Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has become the highest-rated video game movie on Rotten Tomatoes, currently holding an impressive 96% score after more than 80 reviews.
The new adaptation officially arrives in theaters this Friday, but the first wave of reviews suggests Cregger may have delivered one of the most critically successful video game adaptations yet.
Resident Evil Holds 96% on Rotten Tomatoes
At the time of writing, Resident Evil holds a 97% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, putting it ahead of every other video game movie on the platform.
The result is particularly notable given Resident Evil‘s long and complicated history in theaters. The franchise has received numerous movie adaptations since 2002, while Cregger’s version takes a different approach by telling an original story rather than directly adapting the plot of one of the games.
Cregger has previously emphasized his love for the games and his intention to capture the atmosphere and identity of Resident Evil while creating something new for the big screen.
One review highlighted by Rotten Tomatoes praises the movie for being:
“that honors its source without seeming beholden to it.”
An Original Resident Evil Story
The decision to avoid directly adapting an existing game has generated some criticism, particularly among fans hoping to see characters such as Leon S. Kennedy take center stage.
Cregger has acknowledged that reaction, admitting that he underestimated how strongly some fans wanted a Leon-focused Resident Evil movie.
Still, the early critical reception suggests the original-story approach has worked with reviewers.
With more reviews likely to arrive following its theatrical release, the 96% Rotten Tomatoes score could still change, but Resident Evil currently sits at the top of the video game movie rankings.
