‘Resident Evil’ began as a gaming franchise with its first entry back in 1996. Since then, the franchise has grown to include 10 main games and a plethora of remakes, spinoffs and adaptations.

On Dec. 18, 2026, the latest film adaptation of the franchise, simply called ‘Resident Evil’, was released in theaters. The film was directed and written by Zach Cregger (‘Weapons’) and follows a protagonist named Bryan as he makes a delivery that turns out to be more dangerous than anyone could’ve anticipated.

Zach Cregger’s adaptation is notable as it’s not only the best rated ‘Resident Evil’ film, but the best rated film adaptation of a video game. As of writing, it has a 7.7 out of 10 on IMDB and a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

UT Martin students had an opportunity to see the movie for free on Sept. 21, 2026. One student in the theatre that night was Deairrah Bond.

Bond has played the ‘Resident Evil’ games, and felt the movie was a faithful adaptation of the source material.

“It was a little satisfying to see some of the game’s style in the movie” said Bond.

She’s not the only viewer to share this sentiment, as the film’s ability to capture the atmosphere of playing a ‘Resident Evil’ game is something that viewers and critics alike applauded. 

Another student who was there that night, Jordan Green, a viewer who has not played the ‘Resident Evil’ games but has seen the 2021 film and TV show, also believed it to be close to the source material and praised how the film handled references to the games.

“References are earned, not blatant.” said Green, specifically citing the typewriter scene at the beginning of the movie as an example.

In the ‘Resident Evil’ games, the player can save their game at typewriters scattered throughout levels. The movie subtly references this early on when the protagonist opens a door and finds a typewriter waiting on a desk.

Another point of praise was the monster designs, despite none of them appearing exactly as they do in the games. These designs clearly take inspiration from the games and the result is a refinement of those monsters. Although the film isn’t directly connected to the games, the experience is one that more so feels like ‘Resident Evil’ in atmosphere instead.

The main complaint about the movie was its ending. Both Bond and Green said they felt it was unsatisfying and they aren’t the only viewers who feel this way. The ending is a divisive topic amongst fans, with some feeling like it fits the tone of its source material while others find it too absurd and unsatisfying. The frustrations with the ending are compounded by the fact that, currently, there are no official plans for a sequel. 

Despite some grievances with the film, both viewers said that they enjoyed seeing the film and felt it deserved its 7 out of 10 score. They both said that the energy in the theatre was fun, with audiences cheering the main character on and reacting to the protagonist’s questionable decision making.

Although the movie isn’t completely true to the games, it still knows exactly what it is, fun, gory and campy. If viewers are stepping into the theatre expecting a deathly serious film or a mirror image to the games, they’ll simply find themselves disappointed.