Quick TakeArticle at a glance
- The new Resident Evil movie (2026) is Zach Cregger's R-rated reboot, in US theaters since September 18, 2026.
- Sony released Resident Evil in US theaters on Friday, September 18, 2026, with Thursday previews the night before.
- If you're wondering whether this is the same movie as the Milla Jovovich films or 2021's Welcome to Raccoon City: it isn't.
The new Resident Evil movie (2026) is Zach Cregger’s R-rated reboot, in US theaters since September 18, 2026. Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier driving into Raccoon City on the night the outbreak hits. It’s an original story, not a remake of any game, and it’s already the highest-grossing Resident Evil film ever. It isn’t streaming yet.
Resident Evil (2026) at a Glance
| Resident Evil (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Director | Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) |
| Writers | Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten |
| Star | Austin Abrams as Bryan |
| US release | September 18, 2026, in theaters and IMAX (Sony Pictures) |
| Rating | R, for strong bloody violence, gore and language throughout |
| Runtime | 1 hour 34 minutes |
| Budget | $75 million |
| Box office | $144.6M domestic, $326.3M worldwide (through October 16) |
| Where to watch | Theaters only; no digital or streaming date announced |
When Did the New Resident Evil Movie Come Out?
Sony released Resident Evil in US theaters on Friday, September 18, 2026, with Thursday previews the night before. That date was locked way back in March 2025, when Sony won the bidding for the film and set it for September. A month into its run, it’s still in US theaters.
If you’re wondering whether this is the same movie as the Milla Jovovich films or 2021’s Welcome to Raccoon City: it isn’t. It’s a fresh start with new characters, and you don’t need to have seen any earlier movie to follow it.
Who’s in the Cast?
Austin Abrams, who also worked with Cregger on Weapons, leads as Bryan, a courier hauling a package to Raccoon City General Hospital in the Colorado mountains. Everyone around him is new to the franchise too:
- Austin Abrams as Bryan, the medical courier
- Zach Cherry as Carl, an Umbrella scientist
- Kali Reis as Maxine, an Umbrella enforcer
- Paul Walter Hauser as Paul, another Umbrella scientist
- Johnno Wilson as Wilson, an Arklay County sheriff
- Emily Piggford as Dr. Maria Stokes
Hauser, Cherry and Reis are in and out fast. This is Abrams’ movie from the first scene to the last, and most reviews singled him out.
Is It Based on Resident Evil 2?
Not exactly. Cregger’s story runs at the same time as the Raccoon City outbreak from Resident Evil 2, but it follows a nobody instead of Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. Cregger said early on that he wouldn’t use Leon, since the games already tell Leon’s story. What you get instead is a sideways view of a night fans know well: Umbrella staff scrambling, Arklay County police in over their heads, and a lot of practical gore.
That choice is the reason the movie works for both crowds. Game fans get Umbrella, Raccoon City and creature designs that feel like the games, without watching a two-hour remake of a story they’ve already played. Newcomers just get a tight survival movie.
How Does It Connect to the Earlier Movies?
It doesn’t. The 2026 film is the eighth live-action Resident Evil movie, but it ignores all seven before it. Paul W.S. Anderson’s six-film run with Milla Jovovich went from 2002 to 2016, and Johannes Roberts’ Welcome to Raccoon City rebooted things in 2021 and flopped. If you want to compare Cregger’s take with the last attempt at adapting the first two games, our Welcome to Raccoon City guide covers its cast and where it’s streaming.
There’s also no link to Capcom’s newest game, Resident Evil Requiem, which came out on February 27, 2026. The movie and the game share a city and a villainous corporation, and that’s where it ends.
How Much Has Resident Evil Made at the Box Office?
Resident Evil has made $144.6 million in the US and Canada and $326.3 million worldwide through October 16, according to The Numbers. It opened to $60.2 million domestically, the biggest start the franchise has ever had. We covered that record opening weekend when it happened.
It’s already the highest-grossing Resident Evil movie worldwide, passing The Final Chapter’s $314.1 million. Reviews helped: it has a 96% Tomatometer score from 299 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, in a franchise where no live-action entry had ever earned a Fresh rating. Here’s how the first reactions held up once the reviews landed.
Why This Is the First Resident Evil Movie America Actually Showed Up For
This is the part most coverage misses. The old Resident Evil movies were never big hits in the US. They were big hits everywhere else. The Final Chapter made $314.1 million worldwide but only $26.8 million of that came from US and Canadian theaters, about 8.5% of its total. China alone gave it $159.5 million, about six times its US take, per Box Office Mojo.
| Movie | Domestic | Worldwide | Domestic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil (2002) | $40.1M | $103.8M | 39% |
| Afterlife (2010) | $60.1M | $295.9M | 20% |
| The Final Chapter (2016) | $26.8M | $314.1M | 8.5% |
| Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) | $17.0M | $41.9M | 41% |
| Resident Evil (2026) | $144.6M | $326.3M | 44% |
Cregger’s film flipped that. About 44% of its money is American, and its domestic total is already more than double the best any earlier entry managed ($60.1 million for Afterlife). This is the first time a Resident Evil movie has been a hit with US audiences first. That says more about the director than the brand: the same crowd that turned Barbarian and Weapons into word-of-mouth hits showed up for a Cregger movie that happened to have Umbrella in it. For Sony, that matters more than the global number, because a sequel pitched to that audience doesn’t need China to work.
When Will Resident Evil Be Streaming?
Resident Evil isn’t streaming anywhere yet, and Sony hasn’t announced a digital, Blu-ray or streaming date. It’s theaters only for now.
When it does stream, expect Netflix in the US. Netflix is the streaming home for Sony’s movies after their theater and home-video runs, and the two companies expanded that deal worldwide in January 2026. Before that, it should arrive to rent or buy on the usual digital stores like Prime Video and Apple TV.
Is There Going to Be a Sequel?
Not yet. Sony hasn’t announced a Resident Evil sequel, and Cregger hasn’t committed to one. With $326 million on a $75 million budget and the best reviews the series has ever had, it’d be a surprise if Sony didn’t want more.
If you’re after more of Cregger’s practical-effects approach, our breakdown of the first Resident Evil clip gets into how he shot the creatures, and our 2026 horror movie guide has everything else scary on the calendar this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the new Resident Evil movie out?
Yes. Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil opened in US theaters on September 18, 2026, and is still playing in theaters.
Is Resident Evil (2026) streaming?
No. Sony hasn’t announced a digital or streaming date. Sony’s movies stream on Netflix in the US after their theatrical and home-video windows, so that’s where it’s expected to land.
Is Leon Kennedy in the 2026 Resident Evil movie?
No. The film follows a new character, medical courier Bryan (Austin Abrams), during the Raccoon City outbreak. Cregger chose not to use Leon or the other game heroes.
Do I need to see the old Resident Evil movies first?
No. The 2026 film is a standalone reboot with no ties to the Milla Jovovich movies or Welcome to Raccoon City.
How long is the new Resident Evil movie?
Resident Evil (2026) runs 1 hour 34 minutes and is rated R.
