Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Just Made Metacritic History for Video Game Movies
Video game adaptations have historically been treated as something of a punchline in critical circles, a genre built more on nostalgia and built-in fanbases than genuine cinematic craft. That reputation has followed the “Resident Evil” franchise especially closely, given how consistently its six previous live-action films struggled to win over reviewers despite their commercial success.
Zach Cregger’s reimagining of the franchise had already been generating buzz for weeks as one of the best-reviewed entries in the series’ history, building on the momentum of his back-to-back hits “Barbarian” and “Weapons.” What’s now become clear is that this reboot isn’t just outperforming its predecessors; it’s setting an entirely new benchmark for the video game movie genre as a whole.
According to Metacritic, “Resident Evil” has officially become the first video game adaptation to ever receive the site’s “Universal Acclaim” seal from critics, currently sitting at 81 based on 43 critic reviews.
That milestone places it well ahead of every other video game film Metacritic has tracked, with the next closest title, “Werewolves Within,” scoring a comparatively modest 66. Rounding out the top five most critically acclaimed video game films are “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” at 56, “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” at 53, and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” at 47.
The achievement becomes even more striking when measured against the “Resident Evil” franchise’s own critical track record. According to GameSpot, none of the six Paul W.S. Anderson-directed films managed to break above a 49 Metascore, with 2016’s “The Final Chapter” standing as the franchise’s previous high point. The most recent prior entry, 2021’s “Welcome to Raccoon City,” scored just 44.
That history makes Cregger’s version not just an improvement, but a complete reversal of the franchise’s critical reputation. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 96% score from critics, a figure some outlets have reported climbing as high as 97% based on additional reviews, positioning it comfortably as the highest-rated entry the series has ever produced.
Zach Cregger’s RESIDENT EVIL is now the FIRST movie based on a video game IP to ever receive the Universal Acclaim seal from critics on Metacritic. The most critically acclaimed video game films of all time: 1️⃣ RESIDENT EVIL (2026) — 96% on RT and 81 on Metacritic 2️⃣ Werewolves Within — 86% on RT and 66 on Metacritic 3️⃣ Sonic Hedgehog 3 — 86% on RT and 56 on Metacritic 4️⃣ Pokémon Detective Pikachu — 68% on RT and 53 on Metacritic 5️⃣ Sonic Hedgehog 2 — 69% on RT and 47 on Metacritic
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) September 18, 2026
Reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes have gone beyond simply praising the film relative to its franchise, with several critics ranking it among the best video game adaptations ever made regardless of source material. Land of the Nerds’ Lisa Laman placed the film alongside “Exit 8” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” as one of the strongest live-action video game movies to date.
Empire’s review captured a similar sentiment while acknowledging the film’s relatively low bar to clear within its own franchise, noting that it “more than clears the (fairly low) bar as the best Resident Evil movie yet,” while stopping short of reaching the heights of Cregger’s own “Weapons” or “Barbarian.” That balance of enthusiasm and measured perspective has defined much of the critical response so far.
The first trailer for Zach Cregger's ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026
In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M
Starring Austin Abrams as medical courier Bryan alongside Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser, the film follows a single chaotic night as a viral outbreak overtakes Raccoon City, set during events that parallel the story of “Resident Evil 2” in a modern setting. Written by Cregger alongside Shay Hatten, the film runs a tight 94 minutes and opened theatrically on September 18 following its Fantastic Fest premiere the day before.
With the franchise’s previous six installments collectively grossing over $1.2 billion despite largely negative reviews, this reboot represents a rare instance of a long-running video game series finally matching its commercial appeal with genuine critical respect.
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