Resident Evil may finally have a pulse after 24 years, thanks to Zach Cregger
The Resident Evil movies have, for twenty-four years, operated on a business model that should not work. Make a film. Have critics review it like it personally wronged them. Watch it gross a small country's GDP anyway. Repeat six times. Somehow, this is now an eight-film franchise, and the newest entry, from Zach Cregger — just dropped and is doing something genuinely unprecedented: Getting good…
The Resident Evil movie series has endured for two decades, defying expectations with six sequels and a recent reboot that has garnered surprisingly positive reviews. The newest entry, directed by Zach Cregger, is the first film in the franchise to receive critical acclaim. This narrative shift is due to several factors. Firstly, the Resident Evil films have been rebooted twice, allowing each new installment to be a fresh start that does not require viewers to have seen the previous movies.
This approach makes the franchise low-commitment for audiences. Secondly, the series has filled a niche in the market, successfully blending R-rated horror with globally marketable action. The pre-2026 films made over $1.27 billion worldwide, despite critical disdain, thanks to their low budgets, successful overseas box office performance, and a dedicated fanbase.
Finally, Zach Cregger's approach to the reboot differs significantly from previous directors. He is a genuine fan of the games, bringing a more intimate, tense, and claustrophobic perspective to the story, which has resonated with audiences and critics alike. The film centers on Bryan, a medical courier whose delivery runs into a night of survival horror in Raccoon City, offering a tighter, more contained narrative compared to the sprawling later installments.
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