RESIDENT EVIL Scores 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and Becomes the Highest-Rated Live-Action Video Game Adaptation Ever
Zach Cregger has apparently found the right combination of herbs because Resident Evil has landed a great Rotten Tomatoes score.
Cregger’s new horror movie has debuted with a 97% critics score, making it the highest-rated live-action video game adaptation ever on Rotten Tomatoes.
That’s especially impressive considering the film leaves familiar characters like Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield on the sidelines, something fans had plenty to say about before its release.
Turns out, Cregger didn’t need them.bAt 97%, Resident Evil edges past The Last of Us Season 1 and Fallout Season 2, which both sit at 96%. When it comes specifically to movies, the gap is much wider, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sitting at 86%.
The overall video game adaptation crown still belongs to animation, though. Arcane Season 2 currently holds a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
The strong reviews for Resident Evil aren’t surprising after seeing the movie. I personally loved it! It’s scary, fun, and takes the audience on a crazy ride. It’s easily one of the best video game adaptations and horror films of the year.
Critics have also responded enthusiastically to Cregger’s decision to make something that captures the spirit of the games without simply recreating familiar characters and storylines.
IndieWire offered one of the more colorful reactions, calling the movie "a massive and rapidly mutating middle finger to the Comic-Con-brained idea that video game adaptations should just give 'the fans' what they think they want."
The Hollywood Reporter also praised what Cregger has done with the long-running franchise, saying, "The talented filmmaker has completely rejuvenated the series, leaving the six original films and the misbegotten reboot attempt Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City in the dust."
This version of Resident Evil follows Austin Abrams as Bryan, a worn-down organ delivery guy whose night goes completely to hell in Raccoon City. He doesn’t stumble across Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, or the other recognizable heroes fans might expect to see.
That choice could still rub some fans the wrong way, but it’s also a big reason the movie works. Cregger gets to play inside the Resident Evil universe without being chained to characters and stories audiences already know.
Daily Dead summed up that approach saying: "The essence of Capcom’s survival horror franchise is alive, yet Cregger’s horror-comedy snapshot centered around the Raccoon City outbreak creates its own glorious nightmares."
The movie isn’t escaping criticism entirely. Several reviews point to the final act as its weaker stretch, particularly after spending so much time getting audiences invested in Bryan. I personally liked the ending though. It was completely unnexpected!
The Guardian noted, "After doing a great job making us care about [Bryan] for more than 90 minutes, Cregger seems to abandon him a few steps shy of completing any real journey."
Even with that complaint, a 97% Rotten Tomatoes debut puts Cregger’s Resident Evil in rare territory for a video game adaptation.
Cregger made a Resident Evil movie that feels connected to the games while still being its own bloody, weird horror ride. Based on the critical response, plenty of people are happy to come along for it.
Resident Evil arrives in theaters September 18.