Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Is Already an Oscar Contender After Stunning Critics
Video game adaptations have spent decades fighting an uphill battle for critical respect, with most entries in the genre landing somewhere between forgettable and outright derided. That history makes what’s happening with Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ reboot feel like a genuine turning point, one that’s already reshaping how the franchise gets talked about.
Cregger arrived at this project with serious momentum behind him. After breaking out with 2022’s low-budget hit ‘Barbarian,’ he followed it up with ‘Weapons,’ a $38 million production that grossed $270 million worldwide and earned Amy Madigan an Academy Award for her performance. That track record made him an unusual but inspired choice to take over a franchise whose previous entry, 2021’s ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,’ opened to just $5.3 million domestically.
The results have exceeded even optimistic expectations. ‘Resident Evil’ currently holds a 96 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes across dozens of reviews, officially making it the highest-rated horror film of 2026 and the best-reviewed score of Cregger’s career, surpassing even ‘Weapons.’ That critical reception has now translated into serious awards conversation, with Sony reportedly kicking off an Oscar and Golden Globes campaign for the film, according to box office analyst Gitesh Pandya, with screenings for Oscar voters already booked.
Zach Cregger’s RESIDENT EVIL is the best rated blockbuster this year on Rotten Tomatoes, with 96%.
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) September 24, 2026
Sony started the Oscar and Globes campaign, screenings for Oscar voters are already booked (per @GiteshPandya).
We understand that Sony will focus on nominations in multiple tech… pic.twitter.com/h2L9Y44m5y
Sony’s strategy appears to be focusing its awards push on technical categories rather than the major above-the-line races, a common approach for genre films that struggle to break through in categories like Best Picture or acting. The film was shot by cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, with an original score from Hays and Ryan Holladay, giving Sony’s campaign clear targets in cinematography and score where ‘Resident Evil’ has already drawn strong notices from critics.
That focus tracks with recent Academy history, where horror and horror-adjacent films like ‘Sinners,’ ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Weapons’ combined for eight statuettes at this year’s ceremony, including wins in cinematography, score, and both makeup and production design categories. While ‘Resident Evil’ is positioned more as a popcorn thrill ride than an awards-season prestige play, that recent precedent suggests genre films can absolutely compete when the craft work is strong enough.
The film’s box office performance has matched its critical reception step for step. ‘Resident Evil’ opened to $60 million domestically, the best debut in the franchise’s eight-film history, and had already crossed $108 million globally within its first weekend against a reported $75 million budget. Audiences have responded just as enthusiastically as critics, with the film earning a B+ CinemaScore and a 91 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, both series bests.
The story follows Bryan, played by Cregger’s ‘Weapons’ collaborator Austin Abrams, a medical courier whose routine delivery spirals into a single chaotic night of survival horror across Raccoon City. Unlike earlier entries in the franchise, Cregger’s version largely avoids direct ties to established game characters, opting instead for a tighter, more contained premise that critics have praised for its focus and momentum.
The first trailer for Zach Cregger's ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026
In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M
With ‘Resident Evil’ now positioned as both a commercial and critical success, Cregger’s career trajectory shows no signs of slowing down. He’s already attached to produce a prequel centered on Madigan’s ‘Weapons’ character, alongside an upcoming Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi feature titled ‘The Flood,’ both of which reportedly sparked fierce studio bidding wars.
Whether ‘Resident Evil’ can actually land nominations remains to be seen, but the combination of record reviews, box office momentum and an active studio campaign puts it in a stronger position than most video game adaptations have ever managed.
Which Oscar category should Resident Evil have the best shot at?
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