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Sony's new adaptation of "Resident Evil" premiered at The United Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, alongside press screenings, ahead of its theatrical release on Sept. 18.
Full reviews of the film were embargoed until 9:00 a.m. PT on September 16, though attendees' early social media reactions were largely positive. The film will also screen at the 2026 Fantastic Fest on Sept. 17.
Directed by Zach Cregger, known for "Weapons" and "Barbarian," the film marks the second reboot of the long-running franchise based on the video game series of the same name.
Cregger said his goal in adapting the games was to remain authentic to their spirit rather than replicate their characters or plot.
"It's a new character, but the story should feel like the gameplay feels," Cregger told AFP.
The film follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who takes on a late-night delivery job from a hospital that devolves into a nightmare after a viral outbreak turns people into monsters.
Cregger shot much of the film from Bryan's perspective, placing the camera behind Abrams so it follows what the character sees, a technique meant to evoke the feel of playing a video game.
The film also mirrors the weapon progression familiar to players, moving from a pistol to a shotgun and eventually a machine gun.
Cregger said he leaned more heavily into horror than earlier "Resident Evil" films.
The original series, led by Milla Jovovich, ran for six films between 2002 and 2016: "Resident Evil" (2002), "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" (2004), "Resident Evil: Extinction" (2007), "Resident Evil: Afterlife" (2010), "Resident Evil: Retribution" (2012) and "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" (2016).
"I wanted to really lean into the horror, and that slow sense of dread that the games have done so well across all of them," Cregger said.
Abrams, 30, said he trained physically for the role but avoided looking overly capable onscreen, aiming instead for a character audiences might doubt could survive the ordeal. He had not played "Resident Evil" before joining the film.
Cregger acknowledged that longtime fans of the games may be disappointed by the absence of established characters or plot details from the source material.
Sony and Constantin Films had already attempted a reboot in 2021 with "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City," which underperformed both critically and commercially. Netflix canceled a related television series after one season in 2022.
"I'm sorry that's not what this movie is, but I feel like if I had done that, I would have screwed it up," Cregger said, adding that he aimed to tell an original story rather than adapt the games directly.
Ahead of the premiere, Cregger made changes to the film following test screenings, including removing several jokes, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.
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