Chandler Riggs’ ‘Biohazard’ Fan Film Just Outscored Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ on IMDb

It’s been a big season for ‘Resident Evil’ fans, and Chandler Riggs’ ‘Biohazard’ fan film has quietly become one of its most talked-about chapters. The actor, best known for playing Carl Grimes on ‘The Walking Dead’ for 8 seasons, wrote, directed, and starred in the live-action short adapting ‘Resident Evil 7’.

The timing put Riggs right in the shadow of a blockbuster. Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ opened on September 18 with $60 million domestically and $108.3 million globally, crushing the previous franchise record of $70.6 million set by ‘Resident Evil: Retribution’ in 2012.

Now, the scrappy short has pulled off a surprising feat. According to IMDb user ratings, ‘Biohazard’ sits at 8.3/10, ahead of Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ at 7.6/10 and the 2002 ‘Resident Evil’ at 6.6/10, making it the highest-rated entry in the live-action franchise on the platform.

That’s no small achievement given the competition. Cregger’s film holds a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from 296 reviews and has passed $320 million worldwide. The short, which runs roughly 19 minutes, went live in full on Riggs’ YouTube channel on October 14. It recreates some of the game’s most terrifying moments, including the Baker family dinner and the infamous garage boss fight.

Chandler Riggs’ RE7 Biohazard now officially has a higher rating than Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil and the entire franchise • #1: Biohazard – 8.3/10 • #2 Resident Evil (2026) – 7.6/10 • #3 Resident Evil (2002) – 6.6/10 (via @IMDb) https://t.co/VuCID8r4Tz

— CoveredGeekly (@CoveredGeekly) October 21, 2026

Riggs plays protagonist Ethan Winters, while his former ‘The Walking Dead’ co-star Jason Douglas takes on Jack Baker, the patriarch of the infected family. Douglas previously played Tobin on the AMC series across 28 episodes.

The production leaned heavily on practical craft. Part of the Baker estate was built inside Arturo Fuente’s former cigar factory in Tampa Bay, with the team relying on practical sets, effects, and stunts rather than digital work, while Riggs’ ‘Walking Dead’ collaborator Greg Nicotero supplied special-effects equipment.

Riggs teamed with producers Shane Brady and Emily Zercher of Spooky Feet Films for their third project together, with support from Film Tampa Bay. Dread Central described the result as an impressive recreation of the game’s terror, suspense, gore, and action for a low-budget indie short.

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐑𝐃 | 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞-𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝟕 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 – https://t.co/DPRJYpVo3v Ethan Winters, while searching for his missing wife, finds himself trapped by the Baker family – a deadly, unstoppable force driven to violence under the influence of a mysterious infection…

— chandler riggs (@chandlerriggs) October 14, 2026

The biggest creative gamble was showing Ethan at all. Because ‘Resident Evil 7’ is played almost entirely in first person, the game rarely shows the character’s face, and Riggs knowingly broke from the source on that point.

Speaking with IGN, Riggs admitted that playing Ethan felt intimidating and said he weighed whether the film could stay in first person. Ultimately, he chose to stay faithful to the game in nearly every other way while accepting that one significant departure.

New trailer for Zach Cregger’s ‘RESIDENT EVIL.’ In theaters on September 18. https://t.co/6TMODXfTWg

— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 23, 2026

He also acknowledged that no adaptation can satisfy everyone. Riggs said he respects Cregger’s decision to tell his own story, viewing it as a great way to bring new fans into the franchise.

Interestingly, the 2 projects were developing at the same time. Riggs was already in pre-production when news broke that Cregger was making his film, and his team had hoped to release ‘Biohazard’ about a month earlier before the timing fell apart.

Cregger’s take went in a very different direction. His film follows Austin Abrams as Bryan, an ordinary medical courier caught in the Raccoon City outbreak, rather than retelling a game directly.

Riggs explained that a big reason he made the short was his longing to see a faithful live-action ‘Resident Evil’ adaptation. He also said he would love to expand ‘Biohazard’ into a feature and would happily work with Cregger if the director continues in the franchise. For now, no collaboration has been confirmed. Still, a 19-minute YouTube short topping a $75 million studio hit on IMDb sends a clear message about what fans want to see next.

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