Introduction

If you’ve been on this site long enough, you know I have a special place in my heart for Resident Evil. I just put together a Top 10 Resident Evil Games list — shameless plug, I know — so it’s fair to say I’ve been a fan of this franchise for as long as I can remember. The Resident Evil movies, though? I’ve loved and hated them in roughly equal measure. The very first film — back in 2002, starring Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez — wasn’t canon, but it had plenty of nods to the series and felt like a plausible side story. Then the sequels came — all five of them — followed by Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, and I became increasingly convinced that this franchise needed a proper fan at the helm to do it real justice. Yes, we’ve had solid canonical entries in the animated films, but the live-action track record has been a decidedly mixed bag. Now, in 2026, we’ve learned that yet another Resident Evil movie is in the works — this time from filmmaker Zach Cregger, the director behind Barbarian and Weapons — and the internet has not been pleased. This film allegedly has nothing to do with the main cast or overarching story of Resident Evil and is instead a side story set within the RE universe — but also, kind of not. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s dig in and ask the real question: does the Resident Evil movie deserve this evil hate?

Think of the Spin-Offs

Ever play Resident Evil Outbreak or Dead Aim? These spin-offs draw heavily on the themes of Resident Evil without leaning on the main cast, familiar locations, or established story beats — and that’s precisely what makes them feel refreshing. I love seeing fan-favorite characters like Leon, Chris, and Wesker as much as the next person, but these are characters I almost expect to show up in any given RE story. Then consider what Welcome to Raccoon City did to some of those same beloved characters — they made Leon look like a complete idiot. Sometimes it really is better to step away from the familiar faces and the sequences we’ve grown comfortable with.

This new Resident Evil movie follows a new main character named Bryan, and I’m genuinely curious how he’ll navigate a zombie outbreak. Will he be a smart, resourceful survivor who relies on wit and instinct, or will he crumble under the weight of fear? That uncertainty makes Bryan a compelling new addition to the RE world — and someone we can safely say won’t be punching boulders or stomping zombie skulls with his boot. If you know, you know.

All We Have Are Trailers

As much as a trailer can reveal about a movie, it is not the whole movie. I rarely watch a trailer and base my entire decision to see a film — or my verdict on its quality — purely on two to three minutes of carefully edited footage. Yes, trailers influence my hype level and whether I plan on catching something opening day versus waiting for a digital release. But I do not declare a movie amazing or terrible based on a trailer alone. A common issue I see online is people dissecting a trailer as though they’ve now seen the entire film and can deliver a definitive judgment. Trailers are designed to give you a glimpse — not the full picture.

I’ve said things like “this looks terrible” or “why does this even exist” plenty of times in my life — but I won’t write an article condemning a movie before I’ve actually seen it. As a reviewer, my position is simple: wait until a movie releases before scoring it. That’s the only fair approach, and it’s the one I intend to stick to here.

A Great Director Is Behind This

Zach Cregger has already demonstrated serious talent in the horror space. Both Barbarian and Weapons are exceptional films that showcase his ability to navigate layered storytelling and deeply unsettling concepts with precision and confidence. Even if Cregger’s Resident Evil isn’t aiming to align itself tightly with established franchise lore — and it does appear that it won’t be following the main canon — I have genuine faith that he can take the series somewhere most of its live-action predecessors never managed to reach.

Seriously, if you haven’t seen Cregger’s films yet, put this article down — unless you’re at work or holding something fragile — and go watch them. I think you’ll come away with a very different perspective on what this new Resident Evil movie could be capable of.

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that the Resident Evil movie hasn’t been released yet. Right now, all we have are trailers, a handful of comments from Cregger, and a flood of internet commentary that may or may not be grounded in anything concrete. I don’t believe this film deserves the level of hatred it’s currently receiving — but whether it will be a genuinely good movie that captures the heart and soul of a Resident Evil story is an entirely different question. Until its release — currently slated for September 18, 2026 as of writing — I’m not jumping on the hate train. And when it does arrive, you can be sure I’ll be watching it, and a full review will be coming shortly after. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below — be respectful, please — and tell us whether you’ll be buying a ticket on opening night, waiting for digital, or skipping it altogether!