September 16, 2026
RESIDENT EVIL: one of those films you have to see on the biggest screen with a big crowd! A true horror blockbuster.
Zach Cregger goes bigger, scarier, and at his most fun. This is how you make horror into a cinematic spectacle
More coming to @flickeringmyth #ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/HFCtTlggsI
— EJ Moreno (@EJKhryst) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil is absolute CHAOS! High energy, intense horror with witty humor, brutal gore, nonstop action, and plenty of creepy monsters. Cregger brings the game vibes to life with incredible cinematography, plenty of easter eggs & outstanding sound design that hits you with… pic.twitter.com/ggPdoEq4Nu
— Andre Saint-Albin (@AndreSaintAlbin) September 16, 2026
HOLY SHIT!!! #ResidentEvil has its foot on the gas from the opening scene and NEVER hits the brakes. Zach Cregger delivers relentless suspense, gloriously gory action, and some seriously twisted, Thing-esque creature designs.
Pure SURVIVAL HORROR and easily the best Resident… pic.twitter.com/LR6f828fMf
— Kellvin_Chavez (@Kellvin_Chavez) September 16, 2026
Think it's safe to say that Zach Cregger's #ResidentEvil is best video game ever made! Consistently exhilarating, hilarious (sometimes to a fault), and tense all at once, this is a tight 90-minute thrill ride that never lets up. As a huge fan, I couldn't be happier with this. pic.twitter.com/wLBMZHiF4u
— Jeremy Crabb (@That_Short_Nerd) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil Is a heart pounding blast of a time! I loved the tone and pacing Zach Cregger built. Lot of laughs w/ several horrifying moments. Big fan of all the creature designs. Austin Abram’s , much like this movie, is so engaging. I hope the doubters give it a chance🩸 pic.twitter.com/HulsggIPN2
— Cris Parker (@3CFilmss) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger fucking nailed RESIDENT EVIL. Scary, gross as hell and very, very funny. Austin Abrams is the best. Disgusting creature designs, great set pieces and really fun. Completely nailed the tone of the games while making something modern and fresh #ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/2hsMXfLQOX
— Follow Me On Bluesky @DaveScheidt This Place Sucks (@DaveScheidt) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger’s #ResidentEvil was such a fun watch! The first half was damn near perfect and the second half dragged a tad but overall it was great. LOTS of video game nods, humor and holy cow some of the best scares I’ve ever seen.
4/5 ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/kuHyEz7hj5
— Mollie Damon (@MollieDamon) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger’s #ResidentEvil is straight up a pedal-to-the-metal blast of film, very violent and gory as well as funny, Austin Abrams was kinda made in a lab to play dumbasses who have no idea what to do in wild and intense situations, a great time in the movies. pic.twitter.com/IAvfBmzLMf
— Carlos (@MattBlakeStan) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvil is a wild ride that never lets off the gas. Zach Cregger delivers a delightfully demented smorgasbord of creepy creatures, non-stop suspense and gory action set pieces that make your heart pound out of your chest. A movie that lives up to the Resident Evil name. pic.twitter.com/pSkOR5JMKF
— Epic Film Guys ® (@EpicFilmGuys) September 16, 2026
Zach Creggers #ResidentEvil is without a doubt one of the best video game adaption of all time, as this film is a roller coaster full of horrors and laughs.
Austin Abram does an amazing job portraying this character full of humor but grounded to the new world surrounding him.… pic.twitter.com/AtaS54e56A
— The3dReviewer (@Pharrel97546671) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger is the fucking man and #ResidentEvilㅤ is one of the best video game adaptions ever made, and one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Incredible title drop, Austin Abrams is hilarious to watch stumble around killing zombies, 10/10 pic.twitter.com/A2QBPsMN31
— Jordan Moreau (@jordanmoreau_) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvilㅤ is a blast!
*NO SPOILERS*
A gore-filled, hilarious film that is propulsive and revolting in the best way. No one is blending horror and comedy better than Cregger at the moment. Austin Abrams is leading man worthy. PLEASE see this in the theater
🌟🌟🌟🌟 pic.twitter.com/dWnQsja4MI— Kliff Orrghoudy (@GumbysGrandson) September 16, 2026
Zach Cregger’s RESIDENT EVIL….. HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT. This was a masterclass in filmmaking and genuinely one of the most insanely enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had in a movie theater.
And Austin Abrams? I could watch this man react to the absolute insanity happening around him… pic.twitter.com/aA4HsS9m9h
— MOVIEDEATHS (@MOVIEDEATHBLOWS) September 16, 2026
Resident Evil is without a doubt the all time best Resident Evil movie, this movie had my heart racing the entire time, it was disgusting, it was funny, it was so fucked up, it was RESIDENT EVIL, go see this with a full crowd it's fucking insane!!!#ResidentEvilㅤ @ResidentEvil pic.twitter.com/Ps8fEOWnpC
— Movie Man (@M0VI3MAN37) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvilㅤ Is it selfish to want Zach Cregger to keep making these until he is on his deathbed? I cannot emphasize enough how much this movie fucking rules; just one incredible set piece after another, fusing horror and humor with a winking sensibility over gaming tropes
— Rob (@FlickMythRob) September 16, 2026
#ResidentEvilㅤ is a fantastic movie.
The detractors will latch on to minor things as justification to hate it…IGNORE THOSE PEOPLE.
IF THIS WAS A RE GAME (with minor tweeks) IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST.
9/10. Watch with an open mind and don't larp over minor things #Imax pic.twitter.com/PcsiV7GglN
— The Nemo Θf Night (@Nemo19089) September 16, 2026
