The film directed by Zach Cregger presents an original story led by Austin Abrams and becomes the eighth live-action entry in the film franchise.
Resident Evil returns to theaters on September 18, 2026 with a new version of the horror and survival franchise based on Capcom’s video games.
The film is directed by Zach Cregger, filmmaker of Barbarian and Weapons, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten. This production serves as a new cinematic reinvention of Resident Evil and features an original story headlined by Austin Abrams.
Resident Evil premieres on September 18, 2026
- Title: Resident Evil
- US Release: September 18, 2026
- Duration: approximately 90 minutes
- Genre: horror and action
- Director: Zach Cregger
- Screenplay: Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten
- Rating: R
The R rating accounts for intense bloody violence, gore and language throughout the film.
Austin Abrams leads the Resident Evil cast
Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier who becomes trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation during a night defined by chaos and an outbreak of mutated creatures.
The main cast also includes:
- Zach Cherry as Dave.
- Kali Reis as Pauline.
- Paul Walter Hauser as Carl.
- Johnno Wilson as Max.
The new story follows a medical courier during an outbreak
The film moves away from retelling the direct plots of the previous cinematic adaptations and introduces a new protagonist.
Bryan works as a medical courier and receives a delivery that leads him to an area affected by an outbreak. What begins as another work run becomes a struggle for survival as mutated creatures and other dangers emerge around him.
The new film retains recognizable elements of the Resident Evil universe, but Cregger develops an original story within the world inspired by Capcom’s video games.
The trailer, previews and release information are available on the official Resident Evil site.
Resident Evil 2026 will be the eighth live-action film in the saga
The new Resident Evil becomes the eighth live-action film in a cinematic series that began in 2002.
The seven previous films were:
- Resident Evil — 2002.
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse — 2004.
- Resident Evil: Extinction — 2007.
- Resident Evil: Afterlife — 2010.
- Resident Evil: Retribution — 2012.
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter — 2016.
- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City — 2021.
The first six films were tied to the story starring Milla Jovovich as Alice. Welcome to Raccoon City rebooted the cinematic continuity in 2021, and Cregger’s film represents a new reinterpretation of the property for the cinema.
Ryan and Hays Holladay compose the Resident Evil score
Ryan Holladay and Hays Holladay are in charge of the original music. The composers had previously collaborated with Cregger on Weapons, whose soundtrack they produced together with the director.
The Resident Evil soundtrack is scheduled to be released digitally on the same September 18, coinciding with the film’s US release.
The arrival of Resident Evil is part of September’s film releases. Among the other productions of the season is Practical Magic 2, reuniting Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
Resident Evil will arrive exclusively in cinemas in the United States on September 18, 2026.
