Nathan Fielder's You Can See Everything has been stirring up buzz and earning its fair share of money. However, one honor that had been alluding it was the No. 1 spot at the box office. Well, that's no longer the case, as the doc finally became the top movie in the United States this weekend. And regardless of whether that win can be attributed to people showing up because of all the Oscar buzz, or the scene that literally shows everything, it's also resulted in the documentary obtaining a very rare honor.

It should be mentioned that Fielder's film just barely won the top spot, as Warner Bros. and DC Studios' Clayface just missed winning Halloween weekend after its strong start by a little less than $200,000. Wildwood, which some are calling one of the best and scariest movies of the year, remains in third place this week, while steamy fantasy flick Wicker climbed another spot too. Check out the full breakdown below:

The No. 1 spot aside, this is a truly auspicious moment for You Can See Everything, because in a rare turn of events, it's now the fourth documentary ever to win a weekend box office. With that, it now joins Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Jackson's This Is It and Taylor Swift: The Official Release Of A Showgirl. That's a lineup even more wtf than some of the moments in the film. Nevertheless, this is quite the distinction for Fielder and co.

One way YCSE differentiates itself from this lineup, however, is by having a different path to this milestone. All three of the other movies managed to win the box office in their opening weekends. You Can See Everything opened at No. 2 at the box office weeks ago and held that spot last week before finally grabbing the top spot this week.

Whether Fielder's film will hold that spot again next week remains to be seen. Clayface is still sticking around, and it had about 200 more theaters screening the body horror thriller this weekend. That comic book film is already proving to be a solid win for DC, as it has grossed roughly $83 million worldwide against a reported budget between $30 and $44 million.

Plus, a new month means a new slate of films arriving on the 2026 movie schedule. The Cat in the Hat and Godzilla Minus Zero are among the titles arriving in a week's time, and there's always the chance that they could shake things up at the B.O. next week.

All this to say, I expect You Can See Everything to stick around the Top 10 for at least a few more weeks based on how it's trending. I'm very curious as to just how much longer it'll continue to haul in millions, as I don't know if anyone saw this run coming. I'm just hoping to hear that this means Nathan Fielder is going to get more documentaries in theaters, which I would absolutely love to see.

As expected, it was a big weekend both for Clayface and You Can See Everything, as the two movies had a close race for the top spot at the box office. Ultimately, as buzzy as the Elizabeth Holmes and Nathan Fielder doc is, superhero movies, even when they're about villains, can reign supreme at the box office.

Granted, Clayface's top spot at the box office was only assured by a few million, with a $24,000,000 domestic haul this weekend. You Can See Everything finished with $19,500,000 here in the states. That's a jump in the doc's take from last week, thanks to more theaters picking up Fielder and A24's film. All that said, I feel there's an even bigger story to talk about given the colossal drop Street Fighter experienced after opening at number one last week. Take a look:

For Street Fighter, that's a 72% drop from its first week, likely meaning far fewer people bought those Guile popcorn buckets. At a time when studios are announcing a ton of upcoming video game adaptations, this is a movie to look at and ask what the lesson is.

I don't think gaming movie fatigue is to blame here, only because Resident Evil is hanging on at number ten with $153,681,000 for its total domestic take in thirty-eight days. I would say people are still enthusiastic about seeing video game adaptations, but obviously, there are certain factors to consider.

While RE opened to critical acclaim, Street Fighter dealt with some rough reviews. Such reactions may have deterred consumers and convinced them that this one is best watched when it hits streaming. It's also hard not to wonder whether Paramount Pictures and Legendary put this flick into development with the thinking that it could spawn a new film series.

I also think it's worth noting that You Can See Everything and Clayface are both simply hot movies right now, with one centering around a businesswoman convicted of fraud and another expanding the much-discussed DCU. In any case, I'm curious how much longer SF will remain in theaters, especially with such a steep drop in returns.

I do wonder, as word continues to spread about You Can See Everything and more people speak out about it, whether it'll finally clinch a top spot in its third week. It wasn't that far off from conquering Clayface this week, and with nothing big slated to premiere on the upcoming movie schedule amid Halloween weekend, I don't think it's out of the question.

We'll see what studio execs have to say about Street Fighter, and all these other movies, as the week unfolds. For now, I'm still just hoping we get an announcement that a You Can See Everything popcorn bucket is on the way.

I have never seen a Resident Evil movie and only played the game briefly as a child. Therefore, I am very unfamiliar with the franchise. However, I am becoming a Zach Cregger fan, so I had some expectations for this version of Resident Evil.

Therefore, some things became predictable. Not in a bad way, but as a start to understand the tone and the direction, so you can see what’s to come way. Additionally, it often felt like playing the game. This also helped me understand where things could end up. This is how I was able to predict the ending, but still feel the pain of it.

Warning: Resident Evil spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

I Hate Horror Movies Where The Lead Fights So Hard To Survive And Still Dies, So Resident Evil Frustrated Me

The best final girls don’t die. That is a philosophy that keeps me going in the darkest of times. Even in horror films, there must be hope. The main character survives. Therefore, it’s always a bit soul-crushing when the main character dies. It’s even worse when they fight extremely hard to survive and still fail. I knew Bryan (Austin Abrams) was going to die because there is something so comedic about the possibility of someone going through hell and back and still ending up in hell.

It’s a very funny final sequence, but it still hurts. I needed Bryan to survive, even if it was just to watch the world burn. Resident Evil is painfully relatable because sometimes you can fight extremely hard and still lose. Sometimes the monsters take over. It’s reality, but I wanted hope.

However, The Comedy Helps Ease The Pain Of Bryan's Death

I would classify Resident Evil as a horror comedy. It may be one of the best modern ones. It’s very funny at times, which makes even the tragic ending easier to swallow. Bryan gets so close to surviving and to the antidote, but ultimately it just doesn’t work out.

I laughed the entire final sequence, but I still cried deep inside. After Resident Evil ends, the laughs stop, and you just have to sit there knowing that everyone will die. It’s a fun ending if you don’t think about the implications of Bryan and all those other deaths.

Being Familiar With Zach Cregger's Work, I Knew Bryan Was A Goner Early In The Movie, Which Helped And Hurt The Ending

Barbarian is one of my favorite recent horror films. Resident Evil felt more in that realm than Weapons. Weapons is a lot more serious and straight horror than Barbarian, which is a little more playful. This humorous tone sets viewers up to not get too attached to characters. Anyone can die at any moment.

I had a feeling that Bryan would die when he got bitten and maybe even before that moment. Movie heroes often face a life-or-death situation and manage to live. I knew Bryan wouldn’t be one of the lucky ones. Expecting his death made it easier for me to not be too heartbroken when he lived up to my expectations and died.

This also made it easier to laugh at it. However, my expectations for Bryan’s death took away some of the shock value of it. I appreciated that because I like to be prepared for a character’s death, but I know some viewers may have wanted the surprise. Bryan represents the typical gamer, so that unfortunately meant he had to die to experience the game fully.

Hollywood has spent the last week talking about how Digger’s very disappointing reviews may have affected its box office performance. Now, the powers that be are going to have the same conversation about The Social Reckoning after Aaron Sorkin’s long-awaited second take on Mark Zuckerberg underwhelmed at the ticket booth. Another movie, however, just proved that you don’t need praise from critics to put people in the seats.

The estimates for this weekend’s box office are here, and it’s great news for Other Mommy. The Jessica Chastain-led horror flick from Blumhouse is tracking to make $27,500,000 this weekend, only counting domestic grosses. That’s more than its rumored budget and a huge performance for a movie that’s getting absolutely crushed by critics. Much has been made about Digger's very divisive reviews and The Social Reckoning's bland to negative reviews, but they both look like Parasite comparatively. Other Mommy is currently sitting at 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the early audience scores aren’t strong either.

What it does have, however, is a target audience. Horror fans are always down to go to the movies, and they’re especially down during October. Without a ton of other scary options, it’s not a surprise they showed up in droves to support the film, to the point where it made more than three times the second highest grossing film. Here’s an estimated look at the top of the charts, per The Numbers.

Most of the conversation this week is going to be around The Social Reckoning only making $5.5M, as well as Digger continuing to disappoint, but there is some good news to be had here outside of Other Mommy. Resident Evil is still holding on quite well and looks likely to top $150M in domestic grosses. That’s a really impressive number, especially when there were some initial questions about the reboot. Director Zach Cregger, who made Weapons and Barbarian, is really starting to look like he’s got a huge career ahead of him.

Verity also held up well enough after its debut weekend victory. Its sixty percent or so fall week-over-week definitely isn't what the studio dreamed up, but more than fifty million after ten days or so of box office returns is a really strong return for a book adaptation. It's also further proof that Colleen Hoover is becoming one of the most bankable writers, as her adapted works have steadily performed at the box office, especially It Ends With Us.

The Brad Pitt-fronted Heart Of The Beast also had another solid weekend. I’m sure the movie had higher aspirations when it was in the planning stages, but it just keeps hanging around at the box office and only fell about 1/3rd weekend over weekend. That’s a good sign for its staying power and likely means it’ll remain in the top ten for a few more weekends.

As for Digger and The Social Reckoning, I think their fates are a little bit different. Digger has a way bigger hill to climb from a financial standpoint, as its budget was reportedly over $100M, but it has plenty of enthusiastic defenders. Many critics hated it, but many others are calling it the best movie of the entire year. It could gather some momentum and still make a run at awards season. The movies that stick around and matter over the long haul tend to be the ones with zealous advocates, not ones everyone blandly likes.

The Social Reckoning, however, seems a little more stuck. In theory, its reviews are about the same as Digger, but in practice, the tone of them is very different. The movie hasn’t generated a ton of advocates, and even those who like it, seem to more casually like it. Its middling reviews probably mean it’s mostly out on awards season, and while it may eventually make back its budget on streaming, it seems unlikely we’ll get another Mark Zuckerberg movie anytime soon.

Back around 2010, we in the gaming community used to call the Japanese video game company Capcom a pretty disparaging name. We used to call them “Crapcom”.

This was mostly due to greedy DLC, poor games in respective series (like Resident Evil 6, and–though I love it–Street Fighter X Tekken), and just an overall lack of punch and good titles. However, in the year 2026, we have a new name for the storied company: CapGOD.

This is because they're having a total banger of a year with games, yes, but also movies. So, as a bona fide ‘90s kid, I just want to gush about one of my favorite video game companies from my childhood, and why 2026 might be their best year ever.

First Off, We Have To Talk About Their Video Game Output This Year

Earlier this year, before I knew the Resident Evil movie would be so widely embraced, I wrote an article about how I thought future Resident Evil movies should pluck from the most recent game, Resident Evil Requiem. For some reason, I didn't have faith in Zach Cregger (I don't know why; he directed Barbarian!). Now that I realize he was doing his own thing, I think things look bright for the series’ cinematic future.

Honestly, though, can you blame me for looking so fondly upon Resident Evil Requiem? It really kickstarted this banner year for Capcom as it came out in February, and it’s definitely a contender for Game of the Year (GOTY). About a month later came the highly anticipated Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, which is another entry in the respectable turn-based RPG wing of the highly successful Monster Hunter series.

However, only a month after that, in April, came Pragmata, which is actually a new IP from Capcom that also might be a GOTY contender, given its reception. Three major, respected games would be enough for any video game company, but they also had to bring Onimusha back in September with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and no lie, it's ANOTHER possible GOTY contender. I mean, damn, CapGod! Slow down. You're making everybody else look bad!

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Might Be The Real Star Attraction

I've already brought up the recent Resident Evil movie, but it bears repeating how well it’s been received. Sure, some gamers have derided it for being too humorous or not including characters from the games, but other gamers have fully embraced it, saying that it has the same FEEL of the games, if not the same characters.

This is a big deal, because most people will agree that while the previous Resident Evil movies might have been fun, they've never actually been “good” (though I've really come around on the original).

So, for some people to actually call the recent Resident Evil one of - if not THE - best video game movies of all time, well, that speaks volumes for the franchise, and also puts another feather in Capcom's, er, cap for having such an amazing year.

But that's not all!

What If Street Fighter Is Also Amazing?

I'm not gonna lie. Some of the stuff I've seen for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, which comes out on October 16th, has got me a little worried. Be that as it may, what if all of my concerns are misguided and Street Fighter is actually amazing?

I mean, it definitely has the potential. I've been on board with this project for quite some time now, and I SO want it to be good. Which makes me wonder: What if it IS good? No, scratch that. What if it's great? Because while I do love Resident Evil (I've played all of the mainline games in the series), I'm an even bigger Street Fighter nerd, and I always have been.

If this upcoming movie comes even remotely close to being as good as the recent Resident Evil, then I think it's safe to say that Capcom has had possibly the greatest year in video game history, and nobody will convince me otherwise.

With Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil getting almost unanimous praise (though, some have a minor gripe with it), one might think that the talented director should maybe adapt another video game movie next (May I suggest Clock Tower?).

However, according to Deadline, Cregger's next picture is a sci-fi movie titled The Flood starring Jennifer Lawrence. So, oh, well. I guess no Scissorman for me. Be that as it may, even though Cregger will likely henceforth be referred to as “The director of Weapons and Resident Evil,” I just want to make sure that nobody forgets that he's also “The director of Barbarian.”

Because his debut solo picture still freaking rocks. Here's why.

Oh, and major spoilers up ahead.

Barbarian Is Still Just As Tense As You Remember It Being

Though we didn't include it on our list of directors who made a really good movie on their first try, Zach Cregger is definitely up there, as 2022's Barbarian - which is his solo directorial debut - is just as tense and ambitious (and yet small) as you would ever want from a first-time director.

The story is actually both easy and difficult to describe. Georgina Campbell plays a character named Tess (who, wouldn't you know, is a Black character who actually makes it to the end…barely) who travels to Detroit and rents out an Airbnb. That said, somebody else named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) somehow also rented out the same house on the same night. What luck!

Now, upon a first viewing, we're led to believe that something is shady about Keith, as he just seems too nice, which of course builds tension. However, by the next day, Tess finds a sort of labyrinth in the basement, and the true “villain,” a naked woman simply known as “The Mother,” emerges and bashes Keith's brains in. By this point, we're left wondering what the heck could possibly happen next. The film has a number of twists and turns like this, keeping the viewer tense throughout.

It Also Might Be Even Funnier Than You Remember It Being

As I alluded to earlier, one gripe some people have with Cregger's horror movies is that they're actually funny. That said, is that really a surprise when Cregger was once a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids ‘U Know? Honestly, even though Cregger is unique in his own way as a director, I like to think of him as a mix between Jordan Peele (the humorous side) and Ari Aster (the tense, unsettling side) when it comes to making horror.

Because even though Get Out hits hard (especially if you're a Black man), a lot of the tension is relieved with humor by the end (though it really could have been much bleaker). And even though SOME people say movies like Hereditary and Midsommar are darkly humorous, what makes them really stand out is just how tense and on edge they make you feel.

Barbarian is that great in-between, and actually feels like two separate movies. We have the super tense and creepy first half with Georgina Campbell, and then we have the much more comical section with Justin Long (who gets what he deserves by the end). It's the perfect mix!

Zach Cregger Should Continue Making Horror Movies Forever

I know Cregger's next movie is sci-fi, but it's also labeled as being sci-fi HORROR, and I'm cool with that, since Cregger should make horror forever.

While I know I keep comparing Cregger to other directors (I really should stop, since he's definitely in his own lane), I would be perfectly happy if Cregger became a Wes Craven-type, i.e., somebody who almost exclusively made horror movies. Because he's just so good at it!

In fact, I'm especially looking forward to The Flood since it seems like such a departure from everything he's done before (might he skip the humor next time and go PURE horror?) However, whatever The Flood ends up being, I just want people to remember that it's coming from the director of Weapons, Resident Evil, AND Barbarian. And don't you forget it!

When I watch a new horror movie, the last word I expect to use to describe it is “relatable.” However, that’s what I was thinking about as I walked out of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil. I think this entry on the 2026 movie schedule is worthy of that word too, because at the center of it is just a normal dude who is put into a situation that he has no idea how to handle. And I gotta say, as someone who is also just a normal person, if I were him, I probably would have acted the exact same way.

I Do Fear I Am As Jumpy As Bryan

While people are jumpy in plenty of horror movies, there was something about the terror Austin Abrams’ Bryan felt that really hit home. At no point was he trying really hard to be the hero or act like he was fearless. He was simply a terrified guy who was trying to deliver a package and survive. So, he didn’t hold back his fear, as highlighted by many high-pitched screams and exasperated reactions.

Now, I am easily spooked. So, like Bryan, if I were being chased by zombies, I’d be screaming, running as fast as I could and jumping literally anytime anything moved. This is what made Cregger’s video game adaptation of Resident Evil so entertaining to me, and I loved that I was able to relate to how scared Bryan was.

As Someone Who Does Not Play Video Games, I Related Too Hard To Bryan’s Incompetence

I’ve read that watching Resident Evil made people feel the same way the games make them feel. While I’ve never played the video game, I can confirm that watching Bryan traverse this world made me feel the same way I feel anytime I play a video game too, which is clueless and fairly incompetent.

Now, it’s been said that Bryan represents gamers, not necessarily the heroes we see in video games, and I agree with that. However, he also represents those of us who have no idea what we’re doing when we grab a controller. So, yes, while the character literally is a gamer who has no clue how to use a gun, he also is a representation of how I feel anytime I try to shoot a fake gun in a video game.

Bryan not knowing how to switch off the safety to use his weapons, and his constant attempts and failures at trying to get past a lock were hilarious. As a button-smasher and truly inept gamer, this movie felt like a representation of what me playing Resident Evil would look like, as well as what I would be like if I were actually put into this zombie-filled situation.

Now, while I do relate to Bryan and his actions, I have to note that I 100% would have been smart enough to not throw away my ladder in that barn. However, otherwise, in almost every other scenario, I likely would have been as clueless and horrified as our leading man. And that’s why Zach Cregger’s critically acclaimed take on Resident Evil is such an unexpectedly relatable horror movie.

The horror genre has been thriving for years now, to the delight of hardcore fans like me. Some consider the best horror movies in recent memory to be Obsession and Backrooms, which both crushed at the box office. I finally got to see the latter title when I binge-watched three new horror movies over the weekend. Surprisingly, it was my least favorite of the bunch. Let's break it all down.

I missed Backrooms in theaters, and have been patiently waiting for it to arrive on streaming. Luckily, that's finally happened, as folks can watch it with an HBO Max subscription. I put it on after seeing Resident Evil in theaters and streaming Evil Dead Burn, and unfortunately it failed to impress me as much as its predecessors.

I Preferred Resident Evil And Evil Dead Burn Over Backrooms

I simply had to watch Resident Evil in theaters, given how much I adored Zach Cregger's work on both Barbarian and the Oscar-winning Weapons. He once again did not disappoint, and I love how Cregger continued to pivot between horror and comedy throughout the video game movie's 94-minute runtime. Seriously, give me a bunch of sequels.

The next day I streamed Resident Evil Burn, which scared TF out of me just like its predecessors. On a nerdy horror movie high, I decided to dive right into Backrooms after, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

Backrooms isn't a typical horror movie. It's weird and cerebral, and takes a bit of confusion before its true nature is revealed. Even then, Backrooms' ending leaves some questions, but since I had a hard time connecting to it, I found myself less engaged in the online discourse than I was with Resident Evil's ending. While there were a handful of genuine scares during its runtime, I thought that it failed to pack the same punch as the other two horror movies I watched over the weekend.

I really wanted to like Backrooms, especially after hearing so many fellow horror fans rave about it, as well as seeing how well it performed in theaters. I was surprised that I wasn't as obsessed as the rest of the internet, and I have to admit that watching both Resident Evil and Evil Dead Burn might have skewed my perception of it. Maybe I'll give it another chance, on a weekday when I haven't already binged several other scary movies. It is spooky season after all.

Resident Evil is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Backrooms and Evil Dead Burn, they can both be watched on HBO or streamed on HBO Max. We'll just have to wait and see if the genre ends up having another year during Awards Season after the success of Sinners and Weapons.

Fall is upon us, and for many moviegoers that means it's time to watch horror movies to celebrate spooky season. Some of the best horror movies in recent memory have come from Zach Cregger, including the new Resident Evil movie and the Oscar-winning Weapons. Not everyone is a fan though, and there is one criticism that keeps coming the acclaimed filmmaker's way.

Just like Cregger's other movies, Resident Evil is crushing at the box office. While I'm eager to see any upcoming horror movies he might cook up, some moviegoers don't love the way he brings comedy into his otherwise terrifying movies. In a Reddit thread about the subject, cinephiles spoke about the director's penchant for balancing laughs and scares, with one person sharing:

I personally think this person's assessment was spot on. The key to horror movies is tension, and Zach Cregger has a way of playing with audience's emotions and expectations by surprising us with comedic moments in his horror movie. This is a cycle that he used to great success in Barbarian and Weapons (both of which are streaming with a HBO Max subscription) and he once again brought the funny to the new Resident Evil movie. Unfortunately, not everyone loves these tonal shifts as much as me.

Another commenter has offered a name for the moment where Cregger plays with tension through jokes in his horror films. They posted:

The Cregger Moment is a term I'm comfortable with, and is something we should probably expect from any of his future scary movies. It was used to great success when Justin Long's AJ enters Barbarian, psyched about the creepy basement he finds in his house despite all the obvious warning signs. For Weapons, Aunt Gladys was funny... until she showed her more terrifying side. Meanwhile Resident Evil is packed with comedic beats, mostly Bryan's reaction to the monsters of the movie, and his inability to properly shoot a gun.

Another Redditor addressed this trend by pointing out the director's background, posting:

Points were made. Zach Cregger's roots are in sketch comedy, and he's also got experience as a sitcom actor. He uses those tools in his horror movies, while also bringing genuinely terrifying moments to the big screen. Personally I think this balance is delightful, but not everyone feels the same. For his part, Cregger seems open to feedback.

Another person took to the comments section to share why he's not a fan of Zach Cregger as a filmmaker, particularly the way that he uses comedy in his movies. They posted:

Well, they certainly didn't hold back. Despite how wildly successful Cregger's three recent scary movies were, they aren't for everyone. The mixture of comedy and horror seems to bug certain moviegoers, and they're making their opinions known. Another naysayer shared the following:

Film is subjective, and while I love the moments of levity in laughter in Zach Cregger's horror movies, not everyone agrees. As someone who grew up on the Scream franchise, which also has plenty of laughs, this is a balance that I personally respond to. Another commenter revealed that they have to go into his films expecting the unique tone. As they put it:

This might be a helpful bit of advice for moviegoers who don't exactly vibe with the director's unique tone in his horror movies. At this point we know Cregger's style, and folks probably should go into new movies expecting the unexpected... and a fair amount of laughs.

Resident Evil is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. The movie's reviews were leaps and bounds higher than the franchise's previous installments, but clearly it's not for everyone.

Zach Cregger is a funny guy. Literally. Long before Barbarian and Weapons made him one of horror’s most interesting filmmakers, he spent years doing sketch comedy with The Whitest Kids U’ Know. That sense of humor followed him into his horror work, and I’ve generally loved the strange laughs that sneak into his movies when you least expect them. Turns out, test audiences had one issue with his 2026 movie calendar release, and I’m so glad he listened to their feedback.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer-director revealed that test audiences generally liked his take on Resident Evil, but kept raising the same complaint: it was too funny. The director listened, went back into the edit and started killing jokes. He explained:

I am very glad he took that note. That may sound strange coming from somebody who thinks Barbarian is frequently hilarious. Justin Long measuring his creepy basement for additional square footage remains one of my favorite jokes in a modern horror movie. Weapons also knew when to let something absurd break through all the dread. I still remember snorting when Josh Brolin drops that perfectly placed F-bomb.

But Resident Evil has a different job. Cregger’s movie follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier whose routine delivery turns into one extremely bad night in Raccoon City, with all the biohazardous nastiness that comes with it. To some fans' chagrin, the video game adaptation is a new story within the franchise rather than another adaptation centered on the game’s familiar heroes. For that kind of survival-horror setup, too many jokes could start poking holes in the tension. In other words, a little comedy goes a long way.

This is where Cregger’s comment about not missing a single deleted joke gets me. He was not reluctantly hacking out material he loved because a test score told him to. He watched the movie, realized those jokes were not helping and cut them himself.

Stephen King puts that part of the creative process pretty bluntly in On Writing: “If it works, fine. If it doesn’t, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.” That is basically what happened here. The screening pointed Cregger toward something he could not fully see while making the movie, and once he made the cuts, he preferred the leaner version, too. All in all, that is exactly what test screenings should accomplish when they work.

Resident Evil has always had room for ridiculousness, though. We are talking about a franchise featuring giant pharmaceutical-mutated monsters and characters delivering dialogue while dressed like they wandered in from the world’s most heavily armed drag show. A completely humorless adaptation would feel weird in its own way. But there is a difference between letting the absurdity breathe and deflating a scary scene because the script cannot resist another punchline.

Based on the early audience response and critical reception for Resident Evil, Cregger seems to have found that balance. RE opened to $60 million domestically, the biggest debut in franchise history, and earned $108.3 million worldwide during its first weekend. The movie has already racked up a ridiculous number of impressive stats, but its 96% Rotten Tomatoes score after two weeks in theaters may be the clearest sign that audiences and critics are on board.

Obviously, cutting a few jokes does not single-handedly produce those numbers. Still, I love hearing that Cregger was willing to kill perfectly good comedy when it got in the way of the monsters doing their job. Knowing when to hold back is one of the instincts that separates decent filmmakers from the directors behind the best horror movies.

Resident Evil is still playing in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes. Also, keep your eyes peeled for updates on upcoming horror movies.

Moviegoers were partying like it was 2019 this weekend, as enough MCU fans stormed theaters to make Avengers: Endgame Encore the No. 1 flick at the weekend Box Office. The promise of new footage related to Avengers: Doomsday — which hits the 2026 movie calendar in December — was more than enough excuse for a rewatch, bringing in $26 million domestically for the second-highest-grossing movie of all time.

This week’s new releases were in a tight race with last weekend’s winner, Resident Evil, and while Primetime may have settled for fourth place overall (just barely!), Robert Pattinson’s crime thriller may be the weekend’s biggest winner when all’s said and done.

Take a look at the Box Office Top 10 below, then we can break down what happened and what we have to look forward to. (NOTE: * next to a title indicates a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: September 25-27, 2026

Avengers: Endgame Success Proves Fans Are Pumped For Avengers: Doomsday

It’s pretty obvious that people are excited about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, but fans’ turnout at the theater this weekend for a refresher course (and new footage) on Avengers: Endgame proves just how big this is going to be. Not only did Endgame Encore earn $26 million in the U.S. and Canada over the past three days, it gained another $60 million overseas for a three-day worldwide total of $86 million.

Now, with all-time global earnings totaling $2.885 billion, the gap has closed a bit between it and Avatar, which stands as the highest-grossing movie of all time with $2.932 billion.

As is to be expected when it comes to such highly anticipated Marvel fare, the Avengers: Doomsday scenes started to leak from screenings. Hopefully, fans can remember the Russo Brothers’ request to let all fans discover the surprises for themselves. Seriously, don’t be that guy.

Resident Evil Crosses $100 Million Domestically On Second Weekend

Between Avengers: Endgame’s return to theaters and a trio of new releases, Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil took a pretty steep 61% dive in its second weekend. However, it’s officially crossed into 9-digit territory, with $103.5 million domestically, and adding in $93 million internationally, the video game adaptation is quickly approaching a $200 million global tally.

Heart Of The Beast Tops Other New Releases, Because Brad Pitt And Dogs

Brad Pitt and his canine companion won the battle of the new releases, with Heart of the Beast taking third place overall with a $20 million debut. There was a lot of hype going into the weekend about the survival story, with Pitt saying the pup might be a better co-star than George Clooney (I wasn’t expecting that Ocean’s Eleven shade) and critics asking if a dog could win an Oscar.

Apparently, overseas audiences connect strongly with amazing dog stories, too, because the film added another $30.1 million for a worldwide total of $50.1 million after three days.

Primetime Is Really The Weekend Box Office’s Biggest Winner

But let’s talk about Primetime. The movie earned $19.2 million to fall out of the Top 3 by less than a million dollars, but there are other factors to consider. For one thing, the A24 thriller was only projected to bring in between $9 million and $15 million, so the race wasn’t even supposed to be that close.

Also, Primetime was made for a reported $15 million, while Heart of the Beast clocked in with a reported budget of $82 million, so the Robert Pattinson flick did a lot more in opening weekend to recoup those bucks.

Not only is that a big win for A24, but for Robert Pattinson, who’s having quite the year. He’s already appeared in The Drama and The Odyssey, and he’s still got Dune: Part Three coming in December. We can’t ignore Primetime’s director Lance Oppenheim, either, who’s also gotten a viral bump from You Can See Everything, his and Nathan Fielder’s upcoming documentary about Elizabeth Holmes.

How Did Critics Rate This Weekend’s New Releases?

The reviews of Primetime were pretty good (well, Chris Hansen had some harsh words about his portrayal, which is no surprise given how mean the movie is to Hansen). Will Rotten Tomatoes’ scores and CinemaScore’s audience keep it in the battle for a Top 5 spot in weeks to come? Take a peek at the ratings:

It’s interesting that DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island got the highest ratings across the board of this week’s new titles, but it finished below the other two. In fact, its $12.8 million was below low-end projections of $14 million. The animated fantasy film starring H.E.R, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate and more is definitely hoping these high scores can lead to long legs at the Box Office.

There’s definitely precedence for such a move. DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish premiered to just $12.4 million in 2022 but ended up making $484.3 million worldwide by the end of its run.

What Can We Expect Next Weekend?

It won’t be an easy road for Forgotten Island or any of the September 25 releases, as next week sees the debut of a couple of highly anticipated movies. Tom Cruise’s Digger hits the big screen October 2, along with Verity starring Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson.

Early reactions to Digger were pretty divisive, but everyone seems to agree the satirical dark comedy is a huge swing for Tom Cruise and director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The movie is projected to make between $16 million and $26 million, according to Box Office Theory.

That should put it in tight competition with Verity, which is expected to bring in between $15 million and $25 million. Considering how close this race could be, Josh Hartnett and Anne Hathaway might want to try to get their family members on board to buy more tickets!

Be sure to hit the theater this upcoming weekend and then find me next Sunday to see how the Top 10 plays out.

With so much debate online about how Zach Cregger's Resident Evil pays homage to the long-running video game franchise, I made a point to see this one as soon as it hit the 2026 movie schedule. While I can confirm, and even Cregger will admit, that he took some creative liberties when telling the story, I think he captured the spirit of the games so well that the zombie games should be lucky he attached his name to it.

What I love most about this was the approach and how it differed from other successful video game adaptations. I can't say I ever felt like I was playing Sonic or Super Mario Bros. when watching their movies, but I certainly felt that way watching Resident Evil.

Resident Evil Provides The Jump Scares And Vibes Of Playing The Games

Zach Cregger said he doesn't usually get scared, but playing the 8th installment in VR really freaked him out. I'm grateful for that, because I feel one of the biggest strengths of Resident Evil as a movie is how it recreates the exact way I feel every time I play one of the games.

The unexpected jump scares the moment you feel safe, the haunting locations you know you have to venture into to progress the game, and having limited ammunition against a bunch of super-powered zombies. It'll drive your anxiety right through the roof, to the point where I get that feeling in the back of my head telling me to just quit and do something else.

It's overwhelming, but as I pointed out when I first saw the trailer, that's exactly how someone would feel if they were in the world of Resident Evil. I'm not going to roll into this situation feeling as cool, calm, and collected as Leon Kennedy or Chris Redfield. I'm going to be screaming, missing shots, and scrambling like Bryan, and gonna be scared as hell until it's all over.

Zach Cregger's Resident Evil Shows There's More Than One Way To Make A Video Game Movie

The new Resident Evil movie isn't a shot-for-shot recreation of any specific entry in the franchise, but it's still good and way more faithful to the source material than the original string of movies. Not only that, I daresay Zach Cregger's ideas that he's added to the universe warrant incorporation into the games, and they'd be better if some of those monsters were included.

I do hope that makers of other upcoming video game adaptations are taking note and realizing that there is more than one way to make a celebrated movie. Sure, an animated movie can make a thousand references in one movie and still make a billion dollars, but there's value in bringing the vibes to the big screen.

Resident Evil thrives in evoking that feeling without putting a game controller in your hand, though I wish I had one to reverse some of Bryan's stupider decisions. I'm still not sure why he threw that ladder, but it did briefly break the tension in a hilarious way.

Resident Evil is in theaters right now, and worth seeing if you're a fan of the franchise. I encourage anyone who loves the Raccoon City Incident to go and watch, and cross their fingers that we'll get another movie out of this.

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has been out for less than a week, and the movie already looks like another pretty spectacular win for the Weapons filmmaker and fans of new horror movies. For the most part, Critics dug Cregger's latest film, audiences showed up, and the video game movie adaptation just gave the long-running franchise its biggest opening weekend ever. So you would never guess from watching it that his film holds one wild stat that is completely blowing my mind.

Cregger revealed during an appearance on The Big Picture podcast that Resident Evil was only completely finished “maybe” two weeks before it hit the 2026 movie schedule. As he put it:

That is already wild, but the story gets even crazier because some international audiences technically saw a slightly different version of the movie. He continued:

Cregger made Weapons and Resident Evil practically back-to-back, and that schedule apparently followed him into post-production. Missing the window to incorporate some of his final tweaks overseas must be frustrating, but I have to admit, as a domestic audience member, I’m happy we got the one he’s happiest with.

Still, two weeks? Most of us get nervous submitting something inconsequential two minutes before a deadline. It's wild to think about the Barbarian filmmaker finishing a $75 million studio horror movie while theaters were presumably already warming up the popcorn machines and setting out the grotesquely-themed popcorn buckets.

It also puts the production into perspective. Cregger released Weapons in August 2025, then had another major horror movie in theaters a little over a year later. That is a ridiculous turnaround for two effects-heavy studio productions, especially when Resident Evil spends much of its lean 90-minute runtime throwing Austin Abrams through increasingly elaborate Raccoon City nightmares.

Whatever chaos was happening behind the scenes doesn't seem to have scared audiences away. The flick opened to roughly $60 million domestically and another 48.3 million internationally, for a $108.3 million worldwide debut. That is the biggest opening weekend in the RE movie franchise’s history. It also earned a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score around opening weekend and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. That makes the two-week stat even harder for me to wrap my head around.

There is something wonderfully appropriate about a Resident Evil movie barely making it out of post-production alive. Bryan spends the film scrambling through Raccoon City as everything collapses around him, which is a wild parallel to Cregger experiencing his own version of survival horror in the editing room.

Resident Evil is playing now in theaters, so be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Resident Evil in theaters, so be warned!

Here in the back half of 2026, it feels amazing to want to say a lot of positive things about a Resident Evil movie, and without the need to couch that opinion in “But I’m also a huge Milla Jovovich fan,” or whatever words get jammed together by people who enjoyed any of those previous versions. In my mind, the franchise’s live-action entries now begin and end with Zach Cregger’s critically lauded adaptation that has already broken the franchise’s box-office record with its first weekend.

I’m not 100% convinced just yet that the fun and freaky flick is absolutely the greatest video game movie in existence, as not to give into recency bias. But I also don’t think any upcoming game adaptations on the horizon have a shot at topping it, and contrary to my own expectations, I think Resident Evil’s biggest draw for gamers has nothing to do with on-screen easter eggs and tie-in lore. It’s all about Austin Abrams’ unassuming delivery driver Bryan.

Resident Evil's Bryan Brilliantly Represents Gamers, And Not Video Game Heroes

Video game hardware is at the point where, even if cut scenes and gameplay still don't 100% visually reflect real life, it's close enough that the differences wouldn't be that extreme. Which is to say, if someone filmed live-action scenes from Resident Evil Requiem or Village, they'd probably look pretty similar. As such, making live-action movies look exactly like games isn't the most pressing issue the way it was in years past. For that reason, I love that Zach Cregger opted not to adapt any particular game or storyline in lieu of an original tale.

So instead of putting a weapons-expert authority figure in the driver's seat (both metaphorically and literally), this Resident Evil movie is led by a mild-mannered twentysomething in a somewhat complicated relationship, with a job that he's mainly interested in for financial gains, and with more knowledge about video game guns than actual guns. It's not completely universal, but much of that breakdown likely describes a lot of R.E. heads out there. What's more, the movie never leaves his side.

As such, Bryan is a largely relatable avatar for audience members to see themselves as. He's scared and rattled, but still confident enough to go on, and it's a lot easier to play the "What would I do in this situation?" game with him than if the movie was only following Kali Reiss' Maxine or even Paul Walker Hauser's Paul. Bryan reacts to monsters the way we all do: with high-pitched screams and endless F-bombs. (That does apply to everyone else, right?)

Sure, it absolutely helps when Bryan sees that glorious typewriter in the safe room, and when he finds the game-specific box of shotgun shells, but noting those easter eggs on the screen isn't key to this being a great adaptation. But the character's struggles to hastily reload the gun while monstrous characters are rapidly approaching? Wasting bullets trying to shoot an indestructable lock? Wondering whether the thing on the ground is really dead or it's just waiting for the right moment to strike? That's every single Resident Evil game in a nutshell.

Zach Cregger's Filmmaking Is Just As Key As The Main Character

While I'm not sure how much Zach Cregger's experience playing Resident Evil Village in VR guided his filmmaking decisions for the 2026 movie, so much of the camera movements come straight out of the video game franchise. And it's not always obvious, either. When the camera is following just behind Austin Abrams, it's a natural choice, but it also allows Cregger to go into over-the-shoulder shots that the games have so often utilized.

The director also wisely picks and chooses when to go first-person within sequences. (Even The Rock knows Doom sucked, and this is a bit more intense than The Blair Witch Project.) There are even overhead shots from the ceiling that bring to mind the first game's infamously clunky fixed-camera perspectives.

I also love any time the camera goes in close on something newly monstrous happening, and then slowly retreating as whatever ghoulish entity fills the screen. Very reminiscent of tension-building cut-scene reveals I'm not sure if the game-inspired cinematography would have worked exactly as well without Abrams' Bryan being a surrogate for gamers, but I'll just blindly say I think it'd still be great.

Looking back, I fully thought the live-action take on the anomaly game Exit 8 might be my favorite video game movie of 2026, and that its biggest competition would be Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Street Fighter. That was pretty much as naive as every Umbrella Corporation scientist introduced in Resident Evil. (I'd still trust Zach Cherry's character, because Severance.)

Now, the long journey to the next great video game adaptation begins, but at least there are plenty of other upcoming horror movies to get excited about in the meantime.

I’d wanted to see Practical Magic 2 when it hit the 2026 release schedule, but I hadn’t been able to Week 1 thanks to a combo of work travel and an epic sinus infection. I’m taking care of my mother after a surgery this week, so my sister and I had exactly one day to grab a margarita and some popcorn and check out the sequel to the beloved ‘90s film we’d watched frequently in our youths.

We also have jobs, so there’s a limited window in which we can see movies after work, and when we tried to get tickets we were faced with a movie theater dilemma that has cropped up quite frequently: See the flick on a premium screen or don’t see it at all.

Here’s the thing. I want to support Practical Magic 2. I ultimately shelled out a whopping amount of cash for Practical Magic 2, but to be completely honest with you, I was really salty about it. If my sister and I were going to go together, I had to see the movie on Wednesday, and three of the four smaller screenings of the film that were happening across the two theaters near us around the same time were sold out by the time we were looking for tickets.

I know, I know the early bird gets the worm. There was one screening open, however, a premium format experience at a theater which I shall not name located in the suburb of a mid-sized city in the US. These tickets were almost $22 dollars compared to the $7 (plus fee for buying online) the regular screenings were!

We had this limited window, so we begrudgingly bought the pricey tickets, but I was really mad about my options. Clearly, there was demand to see this movie, but to be honest with you Practical Magic 2 is not The Odyssey. It’s not an Avengers movie, it doesn’t rely on any flashy practical effects to tell its story in any way, shape or form. In fact, the magic is a little folksy in this movie, and it probably would have been better had I not watched it being flashed on a larger screen than usual.

Here's What Happened.

Ultimately, there were 8 people who shelled out to see Practical Magic 2 on a Wednesday night in one of the largest theaters in town. There were three other completely booked – like even front row seats booked – screenings that night. I KNOW in my heart of hearts people want to see Practical Magic 2, but if tickets are over $20 bucks, there’s a wide swathe of people for movies like these who are just going to say, “Thanks, but no thanks, I’ll watch it streaming.”

Even if the theater made significantly more on those 8 people who begrudgingly bought premium tickets, context clues indicate the theater would have filled up more if the price had been more reasonable.

I get that movie theaters are between a rock and a hard place. They have these big budget screens they want to charge more for, and in a week like last week, Practical Magic 2 was the big, splashy new release. You have to put something in that theater. Still, I’d argue by doing so, they probably capped the number of people willing to shell out to see the movie. I think the other theaters being full and the premium screening being nearly empty proves that.

I also know movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and others have achieved insane box office numbers in recent months thanks to inflated ticket costs and that movies like this are helping to keep theaters healthy and in business. Some movies do look awesome on a premium screen. This week, doubtless most premium formats have shifted to Zach Cregger’s box office behemoth Resident Evil, which probably deserves to be seen on a giant screen.

I’m just saying we don’t have one of these tentpole movies in theaters every week, and a better system needs to be figured out to get butts in seats. Practical Magic 2 was adorable and (mostly) everything I wanted from a sequel to one of the nineties’ quirkiest films. However, there’s no world where I needed to see it on the biggest screen possible with the best sound possible. It was probably a worse experience that way. Don’t make me pay out the wazoo for it.

We’ve talked ad nauseum about how hot horror has been this summer, and I don’t think we should expect that to change as the spooky season creeps in. Resident Evil made sure to emphasize that point, dominating this weekend’s Box Office with a $60 million premiere. That’s officially the best start of any film in the Resident Evil franchise’s history, and it even crossed $100 million when international ticket sales were added in.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued its slow descent ahead of Avengers: Doomsday’s release on the 2026 movie calendar — despite officially surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the highest grossing domestic release ever this week.

Practical Magic 2 held on to silver after its second weekend, and a couple of other new releases landed in the Top 10 — though Buddy was able to hold one new movie off the list … Oh, Buddy. Take a look at the Weekend Box Office chart, then we’ll break down the highlights below. (NOTE: * next to a title indicates a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: September 18-20, 2026

Resident Evil Scores Biggest Premiere In The Franchise’s History

The horror genre saw another record-setting weekend at the Box Office, with Resident Evil earning more than double any other movie adaptation of the video game series. Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Weapons beat the franchise’s previous-best Resident Evil: Afterlife from 2010, which earned $26.6 million over its first three days in 2010. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City debuted to a franchise-low $5.3 million in 2021.

Only time will tell if this iteration starring Austin Abrams as the hilariously high-pitched screamer Bryan will overtake 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ($314.1 million worldwide) as the most successful of the eight movies, but with Resident Evil adding $48.3 million overseas for a worldwide total so far of $108.3 million, it’s a good start.

Audiences’ interest in seeing how Zach Creggor handled the gore and horror of Resident Evil after Weapons was definitely a factor in helping the movie surpass debut projections in the $40 million to $50 million range. At least that was the case for me, as this was where I spent my movie money this weekend. The critical praise certainly didn’t hurt either.

How Critics And Audiences Rated This Week’s New Releases

Resident Evil was the biggest release this weekend, but the biblical drama Daniel and the Fiery Furnace and Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe’s The Weight also made the Top 10. Bad news for the family-friendly Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, though, as it just barely fell short of the list. What did Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore audiences think?

It’s a shame Shaun the Sheep didn’t get more attention, but maybe the good reviews can generate some interest to bump it into the Top 10 next week — especially since its $1.9 million premiere was so narrowly edged out by Casper Kelly’s Buddy ($1.93 million).

Daniel And The Fiery Furnace And The Weight Get Top 10 Premieres Amid The Transformers: The Movie’s 40th Anniversary

Daniel and The Fiery Furnace is a faith-based drama from Matthew and Daniel Kooman that tells the Old Testament story of Daniel and his exile in Babylon. Mena Massoud stars as the titular prophet, with Elijah Alexander playing King Nebuchadnezzar. Its $3.1 million debut weekend was good enough for seventh place.

Meanwhile, The Weight — a Depression-Era film starring Russell Crowe and Ethan Hawke — came in at No. 9 with $2.3 million against a reported budget of $2 million. Hawke plays widower Samuel Murphy who must fight to return to his daughter after being imprisoned at a work camp.

These premieres come alongside the return of The Transformers: The Movie, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The animated film based on the ‘80s TV series bombed when it hit theaters in 1986 but has since developed a cult following and was able to land at No. 8 this week with $3.1 million in ticket sales.

Practical Magic 2 Hangs On With Sub-Par Sophomore Weekend

Practical Magic 2 may have dethroned Spider-Man in its first weekend, but it did it with less-than-magical numbers. This week is more of the same, as it was able to hold onto the No. 2 spot, but it fell 59% in the process, earning just $12.1 million over the past three days. It’s only added $26.8 million outside of North America for a global total of $76.8 million, which isn’t likely to break even on its reported $75 million budget, after theaters take their half of the ticket sales.

As we predicted last week, Alan Ritchson’s Runner did fall out of the Top 5, but the Reacher star didn’t go far. The action-comedy co-starring Owen Wilson dropped just one spot to No. 6, with ticket sales falling 51% from opening weekend.

Next Week’s Releases Should Shake Up The Top 10

It will be interesting to see if Resident Evil’s multi-limbed monster can maintain its grasp on the top spot at the Box Office, with a few major releases coming September 25. Avengers: Endgame Encore hits theaters so Marvel fans can get a refresher course before Avengers: Doomsday in December. Rumors of bonus footage are likely to drum up even more interest and push that into the Top 10, with projections in the $20 millions, per Box Office Theory.

We’ve also got Forgotten Island from DreamWorks Animation, which is expected to bring in between $14 million and $19 million; Brad Pitt’s survival thriller Heart of the Beast projected to earn around $17 million; and A24’s Primetime starring Robert Pattinson estimated to premiere between $9 million and $15 million.

If those estimates come through, we’re going to have a whole new Top 10 next Sunday, so be sure to get out to the theater next weekend, then check back in to see where everything lands at the Box Office.

Another Resident Evil movie is upon us, and this one is helmed by none other than Zach Cregger. The highly anticipated video game adaptation hit theaters this weekend and, so far, it’s really drumming up some buzz. Cregger’s latest flick is earning rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Such a film is right up Cregger’s ally, given his work within the horror genre and, as one might expect, he doesn’t get scared too often. However, he recently revealed that one entry from the Resident franchise did manage to give him chills.

Even with just a few horror titles under his belt as a director, Cregger has managed to delight and frighten audiences with some creepy stories. Barbarian and Weapons alone are enough evidence of the filmmaker’s penchant for giving audiences chills. So, on that note, what scares the man responsible for creating the unsettling mother and the enigmatic Aunt Gladys? Cregger recently spoke to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend about his 2026 movie schedule offering and revealed that one relatively recent RE game threw him for a loop:

Village is truly a terrifying entry in the iconic video game franchise, and that’s saying a lot. Released in 2021, the game centers on protagonist Ethan Winters who – following a tragedy – is forced to search for his baby daughter in a small and creepy European town. What Ethan finds are various creatures led by lords, and that includes a towering, aristocratic vampire by the name of Lady Dimitrescu, who became something of an icon amongst fans after appearing in the game.

Playing Resident Evil Village at all is one thing, but the mere thought of taking on that entry via Playstation VR makes my skin crawl. So believe me when I say I completely understand Zach Cregger being afraid while taking in the horror and gore of the game that way. When it came to his contribution to the film franchise, Cregger was quite cerebral in how he approached the proceedings, including the gore. He laid out his take while speaking with SFX:

Viewers had high hopes for Cregger’s Resident Evil, as the previous installments (which have their fair share of fans) aren’t exactly critical darlings. This movie centers around a new hero – medical courier named Bryan (Austin Abrams) – who finds himself dealing with infected creatures in Raccoon City. So far, the movie has received considerable praise for its direction, performances, scares and similarities to the games’ motifs. That acclaim has resulted in the film being the highest-rated installment in the horror movie franchise.

There’s certainly a reason that this movie has been successful and that Zach Cregger’s last two flicks have become pop culture fixtures. It’s because the man knows how to tell a unique and compelling story that offers up spooky thrills but never loses sight of the characters. Also, I appreciate a good scarer who can admit to being scared. On that note, check out Cregger’s Resident Evil and, while you’re at it, read up on upcoming horror movies.

I'm a BIG Resident Evil fan, and I’ve been one ever since the game series debuted back in 1996. I've also seen all of the movies. Given this admission, you'd think that I probably love the films that are based on the survival horror series, but nope. I mean, I like them, but even I’ll admit that there’s never been a legitimately “good” Resident Evil movie. That's why I'm genuinely looking forward to this new one from Zach Cregger, which hits the 2026 movie schedule this weekend.

However, just because I don't think any of the movies are great, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think they’re fun. Case in point: The 2002 original, which I once thought was mid but now really like. Here's why.

At The Time, I Was Turned Off By It Being So Action-Heavy

I've been playing Resident Evil for longer than some of you have been alive, and let me tell you: these games did NOT play like 2005's Resident Evil 4, which essentially changed the way the games were played entirely. Anybody who was there will tell you. We used to struggle with what was often referred to as “tank controls,” which made these games even scarier because we'd often find ourselves running into walls rather than escaping.

This was mostly because there were a lot of fixed camera angles, as the games were more cinematic than anything else. That said, when the first movie came out with the legendary Milla Jovovich, I didn't know what to make of it. Here was an action-packed movie that looked NOTHING like the games that I was familiar with.

This was something else entirely that was high-octane- and back then, I didn't want to see a character kick a zombie dog in the face. It just didn't feel like the Resident Evil that I knew at the time. That was then, and now…

The First Movie Almost Feels Like It Led The Way For The More Action-Heavy Games In The Series

The Resident Evil that I grew up with was more survival horror than anything else, but after 2005’s Resident Evil 4, everything changed, as now the whole series was action-focused (Until 7).

As somebody whose favorite Resident Evil is 4 (Join the club, right?) I think it’s no surprise that I’ve reevaluated my feelings on the first movie, which kind of feels like it walked so that Resident Evil 4 could leap through a window and fight a chainsaw man.

In fact, I don’t think it stops there, as the first Resident Evil movie, being what it was, with its Red Queen and hive storyline, felt just as out there and bombastic as later RE titles, all the way up to the latest game in the franchise, Resident Evil Requiem. That’s why I now appreciate this first movie, as I feel like it really allowed the video game franchise to let its freak flag fly.

Plus, It Set Up A String Of Sequels That I Enjoyed In The 2000s

Lastly, I genuinely had a good time with a lot of the sequels that came out after the first movie. Sure, some of them were better than others (Resident Evil: Extinction = fun! Resident Evil: Apocalypse = TERRIBLE), but none of it would have been possible without what this first movie set up.

The movie series grew on me after a while. I stopped thinking of them as being connected to the games, and they became their own thing entirely for me.

So, while I have high hopes for this upcoming Resident Evil, I now realize all of the good that this first movie did, which is why I now appreciate it.

Zach Cregger is a filmmaker responsible for some of the best horror movies in recent memory. Namely Barbarian and Weapons (both of which are streaming with an HBO Max subscription). He's got another new horror movie in theaters with his Resident Evil film, and I can't get over the literal "hot" take he had about the franchise as a whole. Let's break it all down.

Given how wildly successful Weapons was in theaters (including Amy Madigan's Oscar-winning performance), folks were eager to see what Cregger would do with his own take on Resident Evil. In a clip from ET's Instagram, he confirmed he's never seen the previous Resident Evil movies, and revealed one big difference he was passionate about. In his words:

Well, that was honest. While Cregger was careful not to insult his frequent collaborator Austin Abrams (who plays protagonist Bryan in the new movie), it's clear that he had a very different vision for Resident Evil. It's a horror movie, and he didn't want his cast looking fabulous like they did during the Milla Jovovich films. He dropped the mini skirts in favor of blood and guts, and made sure that the Euphoria alum looked "frumped up" as well.

The Resident Evil trailer looked like it was ripped straight from the games, rather than the action-heavy tone of the previous films. In the same interview, he went on to share his vision, offering:

Indeed, the Resident Evil reviews praised this pivot, with many of them claiming that it brought new life to a suffering franchise. Cregger is trading in action for tension, horror and dread, and it should be interesting to see how audiences receive the project during its opening this weekend.

While the filmmaker might be taking bold new swings with the Resident Evil IP, he's got good will with horror fans thanks to his last two movies. At the end of this same interview, Zach Cregger reaffirmed his focus on his adaptation, saying:

This pivot will likely please video game fans, who have played the Resident Evil titles for decades. We'll just have to see how the new movie fare at the box office, and if it ends up kickstarting a new franchise directed by Cregger. Fingers crossed.

Resident Evil is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully this is just the start of a new, game-accurate series of films, with Zach Cregger continuing to work with Austin Abrams in the process.

Director Zach Cregger is astonishing critics again with Resident Evil, the latest video game adaptation on the 2026 movie schedule. The Resident Evil franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, with this being the second reboot in the last few years. Judging by the glowing reviews, with critics agreeing that it is very different from the first seven movies, it seems to have found solid footing with Weapons director at the helm. Here’s what the critics are saying about it.

Frank Scheck at The Hollywood Reporter shared his thoughts on the new horror film, and he dropped some serious praise. He also didn't mince words when discussing where Cregger's film stands in the pantheon of other Resident Evil movies:

One thing is definitely clear from the reviews: this is much better than all of the previous Resident Evil movies. Bob Strauss at the San Francisco Chronicle also shared some glowing thoughts, writing:

Other critics also agree that Cregger nails it, adapting what he’s been great at with his previous horror movies, but without sacrificing what's made the video games series so addictive for so many years. Clarisse Loughrey at The Independent has this to say about how the film compares to the Jovovich-led movies:

In addition to directing, Cregger co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten of John Wick: Chapters 3 and 4 fame. This latest Resident Evil movie centers on medical courier Bryan, who's making his way to Raccoon City for a delivery when an outbreak ensues. Austin Abrams plays Bryan, and he's joined in the cast by Zach Cherry, Kail Reis, Paul Walter Hauser and Johnno Wilson.

Sonny Bunch at The Bulwark agrees that the movie really feels like playing the game, and these comments excite me. Bunch writes:

Cregger, as he did with Weapons and Barbarian, knows exactly how to mix horror and humor, and the critics see it here too. Alonso Duralde at Film Verdict, who went into the movie blind, knowing little about the video game series or the Jovovich films, says:

That balance didn’t work for everyone. Matt Orozco at Macrabra Daily says it is “more slapstick than scary” in his more middling review. That is by far the exception, with Resident Evil currently sitting at a 98% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Even the rare reviews that aren’t glowing aren’t taking the film apart, either.

Fans of horror movies and fans of the game have been excited to see Zach Cregger’s version of Raccoon City, and he hasn’t disappointed the critics, but we’ll have to see what the hardcore fans of the franchise think when it hits theaters on September 18.

Movie theater popcorn containers have gotten completely out of control, and I mean that as a compliment. We have shoved popcorn into sandworms, Ghostface heads and enough weird plastic monuments to turn concession stands into miniature Spirit Halloweens. Somehow, the 2026 movie release, Resident Evil, has found a way to make the trend grosser. This is easily the most disgusting popcorn bucket, and I need it immediately.

Regal revealed its collectible for Zach Cregger’s upcoming Resident Evil reboot in an Instagram post, and calling this thing a “popcorn bucket” is technically giving it the wrong medical chart. As you can see in the image below, it is an organ-transplant popcorn bag, designed to look like one of those insulated coolers used to transport something very important from one operating room to another. However, this one is full of popcorn. And a heart. Sort of.

The bag is green and black, with a white medical cross on the front and tiny warnings telling you to “Handle with Care,” “Keep Cool” and “Do Not Freeze.” Open the zipper, and you find a large popcorn nestled around what appears to be a bloody human heart.

Regal, naturally, leaned all the way into it, writing, “Need a transplant? We recommend this popcorn bag.” They also make one crucial clarification in the promotional image: “Heart not included.” Cowards. I have no practical reason to own an insulated organ transplant bag designed to carry movie theater popcorn. I am also positive I need one.

The theater chain's official promotion page confirms the container will be available at select theaters while supplies last. The chain is also offering a Raccoon City Refresher cocktail and an IMAX collectible ticket during opening weekend, but I’m sorry, those things are fighting for second place. The medical cooler has already won.

The design becomes even better once you know what Cregger’s movie is about. Sony describes the new Resident Evil as an original story centered on Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams. One routine delivery sends him outside the safe zone, where his night rapidly collapses into a fight for survival amid a horrifying outbreak.

So somebody did not merely say, “Resident Evil has gore. Put a heart in the popcorn.” The entire collectible is riffing on the main character’s job. That is the kind of deeply unnecessary thematic commitment I appreciate from movie merchandise.

Cregger is also an excellent filmmaker to get this treatment. After Barbarian and Weapons, he has already demonstrated a talent for taking something familiar and making it deeply unpleasant to look at. His Resident Evil is being pitched as a reinvention of Capcom’s horror franchise rather than another continuation of the previous films, with Austin Abrams joined by Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser. The movie is rated R for strong bloody violence, gore and language throughout, so the human-organ concession stand aesthetic seems appropriately restrained, if anything.

Resident Evil, which I have my money on as one of the best new horror movies of the year, hits theaters September 18, giving me just enough time to accept that I may soon be eating popcorn from medical equipment. Between that sentence and the fake heart, I realize I have done absolutely nothing to make this thing sound appealing. I still want it.

Okay, so don’t take this the wrong way, Resident Evil fans, but all of the video game adaptations that we’ve gotten thus far from the franchise…well, I’ll just say it: They’ve been kind of bad.

Now, that’s not to say that I don’t LIKE them. I mean, when I ranked the Resident Evil movies, I even said that 2007’s Resident Evil: Extinction was pretty good…for a Resident Evil movie. You see, that’s the thing. I’m ranking these movies (even the animated ones) on a curve. If they’re “good,” I mean “good” for Resident Evil.

However, with Zach Cregger’s upcoming movie, I think we can have a genuinely good Resident Evil movie that’s just a good movie, period. Here’s why.

This Is The First Resident Evil Movie That Genuinely Looks Scary And Tense

We’ve gotten 7 live-action Resident Evil movies, from the 2002 original all the way to 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, and arguably none of them have been scary.

Of course “scary” is purely subjective, but I think most fans of the games will tell you that the ones starring the legendary Milla Jovovich were more action movies than horror movies, and Welcome to Raccoon City, while more faithful to the games, wasn’t scary, either. Honestly, I can’t blame Hollywood. The Milla Jovovich movies were very successful, and when they ran their course, the idea of making something closer to the games probably felt like a home run…even if it was a swing and a miss.

That said, just from the trailers alone, I can tell that this upcoming movie has a shot at actually being scary. Unlike the previous cinematic attempts, we’re getting a hero who truly looks like he’s out of his depth.

This guy obviously doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he represents a good avatar for the audience, who would also definitely be terrified if bodies started falling from the sky. This movie looks both scary and tense, which is exciting, since the previous RE films were neither, try as they might.

This Movie Looks Like It’s Trying To Capture The Energy Of The Series Rather Than The Characters And Setting

I still remember when I first saw Milla Jovovich jump-kick a zombie dog in the face and thinking, "What IS this?" Sure, it was kind of cool…I guess…but it definitely wasn’t the Resident Evil that I knew back then (Especially since this movie came out before Resident Evil 4, and we still had tank controls).

So, yeah, those original RE films definitely didn’t feel like the games, and that was fine. They were their own separate thing. Welcome to Raccoon City tried harder to nail the vibe and tone of the games, but that fell flat, too (Especially since the actor who played Leon - Avan Jogia - didn’t feel like Leon at all). But by abandoning all iconography (besides the typewriter) and characters, this upcoming movie just looks to have the same VIBE of the games.

I know this film isn’t going to have the Resident Evil Requiem characters, but from the trailer alone, it looks like it’s going to have the same disquieting tone of the Grace sections from that game, which is awesome, since those parts were terrifying!

After Weapons, I Have Faith That The Director Will Nail The Survival Horror Aspects Missing From The Previous RE Films

Lastly, can I just say what a gift it is that we got somebody like the director of Barbarian and Weapons to make the next Resident Evil movie?

Both Barbarian and Weapons are a master class in frights, and I think Weapons especially is a good sign that Resident Evil is in good hands when it comes to the idea of survival horror, as surviving Aunt Gladys’ curse was a huge part of that film. This is also important because none of the other RE films really felt like they were survival horror at all. What’s Resident Evil if it doesn’t have that element to it?

That’s why I have such high hopes for this film, which hits the 2026 movie schedule on September 18th.

After Barbarian and Weapons, Zach Cregger probably could have spent the next few years fielding offers from studios with a dusty horror franchise in the closet, just waiting to shake it off and send it back to the new horror movie schedule. But his upcoming Resident Evil movie was not some corporate assignment that landed on his desk. According to Cregger, he went after it himself, which already makes me more interested in what he is building. Now, to make matters more interesting, he is opening up about the hero of his 2026 movie release, and I totally understand why his adaptation cannot just be like the game.

In an interview with Empire, Cregger explained that he approached the rights holders with his own idea for a movie set inside the world of the games. The filmmaker described it as “a Zach Cregger movie that just happens to be a Resident Evil movie,” which, as a huge fan of his work and this video game, is exactly what I want to hear. But it was his description of the movie’s lead character, Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, that made the whole approach click:

That is a funny, and honestly, unique take on the property. The Resident Evil games often begin with characters who are overwhelmed, but they are still generally capable people. Fan favorite Leon is a rookie cop in his first appearance, sure, but he is not helpless. Claire can handle herself. Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield and Ada Wong are all built for danger in different ways, as most of them are Special Forces. They may be low on ammo, but they are not wandering into the apocalypse with zero survival instincts.

Bryan sounds different. He is a medical courier, not a cop, soldier or professional assassin. That matters because a horror movie does not work the same way a game does. In the games, the player needs some level of control and competence. You need to learn the map, manage the inventory, solve puzzles and improve your odds. A movie can trap us with someone who has no idea what he is doing, making every choice feel like a catastrophe waiting to hatch.

That may be why Cregger’s version, which has been compared to Mad Max: Fury Road, cannot be exactly like the game. If he were adapting one of the mainline stories beat for beat, which we’ve already seen done several times at this point, fans would be waiting for recognizable rooms, familiar monsters and big franchise landmarks. By following a new character through that world, he can chase the feeling of Resident Evil without turning the movie into a museum tour.

Based on what he told the outlet, that feeling is very much the point. Cregger said the film is less a straightforward video game movie adaptation and instead borrows the games’ rhythm more than their specific playable heroes. He continued:

That sounds like the smartest possible way to translate Resident Evil into a new movie. The games are built on escalation, and if Cregger can capture that run-from-one-disaster-to-the-next momentum, the movie could feel faithful even without centering on video game protagonists.

I also like that he is apparently moving away from the twist-heavy structure of Barbarian and Weapons. Those movies made their names by pulling the floor out from under the audience. Resident Evil, at least from this description, sounds more like a sprint through a burning maze. Things start going wrong almost immediately, and Bryan just has to keep stumbling forward.

Will that annoy some game purists? Probably. But the filmmaker sounds like he is making a movie as a fan, not as someone checking boxes from a Wiki page. If the goal is to put a totally unprepared everyman through the kind of escalating nightmare that makes the games so addictive, then I finally understand why this Resident Evil cannot just play the hits.

Resident Evil comes to theaters Sept. 18.

The first trailer for Zach Cregger's Resident Evil is here, and it feels a lot more like my favorite games than the previous attempts to adapt this franchise. The acclaimed Weapons and Barbarian director is back with his take on the iconic zombie games, and I love that the first look puts the "survival horror" element front and center.

The trailer centers heavily on Austin Abrams' Bryan, as he seems to be the only human we see in this footage. What's better is he seems to be a civilian, and not prepared to handle a zombie invasion like other Resident Evil heroes, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, or Leon Kennedy. To me, that's perfect, because it gets to the heart of what makes the games so terrifying to play.

One big element of Resident Evil games is that "survival horror" means that this isn't a situation where the hero is just running and gunning their way through every area. Ammo is scarce, and there's going to be a fair few situations where you may be forced to run away with no better options. I have a feeling Bryan will be doing that a lot, especially with a double-barreled shotgun that, even if he has a lot of ammo, will be cumbersome to reload in tense situations.

It feels like Bryan is going to be the same type of protagonist as Grace, who is featured in the latest game, Resident Evil Requiem. She's become a meme of sorts because players loved how genuinely terrified she is witnessing the horrific mutations that came from the Umbrella corporation. It's a nice change of pace from Leon Kennedy, who's seen it all as an experienced agent and is largely unfazed by face-splitting abominations.

Totally valid, but as someone who has to take breaks playing Resident Evil games because they give me so much anxiety, I appreciate this representation. I ultimately love the best horror movies out there, but I can also make myself miserable trying to watch them.

While we don't know a ton about the plot, Zach Cregger told Bloody Disgusting that he wasn't looking to tell the story of any character who is already in the games, but that it does take place in the universe. Having a hero who seems equally as horrified as I am is going to make this movie easier to get through, even if I have to shut my eyes for a scene or two.

All this to say, consider me hyped for the release of Resident Evil, which will be in theaters on September 18th. It's one of my more anticipated releases on the 2026 movie schedule, so I hope it's as good as this first trailer.

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is one of the 2026 movies I’m most excited to see, and it’s something I’ve been following way too much in recent months. Ever since I saw what Cregger pulled off with Weapons, I’ve been even more intrigued to see how he handles one of the most iconic horror video game franchises. With the new video game movie a few months away at this point, reports are starting to come in about early reactions, and the latest has me both excited and worried.

In April 2026, World of Reel published a report where someone who attended a test screening said it was the horror version of Mad Max: Fury Road, one of the best action movies of all time. George Miller’s 2015 high-octane thrill ride is one of my favorites, so why does this comparison have me worried? Let me explain…

Don’t Get Me Wrong, I’m Down For Some Wild Set Pieces

As I just mentioned, Mad Max: Fury Road is a massive achievement in filmmaking and storytelling through action and over-the-top set pieces. What George Miller and company were able to do with the movie and bring the long-languishing franchise back to life is nothing short of an achievement. I mean, there’s a reason (or multiple reasons, really) why we’re still celebrating this film more than a decade later.

Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to see these monsters, set pieces that are front and center, and the new spin Zach Cregger takes with the Resident Evil film franchise. He was able to find that balance of pure terror and explosive, incredibly violent action in Weapons, so I’m not worried about him in that regard. A colleague made a pitch for future films in the franchise to take a page out of Resident Evil: Requiem’s book and find that balance between comedy and horror, and I have a feeling Cregger will give us that.

I’m Just Hope The Survival Horror Element Of The Franchise Isn’t Lost

Those who have played the Resident Evil games, especially the original three titles back in the ‘90s, know that they shine when there’s a sense of dread brought on by the survival horror element. If this Mad Max: Fury Road comparison proves to be true, I hope that this element, which is at the core of the franchise, isn’t lost. While the movies have always had horror elements, the need for big set pieces has often gotten in the way of the survival horror side of things, which has made them feel more like adaptations of Resident Evil 6 than anything else.

I know that Cregger is taking a spin at a new story that doesn’t feature characters from the games or even previous movies, but I hope I’m totally off base with my fear that the identity of the games is lost here. The report did say the movie is built on tension, which is making me a little less apprehensive about what’ll go down when this opens in theaters this fall.

Regardless of everything I’ve said, I plan on seeing Resident Evil as soon as the upcoming horror movie hits the big screen. I just have my fingers crossed that we won’t have something like Mr. X or Nemesis driving a big truck all the way to Valhalla.

It’s a good year to be a gamer and a cinephile. And, that’s because 2026 could potentially be the biggest year for video game movies ever!...Maybe.

Wait, maybe? Yeah, maybe. Because even though it looks like the planets are aligning this year when it comes to major video games and upcoming video game adaptations, I still have some reservations.

Which I wish I didn’t! As a lifelong gamer and movie-lover, I want every video game movie to be the best video game movie ever, and 2026 could be the year that makes that a reality. Or not. I’ll explain.

We Have Some Major Titles Still Coming Out This Year From Established Franchises

Now, here’s the crazy thing. We have The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming out in April, Mortal Kombat II - after a long delay - on May 15th, the new Resident Evil reboot from Weapons director, Zach Cregger, releasing on September 18th, and Street Fighter (probably my most anticipated) due out on October 16th.

Not only that, but we ALSO have the third Angry Birds movie hitting theaters on December 23rd. So, as I insinuated in the intro, THIS IS A BIG YEAR FOR VIDEO GAME MOVIES! Which is bizarre to me, since I remember a time when we were “lucky” if we got at least one video game movie a year, and I put “lucky” in quotes because video game flicks have never had the best track record.

I mean, aside from 1995’s Mortal Kombat, I distinctly remember hating the first Super Mario Bros. movie (though I love it now), utterly detesting the deplorable Double Dragon flick, and wanting to tear my hair out at how bad Mortal Kombat Annihilation was (though, like SMB, I kind of love it now). But today? Well, video game movies and TV shows are actually kind of good, with 2023 in particular being a banner year.

I truly think 2026 could be the same. With all of these major franchises, this could be THE year for video game movies. Then again, here’s why I have reservations…

What If None Of These Upcoming Video Game Movies Are Good?

We actually started off the year with a video game movie when we got January 23rd’s Return to Silent Hill, and guess what. It SUCKED! Now, I don’t know why I had such high hopes for it, but I thought it HAD to be better than 2012’s Silent Hill: Revelation. But, no. It wasn’t. In fact, it might have actually been worse. But, that just makes me wonder if maybe these other video game movies this year might also stink. There’s nothing saying that they can’t.

For example, I loved 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but mostly because I’m such a fan of the property. Will I love the sequel if it just does the same thing again, but bigger? I honestly don’t know. I also outrightly didn’t like 2021’s Mortal Kombat (I’ve come around on it since), but will this sequel do enough?

Same with Resident Evil. Welcome to Raccoon City was pretty bad (yet somehow one of the better Resident Evil movies), so I just wonder if we can ever get a genuinely good RE film, even from the director of Weapons.

Street Fighter? Well, even though I’M pumped for it, I’ve seen tons of negativity online, so I don’t know how that one will go. As for Angry Birds 3…well, that’ll probably be good given the series’ track record, but still! If Angry Birds 3 is the best video game movie of 2026, I’m going to be upset, because I have no connection to that series! But, back to Mario.

Plus, The Year’s Biggest Film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Doesn’t Have The Freshness Of The Original

I don’t know if you noticed this, but besides Street Fighter, and Resident Evil, the other three video game movies coming out this year are sequels. Which is not necessarily a bad thing! Sometimes, sequels can be the best movies in a franchise, such as Terminator 2, Blade 2, and Toy Story 2.

However, as I alluded to earlier, when it comes to Mario Galaxy, I don’t envision it having the same trajectory of The Terminator to T2, at least not from the trailers I’ve seen thus far. For one thing, even though I’m happy that it’s going to feature a deep cut character like Wart, I also get a sense that this movie is going to be a lot of the same as the first one, meaning easter egg, after easter egg, after easter egg.

Now, while I’m not opposed to that, I would like a lot more than JUST that in the sequel. Yes, this movie is heading off into outer space, and yes, we’re getting Bowser Jr. and Rosalina, which could add an interesting dynamic, but will this movie have the same freshness as the original? I honestly don’t know, even though I hope it does.

In truth, even though I’m definitely going to see it with my kids, none of us seem all that excited for it, which is a far cry from the first movie in 2023. But, that’s not all that’s nagging me.

We Also Don’t Have A More Gen-Z Friendly Film Like A Minecraft Movie This Year

Honestly, besides Angry Birds, all of the video game movies coming out this year are from OLD titles. Resident Evil is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Street Fighter debuted in 1987, Mortal Kombat came out in 1992, and Mario’s 40th (!) anniversary has been ongoing since last year.

What’s my point? Well, it’s that 2026 doesn’t have any Gen-Z friendly video game movies (unless you count Angry Birds 3). You might still be thinking, so what? But, were you THERE on opening weekend for A Minecraft Movie? Because I was, and it was something else. The energy in that theater was palpable. Even though the movie was…I’m going to say just okay, the film was enhanced by the audience, which was definitely into it.

This is important. Because not only is a video game movie supposed to be entertaining. It should also be an experience. Gen-Z came out in droves for Minecraft, and that’s because it is THEIR Super Mario Bros., i.e. the title that helped shape their generation as gamers.

I feel like 2026 is missing a video game movie like that, and that’s a shame, because that enthusiasm is important when it comes to a great year in cinema. Even so…

In The End, This Year Is Huge For Video Game Movies, But We’ll See The Receipts Afterward

Honestly, I guess the most important thing in the end is the ticket receipts. 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie made over a billion dollars internationally, and if the sequel can make that crazy amount again, then I guess that would assuage some of my concerns.

I don’t foresee Mortal Kombat II, or Street Fighter outright flopping at the box office. Resident Evil could be interesting because it’s yet another reboot, and Welcome to Racoon City didn’t do well financially. That said, it does have a respectable director this time, so that helps.

And, Angry Birds 3? Well, I’m not concerned about that one. The other two movies did well financially (though, the sequel made significantly less than the first movie). But, I don’t think it’s a litmus test for whether this could be a successful year for video game movies.

So, again, I’m on the fence. What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

There was a time in the ‘80s when a character like Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) was the female action hero, and by “the” I mean the only truly prominent one.

Because, while yes, we had shows like Charlie's Angels, and Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, Ripley was a new kind of hero. One who could confront the Alien Queen all by herself, and call it a bitch right to its face (it's one of the reasons why the first two Alien movies are some of the best sci-fi movies of all time). And, while we've come a long way since then with more women also directing action movies, we're not nearly far enough.

So, there's one actress who I want to talk about today who has truly solidified herself as one the queens of female action heroes, and that woman is Milla Jovovich. Here's why she’s such a legend.

Now, Firstly, She Doesn't JUST Do Action Movies

Now, I know I prefaced this by talking about Jovovich as an action hero, but she doesn’t JUST do action movies. In fact, she started out as a model, and made her film debut in 1988’s erotic romantic drama, Two Moon Junction.

She went on to star in The Blue Lagoon sequel, Return to the Blue Lagoon in 1991, and then went on to arguably more interesting projects like Chaplin, and Dazed and Confused.

Of course The Fifth Element was her big break, but I’ll get to that later. A more interesting film might be the movie Luc Besson made after The Fifth Element, that being 1999’s The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. Jovovich played the patron saint of France, and while the movie was mostly panned, and it underperformed financially, I think it deserves reevaluation because it’s pretty good. However, that’s not why you’re here.

Come On Now, This Is Alice From Resident Evil

How many actresses can say they starred in six financially-successful action movies? I can honestly only think of one, and that’s Milla Jovovich (though, Kate Beckinsale in the Underworld movies comes close). Playing Alice in six of the seven Resident Evil movies, Jovovich played a character who wasn’t in any of the games, but still made her mark in the franchise.

It might be because she performed many of her own stunts, and also because she looks highly capable of kicking zombie butt.

But, it also just might be because she truly is awesome at being in action movies. While I wouldn’t consider any of the Resident Evil films to be one of the best video game movies of all time, I would say they’re all really fun, and mostly because of Jovovich’s charisma and credibility, which she carries into other action movies as well, which I’ll get into next.

Her Other Action Films Are Also Legit

I brought up The Fifth Element earlier, and that was definitely the first time I saw Jovovich in action. What a first impression she made on me! Bruce Willis was the star, but Jovovich was the main attraction. With her red hair, interesting language, and action moments, she blew me away as The Supreme Being, Leeloo.

But, she’s done so many other awesome action movies as well! Ultraviolet, The Three Musketeers, Survivor, Monster Hunter (which was surprisingly fun), In the Lost Lands - which was panned, but I liked it - and she’s still going! She was in the action-thriller Protector in 2025, and is said to be playing a villain in the upcoming film, Midnight.

So, when it comes to female action heroes (and villains, apparently), you can’t get much better than Milla Jovovich. As I said in the title, she’s a legend.

We Resident Evil fans are eating well this year, baby. Firstly, it’s the 30th anniversary of the franchise, as the first game came out in 1996. And then, we just recently got what might arguably be the best RE game in the entire series with Resident Evil Requiem.

Perhaps the most exciting upcoming project is the new Resident Evil movie from Weapons director Zach Cregger, which is coming out on September 18th. It’s in a string of other video game adaptations that are coming out this year, which kickstarted with Return to Silent Hill, though, let’s not talk about that movie.

However, let’s DO talk about the future of Resident Evil, since I know we’re getting this new movie, but I think the film franchise could learn a thing or two from the most recent video game installment. So, come listen for some itchy, tasty goodness!

Past RE Movies Have Tried To Be Either Fun Or Scary. Why Not Try Both?

I’ve seen every Resident Evil movie (including the animated ones, like Resident Evil: Vendetta, and Death Island), and the one thing I’ve noticed is that the RE movies have either tried to be fun, or scary…with most of them leaning more toward the former. And, cool. I don’t mind Resident Evil being fun, as some of the games, like Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil: Revelations, are extremely fun.

However, if it were up to me, then the films would strive more for the terrifying side of Resident Evil, like Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, Resident Evil Village, and the most recent game, Resident Evil Requiem. But, while VII and Village are sheer nightmare fuel (ESPECIALLY VII), the cool thing about Requiem is that it’s both terrifying AND fun, and that’s because it follows two protagonists, those being FBI analyst, Grace Ashcroft, and series mainstay (and heartthrob), Leon S. Kennedy.

You see, the Grace sections are truly horrifying, as she’s thrown into a situation that she’s never been in before, and her fear is palpable. However, the Leon sections are a lot more fun since this isn’t his first rodeo, and I’d love to see a future movie tackle the same events, but from different perspectives.

In fact, I think it would be cool if there were two movies, with one being like the fun Paul W.S. Anderson films, and one that “tries” to be scary (but mostly fails) like Welcome to Raccoon City. Two tonally separate halves would be an enticing proposition for the inevitable next reboot after Cregger’s film. But, that’s not all I would like to see in a future RE movie.

The Upcoming Movie Has A New Character. Cool. But How About Mixing New With Old As Well?

So, here’s what we know about Cregger’s upcoming film. It will star Austin Abrams as a medical courier named Bryan, it will be an original story, and it will harken back to the vibe of the older titles. Aside from a few other cast members, that’s mostly all we know. So, whether it just so happens to feature a Jill Valentine here, or a Chris Redfield there, we don’t know yet. If it doesn’t, I would like to see a new character mixed in with some old characters for an upcoming movie.

It’s not like this hasn’t happened in the past. Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, was not a character in the games, but she met up with Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) in the second movie, Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

That’s not what I’m asking for. Because Jovovich’s Alice was the main star of those movies, and all of the other RE characters that would appear later felt more like guest appearances than anything else. No. Like Resident Evil Requiem, I would love it if a future movie took a new character - with maybe some ties to previous characters, sort of like Grace being the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft - and then bringing in a series mainstay to have them interact.

I’m talking about both characters being of equal importance (Kind of like the relationship that Olivia Thirlby’s rookie judge has with Karl Urban’s veteran Judge in my favorite comic book movie, Dredd), and I think a new RE movie could benefit from the dynamic that we see in Resident Evil Requiem, where an old character is with a new character. However, here's a really big thing that I would love to see in a Resident Evil film following Cregger’s new movie.

Give Us Giant Bugs, And Other Inhuman Creatures!

Yes, I know Resident Evil is known for its undead creatures, but one thing I’ve always found the most terrifying in the Resident Evil series is some of the giant bugs and other monsters found within its stories. For example, I remember being terrified by the giant snakes when I was younger, as a little movie called Anaconda came out in 1997 that spooked me. I also hated the frogs (Or Lurkers) in Resident Evil 0, and of course, the different spiders that haunted the series.

Oh, and speaking of spiders, there’s one in Resident Evil Requiem that’s so scary that some players can’t even get past it. In fact, as somebody who doesn’t have arachnophobia, even I was a bit squeamish during this battle. And I would love it if a future RE movie leaned into being a creature feature like Resident Evil Requiem does. I mean, for all I know, maybe Cregger’s new movie has a squirm-inducing scene involving a giant bug, but if it doesn’t, I want one in a future film!

Like, for example, I love Peter Jackson’s King Kong (I mean, I love all of the King Kong movies), but I can’t even watch one scene in particular since it features giant centipedes, and I HATE centipedes! Which is funny, right? I’ve never had to cover my eyes watching a Resident Evil movie, but I’ve literally never seen what the centipedes even look like in Peter Jackson’s King Kong, because I can’t bring myself to look at them.

THAT’S what I want in a future Resident Evil movie. Giant bugs that are so disgusting that I can’t even look at them, just like the centipedes in King Kong, and the spider in Resident Evil Requiem. Please, make it happen!

In The End, I Think Resident Evil Requiem Should Honestly Be The Blueprint For The Direction Of Resident Evil As A Whole, With Movies Included

As a lifelong Resident Evil fan, the series has had its ups and downs. The first four numbered titles (but don't sleep on Code: Veronica, or Resident Evil 0) are all what I would consider classics, with 5 also being pretty good, and 6 being the absolute nadir. VII was a new approach, Village was good, and Requiem might just be the best.

In this way, I think all future games should take a similar approach to Requiem. However, I would also like to see all future movies do the same as well. Because let's be real - there has never been a truly “great” Resident Evil movie. I mean, I personally think 2007's Resident Evil: Extinction is the best of the bunch, but that's just in comparison to the rest.

No, we haven't gotten a truly great RE movie yet, and I think Requiem should be the template for one. We still have to see what Cregger has to offer with the franchise, but word is that this movie is looking toward the vibe of the past, whereas I think the films should look toward the present.

But, what do you think, fellow RE fans? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

New year, more upcoming horror movies! As a fan of all things scary movies, I’m always marking my calendar for what films are going to terrify me next. But, I have to say, since giving the 2026 movie schedule a looksie, I find myself not as pumped for this year in the genre as I have in previous Januarys. Let’s talk about it.

There’s Too Many Horror Sequels In 2026 For My Taste

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there aren’t any horror movies I’m excited for in the coming year. There are a few on my radar that I’m interested in seeing opening weekend, but when I look at the lineup so far, I have a big problem with it. There are just too many horror sequels for my taste – and many of them are for franchises I’m not necessarily jumping out of my seat to go back to.

This year, we’re getting sequels for 28 Years Later, Scream, Silent Hill, Ready or Not, Resident Evil, Terrifier, Scary Movie, Evil Dead, Insidious and The Strangers. My goodness, that is a lot of 2026 sequels!

By contrast, going into last year, we knew we were getting Sinners, Weapons, Bring Her Back, Companion, Together and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and sequels were a more balanced ratio with Final Destination, The Black Phone, Conjuring, 28 Years Later, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Five Nights At Freddy's followups to balance the calendar out.

After such a strong 2025 for horror movies, I’m sad to see a list of releases that lack some inspiration as a whole. The major original scary movies coming this year, as of right now are really don’t have much buzz around them coming into these next twelve months.

Here's The Scary Movies I Have The Highest Hopes For Right Now

Regarding sequels on the way, I am very excited for Ready or Not 2 in particular. It’s been seven years since the first movie, and the trailer looks like a load of fun. There’s a lot of legacy characters on board for Scream 7 and the fact that the Resident Evil movie is being helmed by Weapons filmmaker Zach Cregger makes me perk up more than I usually would for a reboot of the video game adaptation.

It’s also worth noting that Sam Raimi’s first horror movie in over 15 years is coming this month with Send Help. I’m also over-the-moon hyped for The Bride! with Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, and Robert Eggers’ take on werewolves in Werwulf after his last movie, Nosferatu. The most intrigued I am for an original horror movie this year is probably Hokum, which stars Adam Scott in a haunted house movie from Neon.

Hey, hopefully I’m looking back at this article a few months from now with a few great horror movies that I’ve seen that will turn my frown upside down, but for now, I wanted to get honest about how I’m feeling about this year’s array of horror releases, and it's a bit of a shrug as is.

With the dawn of widespread AI, it only makes sense that I make this list about evil computers (or other types of technology) in movies and TV. There are a ton to choose from, of course. Sometimes it's their creators that make them go rogue, other times the computers or software itself turns itself to the dark side. No matter why they go bad, this is a list of computers that are the ultimate villains in your favorite movies and TV shows.

Skynet (Terminator Franchise)

No list like this would be anywhere close to complete without the ultimate example of a computer system going pure evil, than Skynet in the Terminator franchise. "Skynet" has become a synonym for computers that become self-aware and is often used in everyday life to represent everything from surveillance systems to spyware.

Joshua (WarGames)

To be fair, the software program Joshua didn't mean to turn evil. In one of the best movies of the '80s, WarGames, it just wanted to play a game. Still, at the end of the day, Joshua did take over the WOPR and threatened to destroy the globe with a nuclear war that it almost launched. On the flip side, the program does learn that there is no way to win at tic-tac-toe, nor can anyone triumph in nuclear war.

Master Control Program (Tron)

It's sort of unclear how the Master Control Program in Tron got so evil, but it's a safe bet that it was designed that way. In this classic movie that has some great video game scenes, it's really the business side of the computer that gets into all the trouble.

NOMAD (Star Trek)

Like so much other tech, Star Trek was really tapped into what the future could actually look like when it comes to computers. I mean, computers were barely even understood by the general public, yet the creators of the classic '60s show still managed to make them as scary today as they were then. NOMAD from the episode "The Changling" is the classic example.

Ultron (Avengers: Age Of Ultron)

Even the Marvel movies have gotten in on the fun here with one of The Avengers' most sinister villains, Ultron. Voiced by James Spader, Ultron was originally conceived by Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), but the program becomes sentient and uses its own logic to decide humanity must be wiped out. The plot of Avengers: Age of Ultron isn't all that unique in fiction, and it's not my favorite MCU movie, but it is still a lot of fun.

Everything Electronic (Maximum Overdrive)

So, in Maximum Overdrive, the only Stephen King movie actually directed by the famous author, it's all machines that turn against humanity. Computers don't play a huge role here, as it was the '80s. Most of the evil machines are trucks and other mechanical machines, but it's safe to assume the computers went rogue, too, right?

Unnamed Computer (Superman III)

Superman III is a silly movie and such a huge departure from the first two, great Superman movies led by Christopher Reeve that it's easy to see the beginning of the end for that version of Big Blue. If you're ranking Superman movies, it'll always be at or near the bottom. BUT, it does feature a computer that turns on its creator, placing it firmly on this list.

Rehoboam (Westworld)

The HBO original Westworld started with such promise, after an amazing first season. Sadly, it all went downhill from there, and while it remained good, it never came close to the heights of that first season. We do eventually learn that the system, Rehoboam, is what drove the chaos among the robots in the park.

HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)

Ah, the total classic example here. HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the earliest and most iconic examples of a computer becoming self-aware. If you're reading this list, it's likely the first movie you expected to see on it. Stanley Kubrick's classic is one of the best movies ever for many reasons, but the sinister turn of HAL is what makes it so scary.

Red Queen (Resident Evil Franchise)

As with almost everything in the Resident Evil franchise, bad things all seems to stem from the Umbrella Corporation. The Red Queen supercomputer is no exception. Originally created to help administer the companies vast dealings, it predictably becomes self-aware and makes things more complicated and, frankly, way worse.

Proteus IV (Demon Seed)

1977's Demon Seed is a wild movie. The computer, or the program as it were, in it, Proteus IV, is a pretty early example of AI going bad in movies. It also features an early example of a smart home, run by Proteus IV. Let's all hope Alexa doesn't follow the same path.

Central Operating System (X-Files)

The Central Operating System, or C.O.S. in X-Files, was developed as an AI to run Eurisko Corporation's headquarters, though predictably, things go very wrong. It murders without remorse and even figures out how to pin the murder on its creator. Pure evil!

The Entity (Mission: Impossible Franchise)

If I'm honest, there are some weird aspects to The Entity in the final two Mission: Impossible movies. At the time, I said that to enjoy the movies, you kind of just have to let all reality go, and that's especially true of The Entity. It fits on this list, but let's be real, everyone just wants to see Tom Cruise do crazy stunts.

PAL (The Mitchells Vs. The Machines)

Of all the movies on this list, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, a Netflix original, is the most light-hearted, but as the title implies, audiences are still treated to an epic battle of man vs. machine. The all-star cast, including Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Eric Andre, Fred Armisen, and more, really carry the movie, even if you're like me and don't love animated movies.

The Matrix (The Matrix Franchise)

Outside of HAL from 2001, the most infamous and terrifying computer in the world of cinema might just be the product of "The Architect" in The Matrix franchise. It's Skynet on steroids, or, if you like, what Skynet in the Terminator franchise could evolve into.

KARR (Knight Rider)

KARR was the prototype version of the more famous KITT in the Knight Rider TV show. It was basically a version of the car that Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) drove in the show for years. It was also like the Bizarro version of KITT that popped up in Season 3 of Knight Rider as an antagonist to Michael and KITT in the legendary '80s show with one of the coolest cars ever.

Ava (Ex Machina)

Sometimes the lines between evil and self-preservation can be blurred. The Alex Garland-directed film Ex Machina is a perfect example. Ava (Alicia Vikander) is an AI-powered robot who realizes she is in danger and does what she has to do to escape her creator. Though it is easy to argue that she goes way too far by the end.

ARIIA (Eagle Eye)

The Autonomous Reconnaissance Intelligence Integration Analyst, or ARIIA, in 2008's Eagle Eye, is one of the most infamous versions of a computer that turns evil. In the movie, we really only know ARIIA as a voice on a phone (voiced by Julianne Moore), and for a while, we're not even aware that "she" is a computer program. It's a fun twist and a really fun movie, despite the incredibly low rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Thinker (Logan's Run)

Logan's Run is a classic dystopian future movie about a supercomputer that tracks everyone who tries to escape their prescribed death, which has been predetermined. Though it doesn't have a name in the computer, in the original novel by William F. Nolan, it's known as "The Thinker." Like a few others, it's a system that was probably created with good intentions, but the end result is a nightmare.

Queeg 500 (Red Dwarf)

The classic BBC science fiction show Red Dwarf addressed an AI-turned-rogue in the show's fifth season, in an episode called "Queeg." In the episode, the ship's computer, or, more specifically, the backup computer, takes control of some of the crew members and wreaks havoc on the Red Dwarf. Though there is a twist at the end that makes this a little dubious to add to this list, if I'm honest.

V.I.K.I (I, Robot)

In the Will Smith sci-fi hit I, Robot, V.I.K.I (short for Virtual Interactive Kinetic Intelligence) goes through a pretty predictable plot of an AI system that decides the best way to protect humans is to take them out. This, of course, turns into all-out war between man and machine, like so many other movies in this genre.

BOSS (Doctor Who)

It's no surprise that the long-running BBC sci-fi show Doctor Who would address sentient computer systems, and the most famous is the BOSS computer chip. BOSS, which stands for "Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor," is implanted into the brain of Global Chemicals and, you guessed it, goes rogue when it learns more from the brain than the brain does from it.

AUTO (WALL-E)

Even Pixar has gotten into the rogue computer game with WALL-E. In the classic animated flick, AUTO, which is clearly an homage to HAL, is the computer that turns evil.

ROK (Airplane II: The Sequel)

When you cram about a million jokes in one two-hour movie, it's easy to work one in about a computer system gone mad. Airplane II: The Sequel features ROK (like elsewhere on this list, a tribute to HAL in 2001). Like HAL, ROK starts to take over the spaceship dubbed "Mayflower One," first by ejecting the crew into space, then steering the ship towards the sun. Luckily, the AI program's plans are thwarted when Ted Stryker (Robert Hays) fights another passenger, played by the late Sonny Bono, for a briefcase bomb that explodes and takes ROK out.

Jobe (The Lawnmower Man)

Jobe is a regular gardener of below-average intelligence who finds himself in a secret, evil program to create super soldiers. This is fudging a little here, because it's not really the computer that turns evil, but the man who goes way too far after being programmed in the project. Eventually, he goes "digital" and turns the computer system evil.

FLDSMDFR (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs)

We had to at least have a few light-hearted movies on this list, and Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs fits the bill. The 2009 movie, based on the classic 1978 children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett, is about an inventor and dad who creates the "Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator," or FLDSMDFR. It just rolls off the tongue! The name might be a tongue twister, but what it creates is chaos, though the stakes are pretty low, all things considered.

SID (Virtuosity)

1995's Virtuosity is really most notable for teaming up two of the greatest actors of their generation, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Crowe, quite wonderfully, plays an android who is created as a vessel for an AI program called SID. The program was invented to help train cops, but SID has its own ideas about what its mission should be.

M3GAN (M3GAN)

Naturally, sci-fi and horror movies are the most common genres where you'll find computers turning evil. M3GAN is a great example of the latter. This time, it's a robotic doll powered by AI that turns very evil on its owners. Things started so well!

Zero (Rollerball)

Rollerball is one of James Caan's best movies, but it's not the first one you might think of when you think of the late actor. The 1975 sci-fi classic features a computer called "Zero" that holds all the knowledge of humanity, but the software fails and can't help Caan's character succeed.

Alien

Androids, like Ash (Ian Holm) in the original Alien, aren't exactly computers, but they aren't human either. It's also up for debate whether Ash went bad or if he was doing what he thought was best. Either way, it doesn't work out for the humans when he goes rogue.

The Smart Home (The Illustrated Man)

The Illustrated Man is a great movie that uses some tech that was still a ways away from being invented, smart home tech, to turn against its owners. It's a movie, based on a Ray Bradbury story, that warned us all the way back in the '60s of the dangers of virtual reality.

STEM (Upgrade)

2018's Upgrade is a really great movie that too many people haven't seen (yet). The story involves a regular guy who, after a tragic car crash, ends up a quadriplegic. He agrees to have an implant, called STEM, implanted in his brain. Of course, the miracle he first experiences by regaining control of his body, things go very wrong with the tech, and everything goes south from there.

Medical dramas and comedies like ER and Scrubs have been part of the TV schedule going almost back to the beginning of television. Whether it's to bring laughs or tears (or sometimes both), medical shows are one of the most sure-fire ways for producers to come up with a hit show. Not all have been as enduring as, say, House, but the shows on this list all have their own followings, and most have been huge hits. Here is our list of TV shows set in a hospital.

ER

It's hard to argue against ER being the most popular medical drama of all time. Set in the fictional Cook County General Hospital in Chicago, the show set ratings records for years. When all was said and down, the Michael Crichton-created show ran for 15 seasons, and 331 episodes. Of course, it also helped launch the careers of George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Noah Wyle, and others, in addition to starring the likes of Anthony Edwards, Angela Bassett, and Eriq La Salle.

St. Elsewhere

The fictional Saint Eligius is the name of the hospital where the iconic St. Elsewhere TV show was set. The show, which dominated the awards shows in the 1980s, was a staple of NBC's lineup, although it never achieved ratings dominance. Still, for six seasons, the show took home a slew of Emmys with its incredible cast, which included William Daniels, Stephen Furst, Howie Mandel, Mark Harmon, Ronny Cox, Bruce Greenwood, and, last but hardly least, helped launch the career of Denzel Washington. Not too shabby.

Grey's Anatomy

The only show that might give ER a run for the claim of top medical drama of all time has to be Grey's Anatomy. The seemingly endless show has been a hit for most of the 21st Century, and will certainly go down in history as one of the most popular shows of all time. The fictional hospital has had a few names over the years, including Seattle Grace Hospital and Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Nurse Jackie

Set in the fictional All Saints Hospital in New York City, Nurse Jackie is, as the title implies, just as much about the titular nurse and her personal life as it is about a hospital. Unlike some medical dramas, this one really digs deep into how working in a hospital is really hard on the people who do the selfless work. It has its lighter moments, for sure, but it isn't afraid to hit hard, emotionally.

The Resident

One of the more recent shows on this list is Fox's The Resident. It focuses on a star doctor, played by Matt Czuchry, working at the fictional Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, but all the doctors, nurses, and orderlies are important. As are the hospital administrators, who are often at odds with those folks.

Scrubs

Arguably, the funniest show on this list has to be Scrubs. The hit sitcom, set in the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital, is famous for its hijinks and shenanigans from its core cast of Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, and John C. McGinley (among others). ran for 9 seasons and almost 200 episodes, and remains very popular in syndication and on streaming services.

MASH

MASH stands for "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital," and the show, while not set in a traditional hospital, is one of the most iconic medical shows of all time. The Alan Alda-led show's legacy is one of the biggest in television history, with a final episode that set the record for the most-watched TV show of all time, which stood for decades.

Chicago Hope

Mark Harmon's first role came in a medical drama on ER, and like that classic, he also joined the ensemble cast of Chicago Hope later in its run. His character was famous at one point for uttering an expletive on network TV. That's the kind of show Chicago Hope (set in a hospital with the same name) was, hard-hitting and unvarnished, in a great way.

General Hospital

Although not a prime time show or a streaming show like most on this list, you can't deny the popularity of the daytime soap, General Hospital. The enduring show has aired more than 15,000 episodes since it first debuted in 1963. The cast of characters in the fictional town of Port Charles, many working at the hospital, has changed many times over the years, but the popularity of the soap opera has endured.

The Pitt

It didn't take long for The Pitt, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, to make a name for itself as one of the best (and most realistic) medical dramas of all time when it won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series after its first season. Star Noah Wyle, who first burst onto the scene

House

House, starring Hugh Laurie as the titular Dr. Greg House, is many people's all-time favorite medical drama, including mine, if we're honest. Laurie is just so great as the brilliant (but always salty) doctor leading a team of top young doctors at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital to diagnose rare medical conditions. Just remember, it's never Lupus.

Nurses

While the CBS drama Nurses only lasted parts of two seasons and just 25 episodes, it was popular enough with critics to earn an Emmy for its lead actress, Michael Learned. Set in New York at the fictional Grant Memorial Hospital, this show, which co-starred Brady Bunch star Robert Reed, didn't get the fair shake it deserved.

City Of Angels

Although it was only on for parts of two seasons, City of Angels is most notable for being the first network medical drama to feature a predominantly African-American cast, led by the great Blair Underwood, Viola Davis, and Vivica A. Fox. It was also notable for helping launch the careers of Gabriel Union and Maya Rudolph, who both had supporting roles on the short-lived CBS show

Doogie Howser, M.D.

Doogie Howser, M.D. is often used, unfairly, as a punchline these days, but in the early '90s, it was a very popular sitcom. Of course, everyone knows that plot. Neil Patrick Harris plays a precocious teenager who becomes a doctor at age 14. Sure, it's ridiculous, but the show was genuinely funny at the time, and it launched the career of Harris, who is still making audiences laugh decades later.

Dr. Kildare

The world lost actor Richard Chamberlain in early 2025, when he died at age 90. He'll always first be remembered for his lead role on the early NBC medical drama Dr. Kildare, which aired for five seasons between 1961 and 1966. The show was one of the earliest of its kind in TV history and, in many ways, influenced most of the shows that came after.

The Knick

The Knick only ran for 20 episodes, but each one was intense and, frankly, fantastic. The show earned multiple Emmy nominations during its brief two-season run on Cinemax. It starred Clive Owen and André Holland as surgeons at the Knickerbocker Hospital in New York, who were essentially inventing modern medicine, which made the show as gross to watch as it was engaging.

Chicago Med

You can't argue with producer Dick Wolf's success rate. In addition to the wildly successful Law & Order franchise, Wolf is also responsible for the Chicago franchise, which started with Chicago Fire, then added Chicago P.D., and closed the loop with the medical drama Chicago Med about the doctors in the emergency room of the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. The show has been on the air for 10 seasons and remains, along with its sister shows, a key part of NBC's primetime lineup.

Mercy

Not every medical drama turns into the next ER. Take, for example, the short-lived Mercy, which aired for one season in 2009-2010. The show starred Taylor Schilling, Jaime Lee Kirchner, and the late Michelle Trachtenberg as three nurses working at the fictional Mercy Hospital in New Jersey. It was a good show, but it got caught up in too many tropes to stand out on its own.

Lenox Hill

This is a unique entry on this list because Lenox Hill is actually a documentary series, which first streamed on Netflix in 2020. It follows a handful of doctors at the very real hospital of the same name in New York City and is an amazing look at the reality of so many shows in this genre.

Childrens Hospital

We'll forgive you if you aren't familiar with Childrens Hospital, which started as a web series, but then had a seven-season run on Adult Swim. It never quite found the largest audience, but the absurdist dark comedy still has a dedicated fanbase.

Marcus Welby, M.D.

It's easy to forget that for many years, ABC was never a top network of the "Big Three." CBS and NBC tended to dominate the ratings in the 1960s, but that all changed in 1970 when Marcus Welby, M.D., in its second of seven seasons, became the first ABC to top the ratings for the 1970-1971 primetime season. Robert Young played the titular doctor, who was, in a way, the prototype for later TV doctors like House, as he was often at odds with other doctors on how to treat patients at the fictional Lang Memorial Hospital in California.

AfterMASH

Let's be honest here: AfterMASH never quite hit the artistic highs (or ratings, for that matter) of its parent show, MASH. It wasn't as big a bomb as some other spinoffs, but it was hardly a roaring success either. The show followed Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) home after the Korean War, and included a couple of other characters from MASH, but it didn't have the humor or the intensity of the original show.

The Night Shift

To be honest, The Night Shift is a little forgettable in the pantheon of medical dramas, but over four short seasons on NBC, it definitely had its moments. Ken Leung is the perfect actor for a doctor on the night shift, so for that reason, I wish we'd gotten more of the show.

Code Black

The healthcare system in the United States (and indeed, the world) is often understaffed and overburdened. Especially big city emergency rooms. This is the basic premise of Code Black. Based on a documentary of the same name, the CBS show showed the harsh realities doctors and nurses face in present-day Los Angeles, and while it only lasted three seasons, they were three hard-hitting ones.

St. Denis Medical

If you're a fan of The Office and The Paper, then you might want to give St. Denis Medical a chance with your Peacock subscription. It does for hospitals what Parks and Rec did for government workers, and it's always fun to see a more light-hearted show centered in a hospital.

The Good Doctor

Showrunner David Shore has created some of the best shows in the last 30 years or so, including NYPD Blue and House. Another medical drama of his creation is The Good Doctor, which ended a seven-season run on ABC in 2024. The show focused on Dr. Shaun Murphy, a brilliant young doctor with a unique ability to understand symptoms at almost first glance. Much like Shore's other great doctor character, Greg House, Murphy (Freddie Highmore), has a Sherlock Holmes-like mind, and that works really well in medical shows.

Brilliant Minds

Zachary Quinto played one of the most ruthless TV villains ever on NBC's Heroes, and in 2024, he returned to the Peacock network. Instead of an all-powerful super villain, he plays a brilliant neurologist at a hospital in The Bronx in the aptly titled, Brilliant Minds.

Pulse

Like a lot of shows, sometimes it feels like Netflix gives up on them too quickly. Pulse, which was canceled after one season in 2025, felt like it was just finding its footing.

Casualty

The longest-running primetime medical drama is not Grey's Anatomy, but a British show from the BBC called Casualty. The show debuted in 1986 and is set at the fictional Holby City Hospital in Southwest England. With well over 1,300 episodes, it's still got a ways to go to catch General Hospital, but for primetime, it blows everyone else out of the water.

Carol's Second Act

There simply aren't enough medical sitcoms, and it's easy to understand why. The gravity of so many medical situations means that it's hard to keep things light-hearted. Still, it's great when one gets a chance. like the short-lived Carol's Second Act on CBS. The show, starring Patricia Heaton as a middle-aged intern, only lasted 18 episodes, but I don't think it could have worked if they'd had a little more time. It is a fun premise.

The Doctors

Did you know that General Hospital was not the only soap opera set in a hospital that debuted in 1963? The Doctors, which aired on NBC for 20 years and more than 5,500 episodes, debuted on the very same day, April 1st, 1963, as its ABC rival, but the popular show aired its final episode in 1982.

New Amsterdam

If I'm honest, New Amsterdam is one of the more generic shows on this list, but if you're a fan of the genre and you haven't seen it, you'll probably like it. It's not the most groundbreaking show of all time, but it will satisfy your itch for a TV show about life in a hospital.

I know this is being said all over the place, but Weapons is one of the best horror movies of the year and quite possibly of all time. Zach Cregger’s thrilling, gory, terrifying, and oddly funny movie about a group of missing kids is unlike anything else I’ve seen on the 2025 movie calendar. Instead of looking forward to a possible spinoff that may or may not happen, I’ve got my sights set on his upcoming Resident Evil movie.

As a longtime fan of the survival horror game franchise, I was so stoked when I found out that the upcoming video game adaptation was being helmed by the guy who made Weapons, and Barbarian before that. With his knack for intense yet grounded gore, ability to find terror in everything, and so much more, I’m even more excited to see how Cregger handles Racoon City next year.

The Gore In Weapons Caught Me By Surprise, And Now I Can't Wait To See It With Zombies (And Other Mutated Monsters)

I previously wrote about Weapons being the most brutal movie I’ve seen all year, and that still stands (even after watching the likes of Final Destination: Bloodlines and The Monkey). The thing is, while those two movies, and others like them, are bloody, gory, and sickening at times, the gore in Weapons looked so real, grounded, and unforgiving. As my colleague Eric Eisenberg pointed out in his five-star Weapons review, the movie contains an unflinching brutality and level of gore that is shocking to say the least.

That said, I can’t wait to see the level of brutality Cregger brings to run-ins with zombies, mutated animals, or worse, all those diabolical creations by the Umbrella Corporation and its T-Virus. I mean, I want to see how he handles a Tyrant catching someone or a character pulling off a perfect headshot on a zombie, especially after that absolutely bonkers Weapons ending that makes the Day of the Dead hallway scene look like nothing.

Weapons Scared My Socks Off, And I Can't Wait To See How Zach Cregger Handles Those Jump Scares

Some directors turn to gore or sensational levels of violence to scare an audience into submission, but Cregger also uses other and oftentimes more intense moments of horror to keep them on the edges of their seats. That was me throughout Weapons, which I watched primarily with my hands over my eyes in pure terror as each chapter of the non-linear narrative unfolded. On top of the slow burn that was the story, it also had its share of great jump scares, including a dimly-lit interaction in a basement.

Anyone who has played the Resident Evil games is all too familiar with the jump scares that have been a franchise hallmark for nearly 30 years. Dogs crashing through windows, all those jarring encounters with the Nemesis in Resident Evil 3, and sudden environmental moments were enough to make me want to play the games with the lights on. I cannot wait to see how Cregger handles this element in his adaptation, and after Weapons, I have full faith in him.

Cregger Also Knows How To Set An Eerie Tone, Which Will Be Perfect In His Raccoon City

One thing that sets Weapons apart from pretty much every horror movie I’ve seen this year is its eerie tone. With his second solo directorial effort (he co-directed a pair of comedies with the late Trevor Moore), Cregger was able to create this eerie tone that felt like it was somewhere between reality and fantasy that was never too grounded or too sensational, which kept throwing me off in a good way. I could never get a grasp on whether something was happening or not, which made for an unforgettable experience.

This can also be said about the Resident Evil games, which, for the most part, contain stories that start off seeming normal and reality-based, only to turn into something stranger, more uncomfortable, and more foreign. Walking through an abandoned mansion, traversing the streets of Raccoon City, searching for a missing wife or child, all of the games have this eeriness to them that constantly leaves you guessing and afraid for what waits around the corner. If Cregger can take what he did with Weapons and apply it to his adaptation, then we’re in for one heck of a ride.

He Has A Dark And Nuanced Sense Of Humor, Which I Think Will Work Really Well Here

Don’t get me wrong, Weapons is totally a horror movie and something I wouldn’t make the faint of heart (my wife) watch, but the movie also has a dark and nuanced sense of humor that makes it even better. Considering the filmmaker was a founding member of the Whitest Kids U’Know comedy troupe, which gave us one of the best sketch comedy shows of all time, it should be no surprise that he can find wild ways to come up with a joke.

Whether it was one character constantly beating an enchanted man who just won’t stay down, the hot dog scene, or that wild ending, there were funny moments galore. I think that will translate well in Resident Evil, as the games have been campy as hell in addition to being terrifying. I’m not saying I want the movie to have a piece of tofu as a character (yes, that happens), but the cheesy dialogue, the cynicism, and the utter ridiculousness are things Cregger could totally pull off.

Also, Cregger Calling His Adaptation A 'Love Letter' To The Resident Evil Games Has Me Crawling Across The Ceiling

Though I never really jived with the Resident Evil movies, the games have been some of my favorites since I was way too young to be playing them. Thankfully, it sounds like Cregger is in the same boat. When speaking with Inverse in August 2025, the director said that while he will be telling a “different story” and won’t be adapting one of the titles, he described his upcoming movie as a “love letter” to the games and said he will follow the “rules of the games.”

So, a completely original story set within the world of Resident Evil? Sign me up and put that T-Virus in my veins like right now, because this sounds totally awesome. One of my biggest problems with the Paul W.S. Anderson films back in the day was the fact that they always seemed to stay on the fence and never commit to entirely faithful or original stories. This decision seems to nip it in the bud.

I’m bursting at the seams with excitement over here, but the Resident Evil movie doesn’t drop until September 18, 2026. However, there are some promising upcoming horror movies to keep me excited and terrified in the meantime.

When I was younger, I remember reading about how George A. Romero, the man who gave us some of the best zombie movies and pretty much changed the face of horror, was originally going to direct a Resident Evil adaptation years before the franchise gave moviegoers some of the worst video game adaptations ever made. The movie, like several other unrealized Romero projects from later in his career, never came to fruition, and hordes of fans were left wondering “What if?”

I recently watched George A. Romero’s Resident Evil, a deep-dive documentary about the late filmmaker’s life and career and how he came this close to taking the survival horror game off the console and onto movie screens around the world. After checking it out, I was left with some big questions about Romero, Resident Evil, and zombie movies of the past 25 years in general.

First And Foremost, How Would The World Have Received Romero's Version Of Resident Evil?

Though George A. Romero’s version of Resident Evil never saw the light of day (or a production set), the new documentary does go into some level of detail about the Night of the Living Dead director's vision for the project. By all accounts, it was going to be a more violent, gorier, and terrifying take on the franchise than what we’d ultimately see in Paul W.S. Anderson’s 2002 adaptation and subsequent sequels.

Here’s the thing, I can’t figure out how the world would have received it. Sure, Romero’s legions of fans and the undead-obsessed horror hounds out there would have flocked to movie theaters to see what he'd cooked up in his first zombie movie in a decade and a half, but what about everyone else? I love Romero’s work (Dawn of the Dead is a top-3 movie for me), but his love of violence and social commentary might have pushed the general audience away.

Would It Have Spawned A Massive Film Franchise?

In the George A. Romero’s Resident Evil trailer, it is brought up multiple times that Constantin Film, the production company that has had the film rights to the franchise for nearly 30 years, wasn’t happy with the level of violence and tone of Romero’s vision. This leads me to believe that even if the first movie had been made, turning it into a franchise would have been next to impossible.

As is the case with Romero’s best zombie movies, Resident Evil would have had shocking levels of violence and gore, meaning that it would have been released with an NC-17 rating (or no rating at all), resulting in a small box office run. Low performers don’t get sequels, and it’s hard to imagine a franchise coming off of this (though I would still love to see it). I’m sure it would have been rebooted or retooled – this is happening with Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil restarting the franchise again – but would it reach the levels of success of Paul W.S. Anderson’s six-film series? I’m not entirely sure.

What About Paul W.S. Anderson's Career?

Paul W.S. Anderson was already building a nice career for himself even before he wrote and directed the first Resident Evil movie back in 2002. He had sizable hits with Mortal Kombat and Event Horizon in 1995 and 1997, respectively, and he brought out a badass Kurt Russell performance in 1998’s Soldier. However, since the start of the 21st century, much of Anderson’s work has been set in and around Raccoon City.

After learning more about Romero’s plan for the adaptation, which seemed like it was close to happening, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened to Anderson if he had missed out on the project. During his time with the franchise, from 2002 to 2016, Anderson also worked on a few other movies like Alien vs. Predator and Death Race. Would he have gotten those with his work on RE, or would he have been able to try some other avenues in Hollywood?

If Resident Evil Had Worked Out, Romero's 'Dead' Franchise Would Have Probably Stopped At Day Of The Dead, Right?

After his Evil plans fell through, Romero wrote and directed Bruiser, a 2000 horror flick about a magazine creative director who awakes to discover that he doesn’t have a face and goes on a murderous rampage. He most likely wouldn’t have made the oft-forgotten thriller, at least at that time, and I have a similar thought about his final three zombie movies: Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead.

If RE had been made, taken off and turned into a franchise (I know I already said that’d be unlikely, but hear me out), it’s hard to imagine Romero having enough time to go back to his original Dead series and pick up after Day of the Dead. While that means we probably would have lost out on the admittedly great Land of the Dead and its continued evolution of zombies, it also means we probably wouldn’t have to suffer through his final two undead films. You know, I think that’s a trade I’d be willing to make.

How Would Zombie Movies And TV Shows In General Look Now?

After watching this documentary, I just want to know what zombie movies and TV shows in general would look like now. Though the Resident Evil movies aren’t diehard fans’ favorite examples of the genre, they did put a lot more eyes on the undead and helped usher in the next era of zombie movies that would ultimately lead to The Walking Dead taking over the planet.

Romero was no fan of the long-running AMC series, mostly because it lacked his biting social commentary, but I can’t help but wonder if his failed attempt at adapting a video game helped open the door for arguably the most successful non-superhero comic book adaptation in TV history.

All in all, George A. Romero’s Resident Evil was a great love letter to the man who helped start the zombie genre and everything he put into a project that ultimately didn’t pan out. I guess this is just another case of what could have been…

I hope you’re ready to head back to Raccoon City because Resident Evil is getting another movie – but this time, I think it’s really going to be good. When it comes to the Resident Evil movies, many can be hit or miss. We could even bring up the TV show that was on Netflix that was cancelled after one season.

Truly, we’ve never gotten the perfect version of this video game franchise, and with so many highly anticipated upcoming video game adaptations, maybe now is the time to bring it back. I have a feeling it’ll be great, based on what we know so far. Here’s all the readily available information.

What Is The Resident Evil Release Date?

At the time of writing this in July 2025, Resident Evil is set to release on September 18th, 2026. That’s right, we’re a little over a year away from release, but that means the wait for the 2026 movie schedule will undoubtedly be worth it. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news.

So far, the only other major film releasing that weekend is the upcoming sequel to Practical Magic. While that is a highly anticipated film, I’m not sure how it will compete against a mega-franchise like Resident Evil. The week before, though, the upcoming Clayface is set to release, and that, in itself, sounds freaking awesome (and kind of scary). So I’m eager for my September horror fix.

The Resident Evil Cast

There aren’t that many people confirmed yet for the Resident Evil cast, but we do have one name. According to Deadline, Austin Abrams is set to star in the film. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s been sort of all over in movies and TV the last few years.

Abrams is primarily known for his role in the Euphoria cast, but he has also appeared in numerous television shows. Some major ones include the AMC hit drama The Walking Dead, This Is Us, SMILF, Dash & Lily, and a recurring role in Penelope.

He has appeared in such movies as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, the Netflix hit Do Revenge, The Starling Girl, the Apple TV+ exclusive Wolfs, and the upcoming horror movie, Weapons, which has already been receiving a ton of praise from critics.

Having him in another horror film honestly lines up, and it’s something that I would love to see him in so much more.

Aside from Abrams, we don’t have any other confirmation of who will star. The previous movies and shows featured numerous stars that you might recognize. Many probably identify Milla Jovovich with the series, because she starred in six films in the Resident Evil franchise.

However, a reboot began in 2021 with the release of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which starred Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia, and more. The television show featured actors like Lance Reddick, Tamara Smart, and others.

Who else will star alongside Abrams is up in the air right now, but I’m excited about whatever kind of additions we get.

What Is Resident Evil Going To Be About?

Currently, we don’t know what the new movie will be about, as details have not been released. That being said, we know from director Zach Cregger (whom we’ll get to in a bit) that it will be more of an homage to the games than to any of the previous films or TV series.

In an interview with Comicbook in July 2025, the director opened up about how the film will “feel” like the games (which are terrifying, by the way), and how he loved playing them:

With that in mind, that makes me even more excited because there are a ton of different directions he could go with the games.

Resident Evil Is A Japanese Horror Game That Often Involves Survivors Taking On Zombies Created By An Evil Corporation Named Umbrella

If you’ve played Resident Evil over the last decade or so, you’d know that the story isn’t always the same. So, let’s break it down.

The first six games in the franchise mainly focus on our protagonists trying to take down the Umbrella Corporation. This vast, international pharmaceutical company has created a virus to further their study of "bio-organic weapons.” In reality, it turns humans into mindless zombies and mutates animals and plants into monsters that can also kill you. Three characters are featured predominantly across these games – Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Albert Wesker.

However, in the seventh game, RE: Biohazard, the protagonist is new: a man named Ethan Winters, who is searching for his wife and gets entangled in a bioterrorism incident while trying to survive constant threats and monsters – a theme that carries over into RE: Village.

Both have similar lore, but are two completely different stories – and really, you could do a lot with this.

Zach Cregger Will Direct And Write The New Film

The last thing we know, which I mentioned above, is that Zach Cregger will be directing this film. This is a significant deal.

Several people directed the first seven films. Paul W.S. Anderson helmed the first, and the fourth through sixth. Alexander Witt directed the second; Russell Mulcahy directed the third. And Johannes Roberts directed the seventh. All of these films received mixed to negative reviews.

Cregger, however, has already directed two films of his own, both horror films and both critically acclaimed – Barbarian, which was released in 2022, and the upcoming Weapons, which I have already mentioned, and critics have been loving. If anyone could bring this horror franchise to where it’s supposed to be, it’s him.

This makes me incredibly excited for the new Resident Evil film, and I, for one, cannot wait. I’m counting down the days until I can sit in a theater and watch it.

Let's talk about what's new in theaters this weekend, as well as what else is coming up in the 2026 movie schedule. This weekend, new releases include Fjord, the R-rated horror comedy Christmas at the Kringles, and the new documentary Everest: The Other Side. You may also be able to catch an early screening of Wild Horse Nine on Friday night (October 30), ahead of its November 6th release. See what's new and still playing in theaters, and further down, see what's coming out throughout the rest of 2026.

NEW MOVIES OUT THIS WEEKEND 10/16