Zach Cregger's Resident Evil Movie Trailers Pack Fan Service and Real Dread

Sony has unleashed a wave of promotional material for its upcoming Resident Evil reboot, directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons), and the response from fans and critics alike has been cautiously enthusiastic. A full trailer released on July 23, 2026 sets up the film's central premise around a character named Bryan and a fateful delivery to Raccoon City, blending the franchise's signature survival horror tension with a darkly comedic undercurrent that feels distinctly Cregger. Highlights from the trailer include a nod to the games' infamous bullet scavenging mechanic, described as a "double-barrel blast of fanservice" by Destructoid, as well as what Eurogamer identified as a keen-eyed game reference tucked into a harrowing hospital sequence.

The promotional push continued into July 24 with a standalone clip from GamesRadar showing one of the film's stars, from Cregger's ensemble cast, fighting for survival in a snow-covered environment, adding another layer of dread to the film's tonal palette. PC Gamer's coverage went so far as to declare that this Resident Evil adaptation "might actually be good," a sentiment not lightly given the franchise's troubled history on screen. With a September 2026 theatrical release on the horizon, all signs point to Cregger treating the source material with a mix of genuine horror craft and reverence for the games that inspired it.

Sources