Resident Evil has returned to our screens with a new reboot from the mind of Weapons director (and Resi superfan) Zach Cregger, now out in the wild. That is right, despite being technically the eighth Resident Evil movie in existence, this film has no relation to Paul W.S. Anderson's movies nor the panned 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.
It also doesn't adapt the stories from the best Resident Evil games, but instead keeps the spirit of Capcom's famed series in spirit and vibes. Honestly, that new direction does work, though, since it has fast become one of my personal picks for the best video game movies of all time. But before you jump into all the zombie goodness for yourself, I've created a handy spoiler-free overview of all the information that you need to know before you grab your wallets.
Below is a breakdown of all the details for the new Resident Evil movie. From reviews, cast, and trailers, I've left no infected stone unturned, folks.
Resident Evil movie reviews
Resident Evil was released on September 18, 2026, and, at the time of writing, has stellar reviews.
The film is sitting at a comfortable 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes last we checked. Making it the highest-rated Resi movie on the platform. We were also personally big fans, with our Managing Editor, Jordan Farley, giving it a four-star rating in our Resident Evil movie review.
The general vibes and feel of the film keep in line with the experience of playing the Resident Evil games; however, this isn't a direct adaptation of Capcom's titles. So, don't expect to see Leon or Jill popping up. Still, it is a great horror; there is plenty of action, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Resident Evil movie cast
The Resident Evil movie cast is packed with new characters, so don't expect any familiar characters to appear. The film tells an original story in the franchise, meaning there aren't any Resi legends like Leon or Chris Redfield on screen, despite being key figures in the games.
"Leon exists in the games. I don't want anyone to ruin that for me," Cregger explained to GamesRadar+. "I figure if I am honoring the games, I'm just going to tell another story that feels like playing in the world of the game, but I'm not stepping on the toes of any of Leon's storyline. I'm not recasting Leon, god forbid. You know, I'm letting Leon stay Leon."
Instead, the movie features a cast list of relatively well-known actors, including Weapons breakout Austin Abrams in the lead role. Check out the full list below.
- Austin Abrams – Bryan, a medical courier
- Zach Cherry – Dave, a scientist
- Kali Reis – Pauline, an ex-military character
- Paul Walter Hauser – Carl
- Johnno Wilson – Max
Resident Evil movie plot
The Resident Evil movie follows Bryan (played by Austin Abrams), who is a hapless medical courier tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital in Raccoon City. However, he soon encounters more than he bargained for when he gets trapped in the snowy mountains en route to the medical center amid a terrifying outbreak. The story follows him as he attempts to survive the night as zombies close in from all around.
Although it is an original story, Cregger has confirmed when it takes place in the game's timeline. Speaking to GamesRadar+ on our set visit in 2025, he explained that the story sits "on the periphery" of the second game. "You know, where Raccoon City is having its big night, but tell just another story that could be happening in parallel to that," he said.
I don't want to give too much away here, but I will say that the story is pretty straightforward and has plenty of kills. You can read more about it in our in-depth Resident Evil movie ending explained guide.
Is there a Resident Evil movie trailer?
The most recent Resident Evil movie trailer has just dropped, and you can watch it for yourself above.
In this new teaser, we get more insight into Austin Abrams' character, but the most striking moments are toward the end of the clip, which is packed with action. There aren't a lot of clear zombie shots, but there is plenty of gore, shotguns, and blood-stained snow. Classic Resi vibes.
For more, check out our guide to the most exciting upcoming horror movies heading our way and our round-up of all the upcoming video game movies in the works.
